The Hickman courier., 1868-08-08
TENNESSEE DIFFTexxyEs.
Consultation of Rebel neraIs
with Members OF Brosynioyv,s
Legislature.
PEACE THEIR OBJECT.
Generals cheatham, Nancy, johnson
% the Situation.

Colonel Prosser, Chairman of the Tor,
mittee, briefly explained the obiecl
sought to be accomplished by the cor
terence. These gentlemen had come !
the interest OF peace and order; thei
suggestions therefore would be listene
70 with becoming respect. The ques
tions to be discussed were of the mos
Ylsal iInportalee and dsHanaed the mos
tllker and never indulge in speech max
/ ing. came here in all possible earnest
ness, aud although do notintend 70 sa,
much, it must be understood that hon
estly mean what I say General Name,
has been doing my talking for years, ant
/ now leave that task to him He per
fectly understands my feelings and vii
express them to you far better than
could
Irepeat that am thoroughly in earn
east in the part take here to day. 1t il
not my custom to come to town often
and / have paid no attention to politics
bat within the last few days, have seel
state of things which do not at all Ike
and which appear to me to seriously
threaten the peace of the State.
General Maney-We mean that, ne
matter what there may be in the past
we still love the country of our nativity
honestly and earnestly desire pros
perity, and the safety, honor 49, VI be
ing Of its residents, without reference tc
difference of political opinions or color
This being an honest sentiment with Us,
we cannot arrogate to ourselves superior
virtue in this respect, but accredit yor
gentlemen, with equal proper love of oul
common land and its whole people. Il
correct in this premise then we are war
ranted in the conclusion that there is nc
necessity for resort to any violent OF
even extraordinary means for protection
and safety to society, since If all of Us
desire society's protection and safety
there will be none to disturb it. / car
but believe an interchange of our opin.
ion between representatives of the two
sides to the late unhappy conflict will
tend to the conviction of each that the
other is not so dangerous as might be
conceived in the absence of such inter
course. Thankful, gentlemen, for your
courteous consideration of US on this oc.
casion, we frankly aud earnestly express
the hope you will not deem it necessary
to organize State force now or evei
again for protection against disorder
We will not pretend any and ever disor.
der shall be tolerate ], rather than organ
ize such force, but We believe that it il
best TO first see if We cannot guard agnius
aIeofder otnerwise than by resort to thu
Objectionable means. And at this poin
it is proposed for ourselves certainly, and
we think it is the proposition of al
we have conferred with, to regard and
obey the laws not as we would desire
them, but as they are in letter upon the
statute book, until the same be repealed
In word, it is our conclusion that the
speediest way to obtain the laws we may
desire, il to obey the laws as they are
If in these statements we represent the
masses with whom we were identified in
the late conflict, then certainly there il
no necessity for resort to the extraordi-
nary meaus Of State militia to preserve
peace. In what we say we do not pro-
pose only TO express the particular opin-
ions of ourselves now with yeu, but on
careful consideration believe we but say
what the men who bore guns and KNAPP.
sacks during the war will fully sanction.
A State military organization is an ex-
'traordinary and we think, (guard it as
carefully as you will) IN It's very nature,
to an extent, is dangerous. Granting
the mass Of those eniisting in it to be
actuated by best motives, it yet increases
the opportunity for persons having NAL
ice against others, By enlisting.ipu or
ganization, to wreak their yeng lun-
der pretense of duty, and SO haDsettel
chances for escaping penalties for wrong
doing. Moreover, soldiers pay and ra-
tions may induce thriftless and worthless
men to come in from other States. We
earnestly wish emigration but not of this
sort. On the contrary, if circumstances
will warrant legislation, which indicates
the law is supreme aud sufficient for pro.
lection to persons and property, we may
expect an ingress of good citizens, who
will seek society of law and order, bul
avoid anarchy or even the indication oi
it. This law and order seeking popula-
ton we desire to welcome. Upon oul
fertile fields and in our rich mineral
lands there is room for their prosperity
Gentlemen, we recognize in full al
the State authorities. We have no pur.
pose to overthrow them, and believe
there is no such purpose with others
We propose dutifuf submissions to ths
laws and all lawful authority. We be-
lieye a land so favored by nature should
be tenanted by an united and contented
people, and we are before you to pledge
our honest and best efforts to secure thii
end. We will not presume to advise {
course of legislation, but we are here
with honest hearts, and if it be though
by any of your committee that we car
impart any light or information desira
BILE to you, we are ready to make homes
answers to questions you may propose
Colonel Prosser--I answer in behal
of ths committee that We meet you il
the spirit in which you came here, as ,
soldier to soldier. But it must not b
lost sight of that as members of the Leg
islature, We must see that the laws ar
respected, and that loyal people are pro
tected in their rights. We have dut,
| TO perform that We can not escp evel
| If we would. / speak the vieY thi
committee when / say that ouf o. b i
to preserve peace, il possible, withou
calling out the militia. We desire N
collision !; We do not want 20 make NJ
of tyrsnnF; our sole aim 10 to see th
prosperity Of the State advanced. Thi
was the feeling with which the Legisla
lture had assembled But what are "
to do when leading men, having wealtl
and influence, preach tbroughout tn
Esountry resistance to the laws and th
overthrow Of State Government whe
outragss are being perpetrsted night Al
ter night on loyal men, who ara drive
from their homes, beaten and hung p
What assurance can you give Us ths