The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-07-29
TENNESSEE.

NEW YORK, July 28-The Times Knoxville
special says Gov. Brownlow's message to the
Legislature in extra session will be read to-
morrow in Nashville. He transmits the petit
Gons of union men from middle and east Ten
nessee, reciting their wrongs, and leaves the
question of arming the militia to the Legsla-
ture. Many committees and influential men
have visited and urged HIM to recommend the
enfranchisement of the non-vOting viii ties, but
he refers the whole question to the Legislature
and refuses any recommendation. On fnan-
cal measures he urgus prompt action towards
paying the July interest and the matured
bonds. dZu- t13.8 f7aE a4E "a le a
NASHVILLE, July %.
Governor Brownlow's message was read in
the Legislature this morning. In stating the
reasons which prompted him to call the Leg
islature together he says: The actions of that
body last Winter left him without authority to
employ the militia, and he accordingly paid
and disbanded those in the service; and that
the members had been told by the Conserva-
tives that there was no use for the military,
and that all would be quiet in the State; but
at that time the rebel paroled soldiers were
forming themselves into secret bands to over
Presidential election. He stated that he re-
garded those bands as murderers and robbers,
and recommends the Legislature to declare
them outlaws, and punishable by death where
ever found.
He calls on the members who have been in
their protection to pass the necessary laws, and
give him sufficient clerical force to carry out
his orders, and the money necessary to defray
the expenses, and to pay whatever force may
be needed. He says he intends the RESPONSE
bility shall rest with the Legislature and not
with the Executive Department.. If the mill
tary force is ordered laws must be passed to
protect them in all proper acts while on duty.
Should the Legislature prefer some other
party to have charge of the militia, he would
stand aside.
Mr.. Brownlow calls attention to the finan-
~cial condition Of Tennessee, and recommends
that special Committee be appointed to in
poyment of the July interest.
In conclusion he says: have been appealed
to by prominent men of both political parties
to urge upon you the propriety of remov-
ing the political disability formaery imposed
upon large class Of rebels. The conduct of
that class OF people has been, and is still, such
that do not feel justified in making this
recommendation. They have military or
ganization in this State, where the avowed OBJ
Ject is to tranple the laws under foot and force
the party in power to enfranchise themselve,
and their sympathizers. I cannot satisfy my
selfby yielding to this request accompanied by
= threats of violence. If the members of the
General Assembly are alarmed for their perso-
nal safety, and feel disposed to sue for peace
upon the terms proposed by. an armed mob
they will of course, take different view of the
subject, and any recommendation of this kind
il made at ALL should be. made at a regular
and not a called session of your body, and
action thereupon shall be deemed wise at your
adjourned meeting in November next. 1t
can then be more safely determined by strictly
observing the conduct of these reconstruct
Ku Klux rebels and their sympathizing sup
porters, between this time and that.