The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-19
STATE OF AFFAIRS IL TENNESSEE.

lAu AUX Al8n-Tue Stntc Law anu OOvs
ernOr's Proclamation ON the Subject.
The following Is a copy of the proclamation Just
issued by Governor Brownow, OF Tennessee In
regard to the troubles that exist In some parts of the
State:-
Whereas for several months past an organization
OF considerable extent has exlsetd in this state,
sometimes called the Ku Klux Khan, and at others
by similar unusual and Significant names, which
organization 10 cOnspirng in secret anl acting Ia
the darkness Of midnight against the peace and
welfare Of the State by whipping, hanging and
shooting defenceess and inofensive loyal citizens;
and whereas as the result OF this lawless violence,
hundreds OF c0lored men have been driven from their
homes their families and crops to take refuge in
cities and camps from this prevailing terrorism; and
whereas, IN several counties in Middle ana west
I me see loyal citizen VIII tie and CO ored have been
compelled TO leave their respective counties, whieol
those who remain many are driven W tne necessity
pretended outrage and cruelty; AMI whereas this
violence, backed up constantly and vigorously by
UNANIMOUSLY incendiary speeches from for ,ner civil
aud military officers In the late rebel government,
and also by frequent innammatory and insurrec-
tionary newspaper articles is largely on the IN
crease; and whereas to meet this emergency re-
Gently convened the General Assembly IN extraor-
binary session; and the members thereof have.
after careful survey OF all the facts In the case AMI
upon good and reliable authority, with something OF
unamlnity enacted law whereof the subjolne Is a
copy and to which respectfully call the attention OF
ali the citizens OF Tennessee, both those peaceaDy
inclined and those who are turbulent, VIII
AN ACT 10 EsyoHon TIE Laws OF TUE STATE TH:
setting defiance civil law and by threats OF
violence forcing many OF our citizens to leave their
Whereas in certain localities sntrey imDos, BILE for
that the OF the law be maintained aad that
G.s ssy Ss Assembly State
Of Tennessee Tna Governor be and he hereby author
ns own
rerments from each OF the state pro
vded always that said state Guards shall be CON
support the constoon of the United States and the
SEQ BE further enacted That the State Guards organ
lied under the provisions OF this act shall be go crned aud
Of amy q the nitsd states ~ $3.50
State sha issue his warrant the Treasurer payable TO
the order OF The Sr s IA h OF
70 n, and OF one de s
the same shall be paid out Of any funds in The treasury not
20 a ss so from the
$50 BE further enacted, That whenever fun repre-
he ss ~ as IN
which said couny and the Ssraior ana rspreen
county counties that the laws be enforced, and
just rights account Of rebellion or nsrrecon
se 90 ' be @ he 70
clare martial law IN any eoasy or counties OF the State for
S n ar sSsd s asd
bic or suffer loss such turbulent
oes shall be the duty Of the Governor 70 assess and
Guard: 90 employed Out Q! sail county 80 de-
81 sS u
act 70 amend an &C, for the profession OF sheriff. -
the sworn s.aemsn, OF ten or more nacon ~ Union
sa Of sSos h forth ss U %
canno, be enforced in such coans i.wsiins
s ;Ss'ss @
be to enforce the laws and protect the citizens
sro g. he Il further enacted rha, all lAwa,nd parts of
laws conalc. with hi. repealed and ha. hi. act
' a ssa b. e force from f9d sisF II
spsst:T q Ss House q b
Andrew Fletcher Secretary Of State OF the State OF
Il Inc as esss . H, s e.
enforce the laws Of the State the original Of
s:say .s;rso have ssrsrn.o .Hs:sr,s,a on
y A the ,., a the city
% "A'A'A''' A. j. FLETCHER, Secretary Of State
Now, therefore l. william G. Brownow, Governor
Of Tennessee, in pursuance OF the provs ons OF the
foregoing act do call upon the good, loyal and pa
trioc people, white and colored, OF every county in
the State to proceed without decay and raise compa
MES Of loyal and able bodied men and report TIE
same to me at Nashville Whether any OF the CON-
panies white colored, 80 organized will be actual
y called into the Geld VIII depend entire upon the
conduct OF the people themselves In the several
counties earnestly hope that there will be no
casion ~ call out these troops but that the efforts OF
all the citizens TO preserve and maintain the peace
will succeed and thus obvate the necessity OF this
stern resort But II, unhappily better cou .sels do
not prevail and order Is not restored and II am
| compelled TO meet armed Inarauders by force,
| purpose to meet them with such numbers aud
In such manner as the exigency snail demand
be deferred from the discharge Of my duty herein by
threat OF violence from rebel speakers or rebel news
| papers, nor by any other means OF intimidation
When companies made up and reported to me
| and am compelled by outrageous exhibitions OF
criminal awlessness, rs before reced, to put them In
| tine neId will have q competent oiiicer inspect
| and muster them In. The pay Of officers and men,
therefore, will not commence until they are mus
tered into service And here again. take occasion
to repeat the hope that may not find necessary TO
| put into the neld single company and earnestly
Invoke the cooperation OF all citizens OF the state
| the endeavor to maintain the laws and preserve
order without military force. Claim NJ the right to
select aud commission the officers Of the State mi-
tary will say, once for all TO gentlemen I'M
| dertaEe to make up conpini.s that " th,r COM
mands are received BY me and they themselves are
commissioned, must have satisfactory eyd that
| they are prudent, thoroughly loyal and competent
men, The companies proposed to be raised shall be IN
fantry, and shall consist Of not less than eighty nor
more than hundred effective men In eacn COM
pan7 Those desiring to form companies can pro-
ceed at once TO do So under warrant o. this procla-
nation without other or further correspondence
with me the subject. Aware that prctext VIII
be eager sought by rebels who are bitterly hostile
to the elevation OF the coored man TO precipitate
war OF races, and desiring 10 avoid all occasions
even the least for such lretext and not ut all ~
doubling the courage or soldiery Abilities OF the co..
ored man, shall first call Into the field, II .ound
cessary, only white troops, holding the coored COM
panies when organized, "a reserve corps, TO be
called out II 1t shall be found necessary, to suppress
Instruction. II the two shall be found unb,ual To
the work will call on the United states government
TO assist until armed resistance against the state au
thorty shall be entirely overthrown,
since writing the foregoing COMMITTEES OF the lie,
gisiture OF Tennessee has arrived at Wasnngt0nn ii
held a conference with the President OF tie United
states, the result Of which, aslollows:-
wAenINoroS, Sept. ~. 1853
To Hrs ExoELIvSCy W. q. BrowsLoy .-Misson &C.
compiishcd The President will sustain the civil authorities
Orders ssued TO department commander to sustain anu au
the civil sufficient will be furnished 10
accomplish such purpose - -
W. n. wIsFNER,)
IA. HAhlLloN,l Committee
J. H. AGEE.
Should the department commander be fnrnishod
with sufficient force to keep order ] will chceruily
cooperate with him; and In that event the state
Guards may not be called into service. And again
express the hope most sincerely that neither the
United states troops nor the state Guards may DC
called into active service. still deem II my dutv,
under the foregoing Of the General Assembly, 10
go on and organize companies and regiments, ana
TO be in readiness for any emergency that NAV arse
lnasmuch prefer these troops shall be raised IN
East Tennessee limit to tile number oil companies
shall be required from any one county. ...,
Ia testimony whereof, sign the same, 6c, TINS iOtn