Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-25
II ui0n aud 1ispateA.
THURSDAY. July %. IsGz.
Largest cireulAtioa il city and state
HICKMAN COUNTY.

HUFFMAN OUINIIs
Large Meeting at CentreviEIe Whites
aud Blacks Cooperating 10 Put
Down Mischief-maIIers-T The League
DeTaoraIfzed- TdbeFfy. law and Con-
servatism triumphant = Armeafs
COwarsIee-PuekeIt in Close QnaE-
ters-He sIckens-A Few buckets of
cold water on Radfcaiism.
Correspondence of The Union and Dispatch.
CEsrREyILLE, July 22d, 1867 When
you have read what i am going TO report
YOU will appreciate Disqualification which
we haye experienced in Hickman to-day,
To understand it fully, you will have to
know that we have been under the Brown
low despotism ia this county so long that
We have not experienced feeling Of free
dom for many months. Pickett, our Re-
preventative, so-called, IN the Legislature,
whose son has issued permits to vote under
the direction of Fletcher, has had every
thing his own way. The League has also
been playing its part, and the oaths and
blue lights had difiused terror over the
minds Of our colored people. The Radi-
Gals were carrying things along their own
way. Arnell, Pickett & Co. were the
owners of the concern, and had pretty
eifectually perfected their titles, They had
appointed to-day for meeting to look over
the papers and certify them for record on
the list of August, and ever after hold the
county in bondage.
Hon. Dorsey Thomas heard of it and
sent word that he would be here to see
how the thing was done. When Arnell
heard that Thomas was coming, he found
out that he had imperative business in
another part of the district, and failed to
appear. BY some sort Of fatality Elias
Polk, Of your city, was also here, and late
in the evening a man by the name OF
Young, a tall and impudent fellow, q be-
lieye they call him .. Gewhilikins
Byron, suddenly turned up. The people,
white and black, had come from all parts
of the county, and nearly all the people OF
ali colors and opinions were assembled
ola Pickett was alone in hisglory. Arnell
had deserted him, as he had deserted Bragg
and his ragamuffins; and his contract to
make a speech was not half as well filled
as his contract to make shoes for the Reb-
els. Pickett did not like it, but he did
the best he could, and "spoke his piece.
1t did not satisfy the crowd. They wanted
to hear something more. They called out
Thomas. He responded in a manner thai
satisfied everybody. He told them all
that Arnell would have said about loyalty
and the leagues, and a great deal more
lie convinced every colored man that the
league was a vile imposition, which was
ensiaying its members and denying TO them
the freedom Of thought and action. He
showed up Brownlowism in its hideou;
deformity, and prepared the minds of the
vast concourse Of blacks for the plain and
direct truths which Elias Polk gave them
When Polk got through, | think there was
scarcely a man present who thought thai
the league was not the most rotten ano
| corrupt society ever organized among men
Its ranks were totally broken, and ! doub
whether it will eyer hold another meeting
in the county. / am sure it will not have
half the membership to attend any meeting
it may attempt to hold.
But the gayest part Of the affair is yet Il
be told The crowd was determined t.
make a day of it," and TO take a full "bene
/ fit" of all the oratorical talent that could
be got out on the occasion. They called out
| for Young-and O. Gewhihkins / wish
| YOU could have been there 10 see Young
| had seen Pickett slide into his Office like q
whipped cur into his kennel. He suggested
that the crowd change its base, and occupy
the open space in front of Puckett's office
No sooner said than done. He took hi
| stand near the door of the office, and tn,
crowd gathered around. He said he had
him where he wanted him. 1t was nov
plain that Young had made flank move
ment, and had surprised the skunk in BIZ
| hole, from which there was no escape.
was evident that Young would not be stunt
| away. In fact, it didn't seem 10 me that tn,
] cruel man minded stinks much, of any sort
He looked like he was in his element
/ don think | eXaggerate when ! say that
for an hour and half, Young delivered
| piece of in7ectiye that has been rarely sur
| passed from the Tennessee stump. l didn'
! suppose the subject was SO inspiring. Tn
long and short of it is, that he piled
/ circle of laggots around Pickett, Arnell !
Co. and set them afire. He skinned them
and then sailed them, and then washed
| off with hot water and CAYENNE pepper
Pickett writhed and sweated, and wante
10 get out but he couldn't He the
| turned deathly sick at the stomach, wa
threatened with syncope, nearly tainted
called for water and had it sprinkled OF
his face Young doused him and hi
friends doused him, and he was the sicke'
! man all over that has ever been in Hics
man county and survived. He is no.
unfit for duty" and will probably renal
30 till after the election.
1t was nearly sun down before the pee
pie could tear themselves away, and whe
they did, they went home utterly disguste
with Badicalism and all its vile tricks an
shams. tell you, Centreyille never sa'
such a day before, and we are now al
right PINEY.