Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-29

seAfafipes. The constitutional provision, au-
thOrizing me 10 convene yOu IN extraordinary
purposes for which You have been convened,
and at the same time limits You in your acts Of
legislation TO the business for which yea have
been called together.
AT your session last winter BIZ large rnajori-
ties in both houses. yOu repealed what was
known as the militia law. accordingly pad on
the militia aud dsbanded them, so that for the
last ten months there has beeB no troops at my
disposal. A. members Of the Legislature, yOu
were assured BY leading Conservatives in their
respective counties. and doubly assured by the
leading Rebel journals Of the State, there would
be no necessity for any troops whatever, and
that law and order would DO strictly observed.
IL turns out the rebelliOus elements OF the State
were at that time secretly armiDg themselves
and perfecting military organization known
asithe Ku-kluX Kan, composed ofex- Rebel s0l-
diers and those who were In sympathy with
them; thus violating their parole at the time of
their surrender, and violating the laws Of the
State. and plotting and planning mischief in
every respect. Those men have been arming
and organizing for year past with an eye 20
tho overthrow OF the state goYeTnment, and,
ultimately, 70 carry the State in the Presiden-
tiai election. They have known. as well as the
political leaders and bad men who have Prompt
cd their action, that the President of the United
States was bitterly hostile to the men and
measures Of the present State government, and
would readily favor a movement that wO0ld
overthrow both. They have boen confident, and
have so expressed themselves, that the Presi-
aid BY the disposition Of troops, and changes in
this military department as 1would insure them
an easy victory and some of them have beon 80
iudiscreet as openly 10 boast of this. Their
schemes have involved tho overthrow Of tho
existing State government. the abolition OF col
ored suffrage, the Immediate entIanehsement,
under the revolutionary Constitution, OF every
hebel who fought % destroy the government,
and wiping from the statute books of ali the
wholesome SJ and patriotic laws enacted since
So violent and murdereus have been the cor.
duct Of these armed outlaws in different conn
ties Of Middle and Vest Tennessee, that, acting
under the authority Of a resolution you adopted
last spring, have called upon the brave and
patriotic commander of this department at
Louisville to furnish me regular troops for these
counties. The following correspondence will
show you with what result:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE KNoxvTLBE, Tenn. June
Is, lS6S.--Nay. Gen. CsOrge N. ThORlass Com
R6ndin0. &C.: The following is a copy OF a dIs-
patch from the Hon. Mr. Arnel: a..ta
"C0LuMBIA. Tenn, juno a. 1868 s--''To Gop.
william q. BTO,oHiOw The ku-kluN search
ed the train for me last night, pistols and rope
n hand. EmpoWW me TO call upon the mill
tary here. IL necessary. in your name. 20 sup
press ali armed and masked parties IN this
u propose to eight it out. :. 4, NJ. 10. 3
This is but in keeping with what is going on
In other counties in Middle and West Tennes-
sec, a. l am advised by reliable men.
/ therefore call upon you TO furnish q cOm-
pany Of troops for the counties of Lincoln and
Marshall jointly, one for the county of 0biOn.
one for the county Of Dyer, and one for the
counties the civil laws cannot be enforced or
loyal men allowed TO exercise their rights and
liberties. If you have the troops. also desire
that company be sent TO Fayette county.
W.. G. BRowNLOW.
Governor Of Tennessee.
HEApQ'Rs DEPARTWENT or rms CUMBERLAND.
Louisville. June IS, lS6s:-Itis Erceitcncy ". q
u n Ia
Tsna.-SIR | have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your letter Of the 18th inst. con-
tanning a copy Of dispatch from tbs Hon. S. NJ L.
Arnell to ysu, and your request Tor troops TO DO
that without troops in these counties the civil
laws cannot be enforced OF loyal men allowed to
exercise their rights and liberties. l have the
honor 70 say in reply that the military can only
be used te aid and sustain the civil authorities
in the discharge Of their duties. The State Of
Tennessee being in the full exercise of all the
civil functions Of State, the military authority
Of the United States cannot legally interfere
except in aid and support Of the civil authOri-
ty. For these purposes troops have been sent
TO various localities at your request. These de-
tails, together with the present demand for
troops 90 assist tho United States officers in col
leoting the revenue. has so exhausted the force
at my command as 90 prevent the complying
with your request TO send companies to the
counties named,
Very respectfully. your obedient servant,
GRo. Ii. THONAs,
MAJ. zen. u >. A., Commanding
HEApo'Rs DEPARTMENT OF THE CuNBRnLGNp.
