The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-01

quate to the OCCASION and the peculiarly brilliant
terms common among classical negroes and market
women were seized upon with patriotic avidity and
aunched at the unfortunate minority man. Law
books were cutched aud swung over legislative
neaos' each speaker contending he could prove by
the code that In an Important question like that OF
me militia was treason for any one to report ad-
such noise and whried about with such fierceness
that the poor member from Shelby was constantly
ducking under his table, believing IN his heart ana
soul the arguments against his audacity would cul-
minate III shower OF law books ON his devoted
head.
One representative. named Stone, who IA much
stanty during the session. Jumped to his feet during
the excitement and crushing his beloved stem
under foot yelled out:"Ieh, there, Mr.. Speaker, It
Is ABOUT time we kicked out all SIGH documents and
them who make 'em."
Then up rose Mynatt, he of East Tennessee, and
there was lul in the storm, even the member from
shelby ventnrng to lift his head above the rim OF
his desk TO listen and be edited. Mynatt stood up.
He coughed three distinct times ana shudder crept
over the recumben negroes in the gallery for when
Mynatt coughs three tunes every negro in the gal.
lery IS warned to wake up and listen TO ''crusher"
on treason. lie turned himself about, swung MS
right arm high over head and then every negro
In the gallery half jumped from his scat IN
usual. by way Of attention." and ali his
'lawn books had fallen to the floor with
fearful crash Up went the bony arm again and
clenched teeth as though he would grind every cop
perhead between them If he could, the long skinny
finger was pointed at the unfortunate member from
Shelby, and then Mynatt spoke. ne felt he was the
leading member from East Tennessee and Kissed out
that he bore his laurels modcstly; but what he
not compared TO the member from Shelby He stood
head and shoulders above such men, such pigmies.
He desnised them. He spat upon them. What, tax
mis- people to pay ss for printing one hundred ana
forty copies OF that foul report Not he. Didn't he
by vote help to increase the debt of the State
$4,000 900 over and above the indebtedness at the
close of the WARP or course he did Who said ne
didn't? Traitors would say he did, and he didn't
care for traitors; but print correspondence between
any set Of men who had ever written TO or about
Andrew Johnson The idea was monstrous, and he
called upon his fellow members to show the world
what patriots they were, how easily they could lift
themselves above the litteness OF ordinary b3ings,
and Ike true statesmen, lay that report Oh the table
to ''rot and be q lesson to evil doers."
In vain did Williams, OF Smith county, and Bosom
OF Rutherford appeal to the generosity ana good
feeling Of the House. claiming that the refusal to
print would be ga club in the enemys hands, The
minority report was laid on the table by an over
whelming VOTE Ihen came the next day, motion
to pass the bill It's nal reading, ana the previous
question was moved and seconded. rms gagglng
was too much even for some OF The republicans, ana
one republican, Mr.. Brown, declared ne would not
vote on such mOnstrOus proposition, by when tne
right OF debate was TO be cut OH me
law, in his opinion, was unconstitutional in many
respects, and if passed in lts then inproper shape
would he mpracticable. The members in favor oil
the bill afraid OF debate and putting ON ms nat
Mr. Brown left the room, but returned in time 10
vote against the BILL 1t being passed ny vote OF AZ
to Is.
1t ia rather strange to say the least that the most
earnest advocates of the bill, and those who sus-
tained the previous question, were the members from
East Tennessee. The militia is intended for West
and Middle Tennessee and yet the representatives
of these two sections, who should know more about
the wants OF their parts of the state than the Eastern
men, not at all anxious about the bill passing,
and when it was supposed they would be allowed TO
discuss the pros and OF the question they were
gagged by the East Tennesseeans calling for and
sustaining the previous question:. 1t Is very evident
that East Tennessee has an axe OF It's own to grind
To-day the Senate, which does not seem to look upon
the bill with all that radical favor which the lower
house expects It shouldn't what y Is de1eT n"
side preSsureN-appOinted cOmlnittee TO go 10
Washington and confer with the President on the
stuatOnv and ascertain to what extent Mr.. johnson
is willing TO send troops here when called for The
Senate In doing this knows perfectly well that In the
respect of sending United States troops into the
State General Thomas was to-day put under the
same instructions rs General Buchanan was some
time ago In his department; put IL nevertheless
wants something special for Tennessee over and
above what the aforesaid instructions provide for
The appointing OF the committee has set the lower
house I'm wonderful ferment OF Indignation, for
they see in it the first steps toward conciliatory
spirit on the part OF the higher body, and as
things now LOOK navent tm9 s 'h nGuos
'sfayorabe terms' majority would be found In the
Senate with sufficient moral courage to refuse to
mass the bin and defy the threats Of the Representa-
tyes AS the bill now stands as passed by the
House the clause authorizing the Governor to col
lcct from each county In which he thinks the militia
ought TO be sent "a sufficient amount for the full
payment OF the State Guards so employed" Is the
most Objectionable feature. Even certain of the
Dowdy, OF Prentiss and Neral, OF Williamson
counties have positively declared that they Will not
tend that their people can take care OF themselves
aud will do in all emergencies. Much feeling is
also expressed against that clause which gives the
Governor power to draw $4,000 for the milta's
support every time 1t is called out. for he might call
1t out twenty times at his pleasure and twenty times
$4,000 IL a very nice figure to be tackled on TO tax
il is said that misfortunes never come sngly, and
90 the old saw seems just now to be working very
consistently I'm this State for TO add to the general
condition OF misery comes the ominous fact that the
negroes are arming and drilling In various localities
,t,tI INIT m n n ava w
fbody can easily conjecture. In q country district
about ten miles from Memphis myself, thanks to
the pilotage OF an old negro last Friday night came
across gang OF some four hundred blacks, all
armed with muskets and undergoing rigorous
drill according to uptonp as the white , man who
sion that was very active friend OF Brownowism,
which, under the circumstances did not
did not belong to anv State military or.
ganizaon. but then he thought 1t Just about
as well that The negroes should keep their hands
i'm - and when they were wanted they could be
relied on I ventured to ask If the Governor might
not find fault with him II he knew
that he he neT Ss coande Mth was dp es
permission. "Oh ~ replied he, laughing, al guess
the old man knows It about this time. II won't
amount to much II he DON'T anyhow, for one Of the
members was down here the other day and told
him how the boys were getting on, and he said,
Go ahead keep 1t up and intend TO keep 1t up.'
The Old negro who acted as my guide and belonged
TO this armed band said that every one OF them after
the drill had orders to dispense In different direc
ID
hest His idea OF tho organization seemed to be that
the whites and blacks were to have battle soon In
some part OF the state, when, II the latter were
cessf the property OF their antagonists would be
divided among the vctors Just In the outskirts OF
South Nashville the negroes drill nightly and make
no secret OF H. Day before yesterday two cases OF
twenty muskets each directed to prominent radi.
cal in Franklin passed through this city, and what
lends additional weight to the supposition
that there is mischief brewing ahead Is
that the Committee on Military Affairs during
their investigations this week have ascertaned that
the negroes in this city have been by far the largest
purchasers of firearms during the past two months.
one of the consequences OF this state Of things Ia an
exodus of the white people in the rural districts
from the state. Several families arrived In this city
this week and have since left for Kentucky not even
feeling safe I'm the cities, while there are quite
number OF persons In Memphis and Nashville OF pres
emf who have abandoned their crops and homes In
tbe country and intend to remain IN these towns
until things look more peaceful In their own neigh
borhoods These are facts which can vouch for
The Franklin tragedy, I'm which Prussian named
Berflcld and o negro named Bowman were killed
las week has afforded the radicals another handle