Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-09-11

were giving trouble In his county were from
Kentucky. He considered It the duty of
the State to afford the necessary protection,
and added that should the bill pass in its
present shape, he was willing to subs cribe
his share to test in the courts the provision
referred to. Yet the bill not only passed
the House by a large majority, but under
the operation Of the previous question, thus
cutting off all opportunity for discussing its
merits or promising amendments thereto,
just twenty having lsecn sufficient to put 1t
through. In the Senate, which is said to
have more ability, aud perhaps not 50 many
extremists, more deliberation has been
shown. Having passed its first reading in
that body on the 9th, 1t was referred to
the judiciary committee. A resolution was
also adopted on the same day by the Sen
ate, calling for the appointment Of joint
select committee to wait upon President
johnson, and present him the condition of
affairs Ia Tennessee, aud urge upon him to
take steps TO give protection TO the law.
abiding citizens Of the State under the pro-
visions of the constitution Of the United
States. The action of tbs Senate 10 adopt
ing this resolution is thought to indicate
wholesome temper 10 that body.
IL Is a very remarkable fact that whilst
such a monstrous measure as the Tennes-
see militia bill is urged in hot haste through
the lower house Of the Legislature, the on
ly place in Tennessee where United States
troops are at present required TO enforce
the laws is in "loyap' East Tennessee, and
the Nashville Union states that this Is par
ticularly the case in the district represen
tod by Horace Maynard, and in which Gov
ernor Brownlow resides. 1t appears that
the internal revenue collector Tor that dis
frtp hau III al, TT
ted States troops to enable him 10 enforce
the law regulating the distillation Of liquors,
aud a company OF cavalry has been station.
ed at Knoxville for some time past, subject
to the call of the collector. Gov. Brown
low, judging by one of his editorial articles
in the Knoxville Wing, seems to feel a good
deal of sympathy with 1.-THE poor East Ten.
nessean (radicaD who makes one iun of
corn whiskey aud is arrested, Imprisoned
and broken up" whilst he would extermi-
nate his political opponents if he can find
the slightest pretext for fixing upon them
a violation of law.
Among the papers which have been pre-
sented to the Tennessee Legislature in con-
nection with these proceedings is one SUBJ
mitted TO the Senate by Mr.. Lindsey, and
which covers q correspondence between Mr..
George W. Allen, of Sumner county, aud
Mr.. j. B. HOLIDAY, sheriff of the county,
touching the alleged disorders in that coun-
ty, which Is said by Mr.. Allen TO have been
more misrepresented than in any county in
the State. In reply to Mr.. Aliens questions
the sheriff states that be has never encoun-
tered any difficulty in the execution Of pro-
cess, never apprehended any resistance In
the performance Of his duties, never doubt
cd but that if he were resisted no could
command sufficient assistance from the cit
izens to execute all process, and does not
believe there is anything in the conduct of
the people that calls for militia force
Mr.. Allen gives in his letter an account Of
an armed body of colored men, under the
command OF one J. N. Philips, which APP
peared in Sumner county, on the election
for chancellor, on the 28Ih of March last,
and which is Of interest as illustrating the
manner in which the militia bill, ii 1t be-
comes law, will probably operate, and also
the intimate connection that seems 10 exist
between loyal violence and financial rascal
ity. IL was not until the citizens had in
formed Phillips of their determination that
the ballot-box shoud not be taken posses
sion OF by an armed force, that he agreed
to withdraw his forces from the immediate
vicinity of the polls, and in this way peace
and order we're preserved, though great
many voters were SO inundated by the
presence OF aimed men that they did not
vote. After the disbandment of the force
Mr.. Allen states that Phillips made out
fraudulent payroll, giving each man credit
for more days services than any of them had
performed, and crediting three men for one
horse each for thirteen days, when the men
themselves swore they had no horse. Cap
tam Phillips, no doubt, had got his brain 30
thoroughly Ku-Kluxed that he sees imag-
mary horses in his own command, as Well as
among the rebels, aud makes his imagina-
ton profitable. At any rate he seems TO
have got warrant, in payment Of horse and
foot, on the county treasury for 81 500,
which he placed in the hands of huckster,
loyal, no doubt, if not honest, who paid
them off in goods at extorbitant prices.