Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-27
Letter from Lagrange.

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PeScea6le GhEen-He is arrested
By he Military at the hstigation Of
Brownlopite, and Taken TO Louis
piile-He is Charged ioith Violating
his Parole, and Arraigned for Trial
The Facts.
Correspondence PUBLIC LHDGER.l
LAGRANGE, TESS.. August 20, 1867.
The manner in which the present
military despotism of the United States
secures to its citizens the enjoyment of
life, liberty and property, is apty illus
trated by the following facts. One Of
the most inexcusable outrages upon the
rights of free people was perpetrated
in this village on Saturday last. A
highly respectable young man of un.
doubted integrity was arrested on our
streets by an order emanating from Gen.
Thomas, and carried away to Louisville
for trial. The cause of the arrest is thus:
On the day of the so called election,
William Milliken, the person arrested,
with many other law-abiding men, left
town and spent the day in the country,
to avoid the possibility of getting into
trouble. During the day band of thirty
or forty negroes came into town armed,
to vote 1t was thought by many, and
possibly on good grounds, that a con-
temptible little piece of humanity called
Johnny Bum (Baum), with others who
might be mentioned, induced them to do
so. Little Johnny heard what was said
upon the subject, and when young
Milliken returned in the evening he
approached him, and asked if it was
right that he (Baum) should be held
accountable for the conduct of the ne
groes. Being asked for his opinion,
Milliken gave it freely. A quarrel ensued
and Milliken was arrested by the military
and fined by the municipal authorities.
All thought the difficulty now settled
but Johnny was not satisfied He must
have some of Brownlow's militia to
guard him and his friends against
law-abiding and peaeeablc commu-
nifty. But the election being over, no
militia could be had. He, however, got
some regulars, who have been here ever
since. This ought to have been salts
factory, but it was not. By misrepre-
senting the character of this young man,
and the facts in connection with this
case, the aforesaid little Johnny and his
friends secured the order for Milliken's
arrest and Imprisonment. He is now
carried far away from home and friends
to be tried on charge of violating his
parole of honor because he told Baum
what he thought of him. If this was an
offense, he was tried for it and punished
once. After all this, it is said that this
fellow is not yet satisfed-that the ar
rest and Imprisonment of other parties
is also intended. We cannot tell who
will be next. We all feel that this is
severe blow at the liberties of every
citizen; for as long as such
miserable creatures as this fellow can
secure the arrest of those whom they dis.
like, no one is safe. We are fully salts
fed that had General Thomas known
the facts in the case, and the character
of the men who made the application to
him, he would never have issued the
order. We all feel that it is personal
matter, and will exert ourselves to have
the truth laid before the authorities
This man Baum is the same fellow that
wes so thoroughly ventilated by Pal
myra (Mo.) paper sometime ago; and
our citizens warned against him. He
has proven himself all that he was rep
resented as being, and much more. Be.
ing fully conversant with his past his.
tory, he will be held up in no enviable
light in q future communication, if he
does not remain very quiet and cease to
disturb the peace and harmony of our
FAYETTE.