Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-11
Latter Of General snssd.

sonsRvfLLK. September 10. isds.
EprroRs LEDGER; In the Bulletin, o
the 9Th inst, appears an elaborate crit
cism of some remarks made by mt
before the Central Democratic Club Of
Shelby county, on Saturday evening last
ut stillman Hall, in your city. Tbs
author Of the article, WIN. II. Fitch, jr.,
judging from the respectful manner IN
which he has referred to me personally,
did not, / feel assured, intend the injus
tice which his version Of my remarks
has done me. do not think that any.
thing 1 said on that occasion could be
tortured into the sentiment, that in the
event the militia were. again called
out, and outrages similar to that COM
mit,ed upon young Brown, of Franklin
county. were re-enacted BY them, that II
was in favor Of utterly destroying and
wiping out every member Of the Radical
party 10 this State"
Aside from the consideration that such
brutal sentiment is abhorrent to my
nature, I am well aware OF the fact, as
stated by Mr.. Fitch, that there is quite \
number Of citizens acting with the Radi.
cal party in Tennessee, who have been
persistently opposing the excuses of that
party-who are opposed to the calling out
ofthe militia-who are inIfavor Of enfran-
chising the white people Of the State, and
whose course in this regard, while |
heuor themlfor il, yet renders il q matter
Of marvel that such men: can be found
cooperating with that party in anything.
/ did speak recently of the expressions
of the Radical party upon the people Of
Tennessee during the last three years. i
did denoupce, as the eliminating out
rage, this project Of calling out body
of militia, composed of sworn parti-
sans, to intimidate aud harass the
people. / did say that by these mon
strous expressions the people of this State
have been pushed to the very verge OF
endurance / did say that If the militia
so called out should perpetrate upon the
person OF the most humble inhabitant Of
Tennessee, whether man, woman, or
child, such an outrage as that narrated to
me by the people of Franklin county last
summer, that, in my opinion, they
rould be sicept from the face Of the
earth. II / am not greatly mistaken,
this is my identical language. 1t
is at all events my opinion, based
upon my knowledge of the present tenn
per Of the people, and it is the idea ! in
tended to convey not as words OF
menace, but as words of warning. / re-
spectfully ask the editors of the Bulletin |
to publish this correction.
1t is we'll kaown that ! am not in the |
tabit of using incorporate language,
either in public or in private. 1t is
equally well known that what influence
have with the people is being constantly
exerted in the interests Of harmony, fos-
and peace. But it is not in
human power to control the passions of
men accustomed to be free, when
aroused by long course of
oppression, injustice and wrong. The
people of Tennessee, without trial or
conviction of the violation of any
known law, have been denied the
exercise ofrights hitherto only denied the
felou. They have borne the
deprivation of their hereditary liberties
with grace that has astounded the civ.
lized world. They respect the law. They
ieprecate civil feuds. They want peace;
hey sigh for it; they pray for it. They
nave resolved sooner or later to win back
heir lost liberties by the pacific instru-
nentalities of the law. But in Gods
name let tho leaders of the dominant