S@H o. Brooa S5Seor aSOs1o Of r. ess
kHoruilje, Tenn STR Referring to my Iettor
Of the 18th inst, TO you, have tho honor TO in
| form you that since Writing.I have procured a
cepy Of tho acts of the twenty fifth General As
! sembly of Tennessee for the years lS67-s.
have carefully examined the acts providing for
the protection Of SheriiTs, etc. and relating 10
/ the State Guard, and respectfully submit te you,
as my opinion, that under those laws, If yigor-
ously enforced. the difficulties in Fennsssee
Tho 7th. and subsequent sections of the "a ct
| for the protection Of Sheritts," etc. passed
February lst, 1865, appears 70 be especially
available and practicable for good effect, and
| could be more readily and quickly enforced
| than the act 20 "erEaniYe and equip a state
Guard, - etc, passed March 18th, 1868, though
| II found necessary, this would be the more
| powerful organization, notwithstanding its de-
hciencies as 20 a staff corps for lis administra-
| tion
! take the liberty Of sivins an opinion on thi'
subject, because Of the probability Of the ne,
cossity in the end Of your calling on the United
States for aid under the provisions Of the Con
stitution. and, as you have been informed. th'
| force AZ my command IS 50 exhausted by call
for othur duties. that Il IS not likely that sui
hccnt troops for the purpose could be furnished
] have the the honor 10 be, very respectfully
/ your obeiient servant,
1 Maler General u, S. A. ..
4 SrArE OF TFNNEssEF, EXECUTIVE DEPART
MINT, KNOXVILLE, June p. ls6s,-dpor q,
1 erdi Geo. ". Thom0s Your favor OF the zlti
| inst, is now before me, and your suggestion
/ have boon duly considered. l thank you for tn
same, and fully appreciate yOnr motives. IN
j princi pal dlhculty We have 10 encounter pa
j perhaps not occurred TO your mind. The Sherih
| in the rebelh0us counties for the most part ar
strangely silent and as STRANGELY. reluctant {
comply with the provisions ot the law ms re
lUctsnce arises from ono Of two CONSIDERATIONS
4 either the fear Of violence IN attempting Z
/ organize pUilce fnrce, OF amer said force shal
have been disbanded. In some instances tn
Sherifs are in sympathy with the rebellion
/ element Of their rcspoclige counties.
/ Upon the whole. I think II hkely shall hav
10 convene the Legislature in eKtraordinar
session. EE F.-#a HFI
8Ihave the honor 70 be- etc.
W. q. BRowxLow,
Governor of tennessee.
RThis dangerous organization Of eH Rebels not
1 Taui6es almost every part Of the eleven State
1 that once constituted the Southern COufeders
/ cy and has already grown into political en-
1 zine Of oppression 80 powerful and aggrosslY
| ~ 70 call forth in opposition several nOtabl
/ military orders. Organized upen the same b
| sis and HAVING the same dark designs Ia viev
/ that found Cd cuimination IN booth's assass
| nation of Abraham lincoln. u works IN secro
mid signs, symbols and pas SoEas. hateh i. y /,
| Wherever ID may have an existence. The init
, / cntiai portion Of tho Rebel press IA the Son
hail ffs advent as = prOpiuous clrcumstance
. | rs purposes need only extract rom the Cona'
tuition of one Of the clubs ol its c,aerl 60
BY the p0lice AZ Meinph's' inc ioti'NinS ~'-@
The object Of this 0rganizsii9nl Is i9r nc nc ~
| pose Of protecting the people o. TIE ooath ~
j. the band Of mardorcrs and robbers BOW ~, I
upon them, even 70 the last rosofi sass maj !
! nothtng shsh be allowed % deviAte us iroia n
| nOkle object"