Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-16
The Reported Troubles in Tennessee

Referring 20 the reported troubles i'm Tennes-
see, the newspapers mention, i'm addition to the
correspondence between General Grant and
General Thomas, that reports have been in cir
culation TO the effect that the difficulty i'm that
President.
Upon inq uiry in Official sources your CORE.
spondent learns that on Friday last General
Grant received communIc cal ION from General
Ihomas, dated at Louisville, March 9th, EN-
closing certain statements of parties in Tennes.
see. General Thomas says:
ssGeneral Grant will see by these statements
as ne doubtls IS has already learned from other
sources, that the enemies of the present State
government in Tennessee are organizing for
resistance to the laws, which resistance is an
eut-growth of the rebellion, and means as we'll
opposition and hostility to everything repre-
senting patriotism and devotion to the best
Interests of the country, although. as vet il has
not taken the form of open resistance to the
VI tied States Government As Tennessee is a
fully constructed STATE cons ider that the State
authorities shonld deal with and suppress the
orgaplzauQn 81 lawlesS and desperate men.
and have not, to the present time considered
myself authorized to take active fteas Wres
against them. l shall be glad TO receive an Y
orders or Instructions you may see Ill to give in
Tie premises
There are two brief statements accompanylng
this communication, the first from T.. d. Lyons,
an agent of the Z Quartermaster's Department al
bridgeport, Ala, who says he can give infor-
nation regarding the depredations of that ssreb-
ell order known as the "Kuklux Khan" The
order is in full blast, and negroes, with white
men, who chance to differ with them i'm politics.
are subject TO severe treatment and in many
cases Union men are forced to leave
The second statement is from Mr.. Bossow, a
member of the Tennessee LEGISLATURE, who
writes March 5th, from the House of Represen-
tatives of that State TO Gen. Thomas, to say that
''Our State is greatly exercised by the presence
In many Localities of an organized body of men.
who, without provocation and in violation OF
law, seemingly desperate in purpose. are scour.
| l..
terror 10 all. Our civil authorities are power
less and terror struck themselves not only fail
10 arrest but are silent and inactive. No infor.
nation is had of the number or ultimate pur-
poses OF the organization, it certainly is not
peaceful." - --'. ...|
Mr.. Bosom says he advised that General
Thomas has no authority TO place a military
force in this State, but without its presence
there is danger Of bloody collision.
General Gran: yesterday referred these pa
pers to the President for his information and
instruction, but 1t does not appear that Gene.
raj Grant has yet given instructions to Gene.
raj Ihomas, as stated in the newspapers. The
President will probably make return of the
papers, with some remarks, but under the cir
cumstances he cannot make an order for inter.
ference IN the alleged dificuity .
According to the showing on file the whole
analr appears to be somewhat panicky, and is
probably only ga big scare" The Tennessee
Legislature 10 in session, and the writer of one
OF the above statements is a member thereof,
and IL there were any such general uprising
of the "Klux-bux -Klan,'' as he seems TO be.
lieye the Tennessee State authorities have the
first and original jurisdiction Of the subject
matter. st--i 800 go. 81 49,
Neither Gov. Brownlow nor the Tennessee
Legislature have made any representation to
the Federal Government upon the subject
and 1t is scarcely necessary to say that the first
and only knowledge the President had of the
ferred to. ~ / :
II is stated that Gen. Grant has telegraphed
to Gen. Thomas not TO take any action In the
Tennessee di1dculty until reouisftion is rnada
upon him by Gov. Brownlow. -