Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-07-17

WretcneS WitnQf9W, venting 0mlnous bnreaLS.
These latter had been plentifully circulated
all day long, and more than one man had
been heard to say that these id process
sions must be broken up. Cody, livery
stable keeper, was overheard to say that he
was prepared to do his part in the matter.
The Conservatives collected again about
their speaker, but the crowd looked thin,
JOS eloquenee waned and his throat was
dry and parched. Under these eircumstan-
ees, the meeting speedily subsidized and the
crowd dispersed The Radical colored pro-
SsIon marched down the pike towards the
D" 1.lt, ground, the Conservatives collected
IN Illus KNOTS here and there, mischief brew
ing III their minds and thoughts of ven
geanee and sweet revenge, mesnino, riot
Let us now delay the narration os events
for moment to explain the cond;t;on ~ ~
affairs as they really STOOD in Franklin Of
this time.
Franklin is probably, with few excep-
tions, one of the most bitter Conservative
towns in the State of Tennessee. A few
brave uncompromising Union men have
held their ground, undaunted by the over
whelming hosts of their INSCRIPTIONS polit-
ical opponents. After the reimbursement
Of the negro, the eolored men Of this place
established Union League, and have been,
under the instruction of proper persons,
particularly jealous and incorporating in
their political ideas The Conservatives,
headed by q number of bold, reckless spirits
Of the ex-rebel persuasion, have striven by
might and main to break up this colored
organization. Threats have been tried and
actual assaults perpetrated, but without eff
feet The colored people have shown them
selves not to be intimidated and have failed !
to show any signs Of fear at the vile, cow
ardly demonstrations of the Conservatives.
The Colored League has moro than once /
been interfered with, and its members made |
the recipient Of mysterious and ominous |
messages. The enthusiasm of the colored |
people has nevertheless risen in proportion |
to the opposition. A crowd of some six /
reckless negroes, who have been bought up /
by the Conservatives, have been in the /
habit of interfering with Radical meetings, ]
and go among the crowd with revolvers
fourishing in their hands, accompanied with
threats and intimidations On more than
one occasion, within the last two weeks,
have colored professions been interfered
with and on two occasions shots were fred
at the columns but without effect.
Deeper and more fierce became the Con-
sentative intolerance and animosity-
Threats were made openly and repeatedly
by leading Conservatives that these Radi-
cal demonstrations must be effectually
quenched. Thus matters stood on last Sat
urday.
The fact was not disguised that the col
ored men understood the animus of the reb-
ell side, and that many of them were armed
in preparation for defense in case the threats
of the Conservatives were carried into eff
feet. The procession which marched
through the day was not defenseless Be
sides the three or four muskets, which were
carried at the head of the columns moro as
a martial display than ought else, there
were other weapons among the throng,-
Brave in the conscious right Of their pro- 1
ceedings, these were determined neverthe-
less to be the aggressors, but to be prepared
for the worst, and they kept this resolve.
In spite of this bad state CT affairs we may
remark such was the effect of the speeches
of Messrs. Elliott MeFall and Trimble. that
it was hoped a better feeling would obtain
and no collision occur. The Conservatives
had determined otherwise.
We return again to a narration of the
memorable events of that Saturday after
noon. The colored procession marched, as
we have seen, down the pike, toward the
battle ground, and halted at little grove,
where they discussed the condition of affairs
and the propriety Of carrying out their pro-
posed plan in regard to a torch light pro
cession. They were not ignorant Of the fact
that much i'll feeling had been stirred up
among the Conservatives by the events of
The afternoon. Many were in favor of Civ
ing up the torch-Iight demonstration. and {
shese latter prevailed, aided by Mr.. Elliott I
md Cliff, Jr., who visited the grove and 5
1rged the colored people to defer their dis
play until some future time A vote was Il
AIKEN, and it was determined to return to {,
he square or the Colored League Head =
quarters and quietly dispense ss
Tho column, numbering some eighty men, is
ccordingly reformed, and headed by the AZ
music, proceeded back to town It was now 70
light o'clock, and dusk was rapidly settling 4:
nto the deeper shades of night The pro- b.
ession passed along the southwestern cor
er of the square, and opposite the law of
ces in that locality, and had turned down N
he adjacent street, when, as the rear of the an
QUINN came opposite the crowd collected IN
n the corner, single shot was fred from wi
nat throng, followed instantly by perfect 5sI
olley. The procession, which was on the col
pposite sidewalk from that occupied by ret
ne treacherous and murderous crowd that IN
ad fired into their rear, wheeled about, adj =
anced rapidly few PAGES, and returned
le fire. Instantly, witnesses inform NV
), shots blazed from doors and windows yes
pom that devoted column Of colored men, srs
lus made the prey Of deliberate, murder
Is designs. All was wild confusion for asi
oment, and then the column withdrew 1TIb
Ipidly from the street, bearing away its ser
ounded. be-
The result of that brief conflict, which II.
sted at the most but half minute, was
nguinary.
Cody, the livery stable man previously =
entioned, fired the first shot upon the pro-
ssion, and lost his life by the return vol -
y A ball pierced his body and he fell
lad among his misguided friends. Seven h
eight white men in that crowd were The
ounded more or less severely, two of them, a., v
is reported, very seriously if not fatally. and
{ the colored men twenty three were y
ounded, four or five but slightly and three
four MORALLY, it is thought. A
The wounded of the procession were car n
ed into the front yard Of Dr. Cliffs resi- here her:
nee. where their wounds were probed, and
OF extracted, and the proper dressing ap- ia
led. The Doctor, one Of the bravest of -
en- did everything in his power for the :.
mfort Of the wounded, and periled his Il :
m life repeatedly in their behalf Eish
Now we come to accumulate evidence ssssyyi
ainst the base, treaeherous hounds who tate
rpetrated this murderous assault We e esSo
. not unaware of the effort which will be mon
lde by the Conservatives to fix the blame Ter 3