Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-12
Thirteen Rebel Generals.

The following document was presented
to our Legislature by the signers, in person
on the first day Of this month:
TO THE HONORABLE, THE LEGISLATURE OF
TENNESSEE NOW IN EXTRAORDINARY sEs-
SION.
The right Of petition and remonstrance
being conceded by all classes in this coun-
try, and feeling, as we do, deep solicitude
for the peace and quiet Of our great and
glorious State, and belonging to that class
in Tennessee who are regarded by some Of
the authorities as hostile to the present or
ganization, we yield TO a sense Of duty, and
respectfully invite your honorable body to
q consideration of our view Of the means
that may avert the precipitation of the
crisis which acknowledged to be imminent
Being Unidentified with that large class sup
posed TO be hostile to the State Govern
ment, we beg to respectfully say that his
Excellency, the Governor, wholly misap-
prehends our feeling and intentions In de
claring in his late message that we seek the
overthrow of the State Government, or to
do any other act by revolutionary or law
less means. Neither we nor those with
whom, in past days, we have bee associated
contemplate any such rashness OF folly
nor do we believe there is in Tennessee any
organization, either public or secret, which
has such purpose and if there be, we
have neither sympathy or utilization there
with We believe the peace of the State
does not require the organization of q mill
tary force by your honorable body, and re-
spectfulty submit that such a measure might
more strongly tend to bring about and pro
and good order of the country. And, in
asEmuch as the supposed danger TO the
peace of the State is apprehended from
that class of the community with which we
are considered identified, as inducement and
reason to your honorable body not to or
ganize such military force, we pledge our
selves to maintain the order and peace of
the State with whatever Of influence we
possess to uphold and support the laws,
and aid in their execution, trusting that
reciprocation of these sentiments by your
honorable body viii produce the enactment
Of such laws as will remove all irritating
causes now disturbing society. For when
it is remembered that the large mass of
white men in Tennessee are denied the
right TO vote or hold office, it is not won
derful or unnatural there should exist more
or less dissatisfaction among them. And
we beg leave to respectfully submit for
your consideration, that prompt and eff
fcient action on the part Of the proper au-
thorities, for removal Of the political dis
abilities, resting upon so many Of our peo-
pie, would heal all the wounds of our State |
and make us once more prosperous, con- /
tented and united people
Respectfully, Your obedieut servants,
B. f. CHEATHAM,
w. b. BATE,
THOMAS B. SMITH
WILLIAM a QUARLEs
JOSEPH w PALMER.
GEORGE, W. GORDON
n B. FoRREsT,
JOHN c. Brown
5. r. ANDERSON
G g. DIBRELL,
BUsHRoD f. JoHEsos.
GEORGE NANCY.
GIDEON J Pillow.
Three days later, being the 9th the NASH
vile Banner reports General W. A Guards
rs making the following speech at rebel
mass meeting in Paris, Henry County
he commenced his address by disseoting
he late State paper Of his ExoellencY
sovernor Brownlow, addressed the General
Assembly of seallawags and bummers. He
poke of the attempt on the part of the
Governor to incite luminosity between the
whites and the blacks, and such a scorch.
ng, whitening and quiet tongue flashing
vas never give 10 mortal man as was then
md there administered to the vile old re-
reant that now disgraces the Guborna-
ional chair of Tennessee. He spoke in
ust terms of the infamous and false dis
patch said to have been received from
sarnse, IN regard TO the Kullux having
'ee" COOKING tor him in train between