Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-05-24
A Specimen of Tennessee Recon
struction.

StkuCtlOu.
The Memphis Post of the l4th, has an
account Of the riot at Brownsville, Tenn,
on the previous day, mere mention Of
which has been made by telegraph. A
Republican Union Convention was held
to nominate candidates for Senator and
Representative in the Legislature, and the
business of the morning session passed
tremendously, and a candidate for Repre-
sentative nominated. The Convention then
took recess for dinner. The Post says
Soon after shouting was heard on the
square, and word flew that there was a
row breeding. 1t was stated tina, some
rowdy parties, carrying revolvers, had
found out Messrs. Carter and Harris, two
colered men from Memphis, who had made
telling but humorous speeches in the morn
ing. and demanded of them that they
should take back what they had said,
threatening their lives if they did not.
Messrs Carter took it quietly, offered no
resistance, but, on being charged by the
assailan's with saying what they had not,
denied it. The assailants charged them,
we understood with saying that every rebel
ought to have his throat Gu: and his hearts
blood let out. Afterward when convers-
ing with other gentlemen of the Conyen-
ton, they charged that one of the speakers
in the morning lad said that all who had
owned slaves ought to have their heart
strings cut out, neither Of which declara-
tons any member of the Convention heard
made. Indeed, any pretext of the kind
was plainly only to cover the conduct they
had already determined upon. Hurrahing
for jeff. Davis and cursing Brownlow were
heard from the rioious parties. The prop
er officers were called upon, and warrants
were issued and put in hands of the sheriff
to arrest the rioters. Up to this time the
colored men, though present in town to
the number of 1000, had shown no spirit
of violence, though somewhat disturbed by
the violation of their rights. The Sheriff
proceeded TO execute the process, when the
rowdes resisted and commenced firing
towards the colored people, who sailed
back behind the Court House but soon
rallied in considerable numbers, and here
and there man who had arms returned
the fire. The firing for few minutes was
like lively skirmishing. Some OF the ne
groes in rallying seized bricks or whatever
else the could find for self-defence.
The leading Republicans white and col
ored, were all active and tried to prevent
excitement and retaliation on the part of
the colored. Several shots took effect but
none were fatal, and indeed we could not
find any that were very serious. A few
men on the other side were active in try
ing to preserve order. Many men could
be seen getting their arms in the shops
around thesquare. Some stores were point
ed out where ammunition was obtained. |
None seemed to deny and all appeared to
admit that the disturbance had been con-
templated beforehand, some declaring that
they got their arms ready in the morning. |
1t was very apparent that bad whisky had
been freely used among the rioters. The
forbearance of the colored people was the
most striking feature of the scene. Had
they responded at all, as their large num-
bers enabled them to do, to the spirit Of
the assailants, the life and property Of ev-
cry roter in town would have been de-
stroyed in twinkling. But it required,
at the moments of the highest excitement,
only few words to keep all quiet,
The effort at arrest, and the riotous pro.
ceedings, consumed large portion of the
afternoon. But some gentlemen, active
among the assailants TO keep them quiet,
assured prominent Republicans that there
would be no further disturbance if the
negroes made no assault, and the delegates
began 10 gather in the Court House, for
the purpose of proceeding with business
when the discharge Of shot from the
quarter of the assailants renewed the |
alarm and set the excitement ablaze again.
Numerous acts as well as expressions,
showed that the rioters were abundantly |
supported by the rebel sympathizers Of
the town. Delegates, in the meantime, had
scattered and no nomination for the Senate
was made. Col. Poston finally announced
that no nomination would be attempted un-
til another Convention was called. TWAS
after The affair, that the negroes
were melted by leading Republicans. On
the contrary, the very opposite was true.
The Republicans made every effort, no.
only TO prevent violence, but to secure the
absolute supremacy of the law, and to sup
press violence where it showed itself, by
lawful methods. Various reports come up
from authentic witnesses, showing that the
disturbance was contemplated beforehand
by those who brought it on"