The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-03
TENNE


TENNESSEE.
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The Militia Bill Excitement-1Iass Meeting to
Protest Against Its Passage by the Senate
Through.
NASHVILLE, August 3d. 1868.
mass meeting to protest against the passage Of
the Militia BILL and its almost equally dangerous adj
junc the Detective BILL held in this city yester
day. The meeting was one Of the largest that ever
took place in Davidson county for any purpose, and,
as many of the leading republicans are opposed to
the bills, largely attended by men of all parties
not excepting the rrepressble colored "balance Of
power"
In presenting a report against the passage OF the
Militia bill, which report was drawn up by the CON-
mittee who had issued the calfor the meeting, Judge
Whitworth, chairman Of the committee, said that
the meeting was not to be regarded as a political
meeting. II had been called simply to consider
single act which was now pending before the Senate
in which every man In the State, either white or
black or Of whatever political opinion, was directly
interested. He made the remark for the purpose Of
announcing that neither the meeting nor the protest
had been gotten up In the interest," OF any political
party either inside outside of the State. The
paper which he should present looked alone to the
great interest Of our citizens of every political shade
Of opinion throughout the State.
He then commenced and read q strong and manly
protest against the passage OF the BILL which con-
cluded as follows:-
We therefore, the interest peace which as dear
e before the whole country soemny protest against the
change OF the form Of government by Legislative body
w, Ms ls M II
ss % w sss n $
oy q al ~ have w ss
As % m .s h form
s' s
rights Of the people, do most soemny protest against
~ a! n s' :.
sn'e e The tna. be- and the Of Che
christian disturbance Of our sacred peace.
The protest was adopted BY reclamation. when
resolution, which was adopted, was offered, TO the
eject that the members OF the Legislature who in the
lower house stood out against the BILL and the Sem
out dstntincion OF party deserving OF the heartfelt
sympathy and gratitude OF the people, 1t was also
be sent to the Legsature Judge Whtworh ten
came forward and said:-This meeting called to-
geher to consider the subject referred In the
ference to ali Others that the law which proposed
to be passed by the Legislature Of Tennessee-that
carried out In the spirit In which it has 80 far been
enacted, our liberties az people Will have passed
away am mere as one Of the people Of tnis
my fellow citizens, and when we see danger so
destructive as they are 1t becomes N as men and
such measure and against such destruction OF
our rights interests and liberties. know this is
from such party as that Of the republican party
north. am sure that IT ennanates from few indi-
vlduals. 1 know there are honest republicans who
are are a. Wiling 70 do everything to defeat It as you
are. ask every man who belongs TO the repub-
prosperity Of the State, to come up and enter his
protest against the passage Of this bill IL Is un-
necessary to discuss the costftutionalty OF the BILL
a
that there was not single line or SYLLABLE In the
bill that is in the spirit or the letter Of the
constitution. IL rs o measure without the con-
stitution withoutthe authority Of the organic law
OF the land, In direct contradiction Of the con.
s wn the OF the United stases
This bill contempates that the Governor Of the state
limited number and may quarter them upon any Dor.
ton Of the State he may choose to settle them or
upon any county he may desIgnatc He may compel
the people TO pay individually their pro rata; order
| or permit the militia TO camp upon your grounds
and eat up your substance. lie may declare martial
law and put ten thousand militia In your county and
any one who dares to speak against the party IN
power will be tried by drumhead court martial and
hung up wne hey sha n are an ne Of NE
your neiahbor secret detective is sent ater you,
martial, declares you guilty of disloyalty to the
sovereign. what remedy have you nowS Civil law
w ss ~ % mo sy SSu n s o. ne
eraon concocton and adoption OF this bill they did
not certainly know what they were about. IL be-
us 10 bring before their minus the enormity Of
the project which they have attempted to fasten
upon our people. hope that the men ut the Capital
who have any interest ut all In tho prosperity OF the
State will do all IN their power TO prevent the pas
sage OF bil which Will PROSTATE the state and Its
people. There Is not the slightest pretence cir
custance to justify the passage OF this BILL II there
IL disposition to take from you the last veetlge OF
liberty and OF property, and II this law shall be car
red out In the spirit manifested heretofore not only
your property, rights and franchises, but the lbeT
ties OF citizens the right OF trial by Jury and every
thing which belongs to a free people will be lost.
This thing Ia like dark cloud overshadowing the
political heaven. ana shuts ont every ray OF
light In Tennessee. IL Affects you and me ana
every citizen. republican or democrat. and takes
with II property, life and liberty and transfers 10 to
the military inqustion aud the hordes OF dicators
that win live upon your substance and crush you to
death. II You are prepared for this let US fold our
arms aud submit; but II you Will not then let us use
all the moral power we have got TO arrest It, be-
eve that secret organizations OF any kind are against
the true interests OF every government and say to
you Loyal Leaguers aud to you Ku klux, and TO
those men who are spies, whoever you may be, that
you are an enemy when you do secretly what you
dare not do openly. say to the Ku Kiux and 10
Loyal LeaguerB you must come out on higher
grounds and wear your harness openly. You NAV
for time make something out Of your societies, but
there Will come time when you viii fall and dc
stroy all with you. never believed In such organI-
cations and never expect TO belong to such organiza
lions and never expect 70 do anything In secret that
| cannot do openly.
Ex-Governor Brown, Judge Guild. Colonel Coyar
and several other persons spoke In the same strain.
Colonel C0yar during his speech said the militia
bill was delended by the men who are pressing II
through upon the grounds that certain counties In
Tennessee : Giles, Williamson, Franklin, Maury,
Rutherford and Few Others--we 10 lawless that
was absOlutey essential to have the militia. The