Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-11-06

1919 e'"A WIZ ptof5ub COlulCts
US. GRANT, General
Gen. Thomas replied
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Sept. 26, 1858 P. NJ.
To Gen. .. ); Grant Washington, d. c.:
Governor Brownlow is in Knoxville, Hava saa,
his instructions to Gen. Cocper not 10 nermit ~
city authorities to held their election. The Mayo
is determined to hold an election in defiance of IN
State authority. a collision is inevitable. If
command the peace my action viii be practical de
csion against State authority and the franchise law
cannot preserve the peace without interfering in
case of collision.
GEORGE II. THOMAS,
Major General, q. s. Army.
Gen. Grant replied as follows
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 26-4P.M.
| To Major General George II. Thomas:
! You are to prevent conflict If the Executive Of
the State issues his proclamation declaring insur-
reeton invasion to exist too formidable to be put
| down by the force at his own command, and calls
upon the United States to aid him, then aid will
have to be gwen. iour mission is to preserve the
peace and not TO take sides in political differences
until called cut in accordance with the law. You
are 20 prevent mobs from aiding either party, If
called unon locally to iiterfere your duty is nlan
Y. s. GRANT, General.
About 10 P. NJ, General Thomas received the
following from the Ger oral-in-Ohief:
WAsEnerON, Sept. 26-9 P. NJ.
Major General George IL. Thomas:
l will send you funher instructions tomorrow
Nothing is clearer, however, than that the military
cannot be made use Of to defeat the Executive of
State in enforcing the laws Of the State. You are
not to prevent the legal State force from the execu
ton of its orders.
U. s. GRANT, General.
On the eth of September Gen. Grant addressed
Gen. Thomas as follows:
ftTy-..i .e.o-r4oon -.
ton than you have ready had Report by tele-
graph Immediately ca receipt of this the nature of
the difficulty in Nashville, and your view of the
best way to meet 1t.
~. S. GRANT, General"
Gen Thomas says Z" As my telegram of II A.
NJ had giysn the information desired, no other an
swer was made TO this. No further instructions as
intinsted IA that ever reached mep
The additional documents are numerous, incud-
ing the correspondence between General Thomas
and the Mayor of Nashville. The following is
among them:
H'DQ'Rs DEPARTMENT OF TEE CUMBERLAND
Nashville, September 2s, 1867. !
Hon. w. Matt. Brotof, Meyor, etc.:
SIR In reply to your communication of this
date received at two o'clock, p. NJ, have to state
that 1 did not inform you officially in writing as
stated by you in your communication to the public,
published in the papers this morning, that would
use the military power Of the United States in sus-
tanning the Governor Ct the State in forcibLy pre-
venting peaesa6S eLtstisn, &C., but did state in
that communication tbAt the proper Interpretation
of Gen. Grants telegrspho order is TO sustain the
State authorities in the axscution of their orders
How these words can be construed meaning
that intended to use the troops to preventa peace
able election 1 confess cannot understand.
The proclamation Of the Governor and his Or
ders to General Cooper required him to prevent you
from holding an election, and the instructions sent
to me to sustain him (ths Governor) in the execu-
ton of his orders could not be obeysd if both cleo
tons were permitted, as you remember that the
Governor required Gensral Cooper to prohibit the
election under the city charter, and you in your
proclamation declared you would hold said election
in defiance of all power except that of the United
States. Your obeoient servant,
GEORGE 81. THOMAS,
Msjor General Commanding Department
On the 2eth of September Major General Thomas
telegraphed General Giant as follows
1.-THE polls were epeaed this morning at by the
State authorities. The election has proceeded gui-
etly up TO this hour, and l now have no idea there
will be any disturbance
And At P N. the Showing
"Tbe election over--ali quiet
fGEokoE H THOMAS
Major General, U. s. Army.
The election having closed without any distur-
bance and there beingno other cause of excitement
at P. M. the troops we're ordered to their various
stations, and returned TO louisville on the morn
ing Of the 10Th.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant
GEORGE 81. THOMAS,
Major General, U. s. A, Commanding.
u s. Grant, General, &c.