The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-06-06
PETITION
on TIE CITIZENS OF FRANKLY COUNTY


TO Andrew JOhnsOil, i'rcslo"ii' o
the United States.
II II PLEASE Your EXcrllENCY:
We, the people %ofFruuklin county, Ten
ncs~cc. having assembled ourselves, peace
ably, in solemn convention. beg leave, nm
der the favor Of yOUr EXccllcncy, TO submit
Il brief statement Of Our heavy grievances
and, mall proper submission, llumbly pc
tilion for their redress.
As is well known to your EXccllcnry, il
was our misfortune TO adhere With uncom'
mon mnanimity and t%cnacity TO the for
tunes Of the late unhappy rebellion, ana |
j. also well known to your ENccllcncy una
after the struggle Wasovcr we returned tt
our allrgianCc-to the government OF oul
iatlicrs-with manimity and Cheerful.
sincerity no les remarkable, AZ Il people
w haze attempted TO demonstrate tli'
truth OF our profession of loyalty ny the
most scrupulolls Observance OF the law
and the exercise Of the most respectful
obedience 10 the constituted authorities,
InsOmuclI have we distinguished ourselves
by the propricty Of our conduct. that il has
been the constant observation that in in
duStry and good order we are far in adj
vance OF amy period of Our past history;
We have invited among ms, and divided
our lands with, Northern men represents
ing every shade of political sentiment;
and we have Il large number ot colorcu
pcopl. among us who were our former
slaves, and we have thcertully concealed TO
them every RIGHT We have orriaiin Tor our
selves. Although We are almost uilalll-
nous in our political sentiment ANA ac-
ton, vet we have uniformly accorded to
those who differed with u1, without refer
cncc to their race Or color, the utmost free
dom ofSp"rch and action upon all qur'-
tiuns. We have stood quietly by anu
heard both white and colorcd speakers de-
nouicc ~ AS criminals unworthy the trust
and confidence Of honest men, and we have
heard them appeal to the ignorance and
prcjudiccS of Our former slaves in order 10
arOusc their cnmity toward US. But not
~Withstanding All this, and more, oGr abGn-
dant discretion and patriotic purpose have
nptallowcd Il single breach OF the peace +"
occur, nor the slightest injury OF any char
actcr to any man OF any color, on account
OF his political sentiment or action. For
the truth Of all this we challenge the most
rigid investigation.
Remembering that We were peculiarly
distinguished ny our m..5.0rtumcs. we wei'H
not surprised that We were regarded with
distru,t 10y the State authorities existing
At the close of the late war, but we indulge
ed Il confident hope that by a course ofcX-
cmplary conduct we would be able 10 dis
arm all suspicion, and commend ourselves
to the good opinion of all men. We have
not Wcaricd in the prosecution OF our lall-
dahlc purpose, but with unrcmittinG solic-
itudc we have earnestly laborcd for that
conSlummatiOn: hut Notwithstanding orr
commcndablc purpose and exemplary CON
duet. our misiOrtuncs have steadily in
until the expressions which weigh
us down are without parallel among any
people who have claim TO civilization.
In v%crilication of this statement we res
pcctiplly show your Excellcncy that with
the citizens Ofour State in general we sub
patiently to the destruction OF all
our political rights. trusting that Il re-
TURNING sense Of Justice would bring us
ultinlte relief: nor hoye we murmured be-
cau.c our civil rights have been ~iniracted,
but. on the contrary, we have been turned
away from the Jury box. and submitted 20
many other illibcral determinations, with
protest. Union men who live among
us, men who are tried and true, men who
were i'm the thickcst of the fight under the
banner ofthc Union, have been denied our
offices simply because they loved liberty
-. - -.
ana ilatr" oppression Inu H.'"aGo'' MY
o'rn aPl"ii'c' ,'oui 'lo'iN' ',i,',' WIN
out warrant ol iaW anu ~ my o"ta
thcif pace 10 power WINS n'nle wi stu
Us ~ Il penP'c, ~ iias pIrn .heir
purpose |" discover now .h'. 'llSrl 1'ilul
ana "l!pre-S Us ta'ner ,,inn " nru Nv"
thsy ili9ht pI"lio,c lhc pnpi,v ".'i'it.
Your EXceileley having peel, p~cl'onail
" acquainted WIN w asa Pcopie nhu
moving now dearly we io.cu OH risn.s'
ma now jealousy we Enhiu.u .ir.', c".l
appreciate now rAlhISiitly W. iGit their
"sS; bHt hotW iths'aiiuihS "l lhi>. We
we're content TO bear our wrongs III 81
and W. would nor trouble your EX-
o with our grievances, were II
rot that the iron heel OF despotism upon
,ur nccks may ne longer be horne. All
hat is left us is our lives and our little
property, and although Il history since
he war il without reproacll, rs we have
hOwn vour EXcellency. vet our rulers, af- |
actinrto question our loyalty. have or
,anizel n band of reckless. dissolutc. and
men, and turned them loose
o do their will upon us. We submitted to
heir hIImiliating t%hrcatenings, being de-
TO do no net that would afford