Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-08-14
REMARKS OF GEN. <lUkxtLtS.
before the MiNtHry f6mmItfSe Oh
saturday Evening.


Our report of Gen. Quarles' remarks
before the committee of the Legisla-
ture in behalf Of peacej was so nauch
abbreviated that We give, at his re-
quest, the following as more nearly
just to him:-Nashville Banner.
General Quarles reitered the same
assurances Of those &hO had preceded
him. He agreed with General Cheat
ham that by law the sheriffs had pow
er to Summon persons to arrest VIOLA
tOrs of the peace and to suppress dis
orders, and while they POSSESSED tlIat
power all they had to do, when peace
was necessary to lie preserved, would
be to call or summon COnfederates
upon the posse, and they would>fifth
them always rentfy aid willing to
preserve thepence. This, II summon
ed, he pledged himself to do, and all
the gentlemen present. He was as-
tOnished that there was not more vio-
lence in the country than there was.
We had just passed through gigati-
! tie war, and general decentralization
had been the result of 1t, without dis
tinctiOn Of parties, color or race. He
believed that, In order that there
might exist peace, sincerity and friend
ship among the people, that all lshould
be possessed Of the same rights and
privileges. As q lawyer, he had q
great deal to do with the crime Of the
State, and he found that universally
outside OF the ranks of the army
There were persons In every county
took sides with the parties which they
| thought to be in the ascendency In
that particular neighborhOod, who
had no otherinterest than self. These
were the disturbers of the peace and
the most violent. The Confederate
soldier was necessarily the prescrver
of the peace. In the first place they
had been disciplined, and secondly, IL
was to his interest TO preserve the
peace. He had nothing to gain by
disorder and lawlessiIess and violence,
but everything to lose. He suggested
that the general peace could be pre-
served without the expenditure of one
dollar. The very moment the I.egis-
lature showed disposition to trust
and have faith I'm that class of citizens
embracing Confederate soldiers, fIfat
very moment they placed them OH
an equal basis with other citizens I'm
rights and privileges; without the exc
penditure of a single dollar of tile pub
lie money there would be enlisted OF
the side Of law and order sixty thous-
and veteran troops, the best and
the bravest. II was exceedingly aIf-
fair and unjust to hold the disfraf-
chised persons of the community res-
ponsible for all law1esssess commit
ted. The law breakers were geHernr-
ly desertcrs from both armies. Men
who had proved f;tlse TO their colors
would of course prove false and fafth-
less as citizeIs. 1t Is true, the people
of the State who were disfranehised
were restless, Give the people an
equal chance. There would he no
sort Of contentfhent or duietness thrill
their disabilities We're removed
Without making any argument on
the subject, he asked the committee to
take the matter to themselves. Sup
pose they, by the casualties of war,
had been denied the privilege OF vot.
ing and kfdiHg office Let their
hearts reply to the question, and say
been discontented. He wished tifo
thing said In the nature of threat.
He only desired. 10 sifhply speak tho
candid truth. He thought the calling
out of militia force would add 10 the
inflamed condition Of tie pubic mind
10 such an extent that blOodshed was
inevitable. The people of the South
i'm their widest moments did not in
dulge the desire, much less the active
organization of Il revolution or re-
bellion against the State and Federal
government. For security and peace
the hostages they presented were the
devasted fields Of the South, md tho
inability Of the people t6 make war
Of any description. All that was
lacking was faith III one another, siii-
cerity and integrity Of purpose
Some remarks having been made
about the course Of certain editors, hc
said that the Generals and the people
were not and could not be responsible
therefor.