Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-23

A negro, BY rebels, IN the neiehborhood
OF jackson, he being one Of the investl'
aating committee. Amor thorough
examination, II was clearly proven th1t
his veritable negro, whom the rebels
we're reported % have beaten almost 10
death, was still hale and hearty, having
received only few scratches about
the face. The point 10, however, that
these scratches were given by drunken
Loyal Lacquer, and that the latter, in
the squabble, was knocked down three
times, aud otherwise soundly thrashed
by the aforesaid darkey. VIII it be
believed that the Radical version of the
affair, MS reported TO Gen. Cooper, and
published in the Press and Times, not
only made some blood-thirsty rebels
guilty of half killing the poor negro, but
also of manning and mutilating the
booty, but unfortunate Leaguer2 This
is a fair specimen Of dozens Of cases l
have known to turn out the same way, as
far as rebel atrocity was concerned Out
of nearly a score Of cases of rebel out
RACES, as reported to Gen. Cooper within
the last two months. not single one has
proven true. There may have been
occurrences where rebels were TO blame,
but they have been such as would occur
in any community, North or South.
Ii may be asked, what is the cause Of
all these Misrepresentation and Sian.
ders. No other conclusion can be arrived
at than that they are circulated for the
purpose of afiording a pretext for keep
ing the militia in service, and, at the
same time, to make it appear that
Brownlow is fully justified in his harsh
and yindictive policy toward his sub
iects. There are hundreds OF people,
here in Nashville, who believe that these
stories of oppression aud carelessness
are concocted in General Cooper Office,
while there are very few not fully con.
vipced of their utter falsty, no matter
by whom written. And, besides, where
there are cases of robbery, manning and
murder, as having really occurred, they
can, in numerous instances, be traced
directly to the presence OF the militia.
would not, unjustly, reflect on any
engaged in the State service,
but the fact mentioned is too
palpable to admit of contradiction. 1t
would certainly appear, harsh as It may
sound, that, in localities where peace and
quiet reigns, Governor Brownlow, or
acting under him, makes it a
rule to throw out every incentive looking |
to the engendering of strife and i'll |
feeling, and then, should serious results |
ensue, lay the whole blame on the naughty |
rebels. What are the consequences OF
the abuses and wrongs on the part OF
those in power2 They directly encour-
age a spirit of animosiiy between Radi-
cal and rebel-between black aud white.
1t can very easily be imagined what must
be the feeling of rebels toward Radicals,
in quiet localities, where some anony.
nous scribblers, in the name Of twonty |
or forty others, have published fearful
stories of rebel villainies and atrocities.
Who supposes that this will not have the
direct effect of promoting distrust and
aversion, when it should be the aim Of |
al to encourage kind aud ftaternal feel
iugs2 Who can wonder If there IS a
sullen discomfort among the rebels OF
Tennessee, when they find themselves
slandered and abused, ostracised politi-
cally, and without an incentive thrown
out to invite a cheerful allegiance TO the
State or General Government Looking
at the whole matter from an impartial
stand. point, and wishing to render simple
Justice, / am firmly convinced that
Brownlow and the select crowd Of politi-
cal demagogues who chime in with his
harsh and proscriptive policy, are mainly
for the evils which atflict this
noble old State. Apart from the causes
mentioned, which are naturally calcu-
lated to produce discomfort and ill
feeling, there are others, emanatlng from
inc same source, aud looking III the same
direction. Here in Nashville, with three
fourths of the white population ex-rebels,
and who mainly furnish the taxes to
carry on the city government, not
single one can vote in the municipal
which comes off here in couple
Of weeks, while swarms of ignorant
negroes, recently eniraIehised, will
march to the polls and tlaunt their
political superiority in the teeth of their
late masters.
If this is genuine Republicanism, is it
my wonder that the rebels of Tennessee,
I'VE, and some of her most unfiinching
Jnionists, hailed with delight the recent
lews frem Maine and California; Let
ne tell you that, under the auspices of
he moral monster who occupies the
chair here, breathing fire
md slaughter against his enemies
at the ruin and desolation
which he has brought about, there is no
party which will not 90 to the wall,
except kept in power by brute force,
.ided by unjust and proscriptive laws
IS in the case of Tennessee Radicalism.
The subject is disagreeable one, and
III bring it to close.