Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-29
GILES COUNTY.
Meeting of the Citizens ut Pniasss-'
Public Condemnation of Mob Law.

| Public Condemnation Oh MOD law
There was a public meeting Of the
people of Giles county on Thursday, the
oath inst, to express their condemnation
of the recent unlawful and forcible en-
tries of their jail, and the late execution
of criminals, and all other illegal pro-
ceedings which have occurred in their
county. -
On motion of Maj. Thomas NJ. Jones,
Mai. James McCallum was called to the
chair, and, on motion of Gen. Brown,
Chas. G. Alternately, Sr., Gen. Nicholas
Buford, VIM. H. jackson W. F. Bsllen>
tine, Robert Dixon, Edward W. Rose,
Alex. Steele and Edward Marks were
chosen Vice Presidents of the meeting.
Col. A. H. Alternately, F. T. McLaurine
and Frank McCord were appointed Sec
retaries.
The object of the meeting was then
explained by the President, Maj. Mccall
lum, in q most pertinent and effective
manner. He described the mournful and
unhappy results to which mob law would
lead if persisted in, and drew from his
tory startling illustrations Of its fearful
consequences, and called upon the people
to protest against it, and to prevent its
further occurrence in our usually quiet
and orderly county. At the conclusion
of his remarks, on motion, the following
gentlemen were appointed committee
to prepare a preamble and resolutions
expressive of the sense Of the meeting:
Gen. Jno. G. Brown, Major Thos. M.
Jones, Col. Scion E. Rose, Maj. A. R.
Richardson and Gen. Gordon. Thecom-
mittee, through their chairman, Gen.
Brown, reported the following preamble
and resolutions, which were unanimously
approved and adopted:
"Wbereas, Several instances of mob
violence and the summary execution of
criminals have occurred in this county
within the last twelve months and
whereas, our county Jail has been
unlawfuIy and forcibly entered for
said criminals and whereas, such pro-
ceedings are in direct and absolute yiO-
lation of the laws Of the country, and are
subversive of civil government, ruinous
to the peace Of society, startling to the
people, and dangerous to the liberty and
safety of the citizen; therefore,
"Be it resolved by the people of GILES
county, in convention assembled, |. That
we disapprOye, condemn and protest
against the Jail deliveries and executions
which have occurred or may hereafter
occur in this county.
-. That the civil law must and shall
%
"3. That criminals ought to be duly
punished, but under the established laws
of the land.
Il. That we pledge ourselves to the
protection Of the property and persons Of
the citizens of this county; to the faith
full administration of the civil law, and to
sustain the civil officers in the execution
of the same.
as. That copy Of this preamble and
! these resolutions be furnished to the Pu-
laski Citizen and the Nashville papers
for publication"
| Strong and appropriate speeches were
made on the occasion by Maj. McCallum,
Judge Hughes, Gen. Brown, Maj. Jones
| Col. Rose, Maj. Richardson, Gen. Cor
| QOn, w His Nc"ht anu NOt' AOSlh@IhJ
all indorsing the resolutions and express.
ing their unqualified disapprobatiOn and
condemnation Of mob law, and calling
earnestly and eloquently on the people
to use their power and influence to pre-
vent it in future. The speakers pictured
in graphic and startling language, tn
fearful results to which mob law wOulC
lead if permitted to continue, and fer
yently conjured the people to raise thei
voices against it. We trust and belieV
that henceforth there will be no more G
these unfortunate occurrences in GU
hitherto peaceful and quiet community
and it is due to the credit, reputation aa'
honor of our county, to say that the re
cent executions are extraordinary an
irregular occurrences, and that, as
county, there is not more peaceful
lav,abiding and humane people to b
found in the State, or anywhere else; an
it is also just to observe that both Barne
and Mason were extraordinary, desperate
defiant and incOrrigible criminals, an
may have merited such a fate. But tn
people demand that such shall NJ
thus be inflicted upon the worst crimi
nails, but that their punishment shall b
awarded and inflicted by legally cOnst
tuted authority. And they demand, to-
that the laws Of the land be recognize
| and respected.
1t was moved by Mr.. Frizzell that til
; preamble and resolutions adopted be di
tributed through the county in circuli
form. Adopted.
1t was then moved that cOmmittt
, of five be appointed to prepare an ad
dress to the people of Giles, to accom-
i, pany the resolutions, whereupon Ge
|. Brown, Maj. Jones, Col. Rose, Maj. Ric
p ardson and Gen. Gordon were appointt
+ the committee to prepare the address.
=, FRANK McCoRD, Sec'y.