Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-03
HOW THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE
ARE MISREPRESENTATION.


9th u!t contains the following
Capt. Kirk in command Of the State
Guardsl stationed at Jackson, Madison
county, came to the city yesterday. He
brings additional particulars of the conduct
of a crowd of cut-throats and outlaws who
infest that portion of the country. He has
now at his camp a colored man who was
hung up to the limb Of a tree until he was
thought to be dead, cut down and hid I'M
der q smOke-house floor where he revived,
crawled ont and was pursued and shot at
several times by a pack of demons in the
shape of men. He escaped to the camp Of
the militia.
The reports about the terrorism existing
in this and the adjoining county of Gibson
have not been at all exaggerated. Indeed,
We believe that the half has not been told.
Captain Kirk says that the colOred people,
as well as the Union whites, are actually
in fear Of their lives. The only thing
which keeps these wretched outlaws from
driving Republicans out Of the country. is
the wholesome fear inspired by the militia
stationed at Jackson and Trenton. 1t is
| sincerely to be hoped that this condition of
affairs will not be of long duration. If
some of those half demented wretches who
are creating all this disturbance could be
apprehended and punished as their deeds
deserve, quiet and confidence might be
speedily restored.
The Jackson Wing of the 3lst ult fur
nishes the facts in regard to this reported
outrage upon a negro as follows:
On Wednesday an investigation was had
before the Magistrates court, in this city,
on the above charge, when the following
facts were elected That the negro lied in
his affidavit in this--that no hanging oc-
Cured that he was not pursued and shot
at, and that no murderous assault was COM
mitted upon his person. Furthermore, the
evidence showed that the fight was between
a drunken white man and a drunken ne
gro that the negro brought on the fight
by his insolence, and by making the first
assault on the white man. The court found
the white man and the negro equally guilty
Of a simple dSsduit-having thrown brick
bats at a distance. This was the whole
case, after a full and thorough examination
of the evidence in the presence of the civil
and military authorities. We will further
mention that the white man connected
with the affair produced a good record in
the Federal services now on the rail-
road, and not at all identified with the citi-
zens of Jackson or Madison county.
The Wing also has the following para~
graph touching the general lawlessness
reported to exist in Madison county:
Medlin visited the militia camp in this
place on Wednesday night and remained
there the following day. He was called
who made the following proposition to
him-that if he (Medlin) would give the
names of the persons who had made threats
against him, he (the Magistrate) would
enforce the law provided in such cases.
Medlin refused to give any names. He
also declined to give the names Of any
Union citizens Of the county who had been
driven from their homes.
The Trenton Gazette gives one incident
Of the terrorism which the Press and
Times reports as existing in Gibson
county, as follows:
A few nights ago, a little distance from
camp, two soldiers belonging to the militia
at this place, of the dark hue, fired off their
muskets. and then bumped it into camp,
and reported that the citizens had fired
upon them. Fortunately the report was of
no avail, owing 10 the fact that the truth
got 10 the top once. One of the militia Cap
tains, together with several of our citizens,
was near the spot where the pieces were
fired, at the very moment fired. They
rushed TO the spot, and were informed by
four witnesses, two white and two colOred,
who saw the firing, that the negro soldiers
shot of their own pieces. How pretext is
wanted to injure US, very likely by laying
in ashes our beautiful and peaceful town
and yet the riotous and devilish pen which
scribbles for the Nashville Press and Times
would stir and incite such authorities 10
a higher pitch Of vengeance.
1t is remarkable that the Press and
Times never heard of anything but out
RACES upon Radicals, and with stories of
this kind it edifes its readers. 1t seems
never to hear Of their contradiction,
thing that occurs as often as these charges
are repeated, and those who read only
the Press and Times must entertain the
belief that the Conservative people of
Tennessee are set of rufiians and cut
Threats. We should like to know what
honest Radicals think Of the course their
central organ is pursuing Day after day
it gloats upon scandalous misrepresenta>
tons of the people of Tennessee, and it
is a rare thing indeed, that it corrects one
of these outrageous ealumnies 1t is by
such a course as this that strife is to be
kept up, or at least the appearance of a
necessity for retaining and quartering
the "loyal militia upon peaceable and
law,abiding communities Ii is doubt
less upon such evidence as this that Gen