Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-05
Il nian aud 9ispatfh.
SUNDAY. JANUARY 5. lsss.
"PAP" THOMAS.

What He Thinks OF Tennessee = tx.
tracts from HIS Report 40 General
Grant.
The following extracts from the annual
report of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, to Gen.
Grant, referring particularly TO Tennessee,
will show The animus by which he was
aetuaied towards the peaceful and law
abiding citizens of our State:
"The condition of affairs generally in the
country districts in Tennesseew was most de-
plorable in the first part of the year, mlIr-
ders, robberies, and Outrsges Of all kinds
being committed without any effort on the
part OF the civil authorities to arrest the
offenders. This was particularly the case
in Simmer and Robertson counties, locali-
ties in which loyalty to the government
never was considered respectable" Union
raen and negroes being in constant danger
of their lives. The town Of Columbia, in
Maury county, Tenn, nsy alss be ulen-
toned as standing prominently forth for
obstacses thrown in the way of obtaining
Justice through the civil courts by any who
were not identified with the Confederates.
The petty officers Of the law, particularly
a Sheriff, by virtue Of that freemasonry ex-
isiing among Rebels and Rebel sympa>
thizers in that locality, oitentimes could
make life almost unbearable to those who
had not remained consistently disloyal to
the government. x
lin Kentucky as we'll as in Tennessee
the administration of Justice depends in a
great measure upon the personal charac.
tiers of the Judge, Sheriff and Jurors, the
laws seemingly making but little differ
ence. Between white and colored people
there is a wide distinction, and that. of
course, generally to the prejudice of the
negro. If a white man commits an out
rage against the negro, redress is difficult
and sometimes impossible to obtain; but
when the reverse complaint comes into
court, the utmost zeal and energy is dis
played in bringing the negro offender to
justice, and the efforts of the civil authori-
ties are then worthy of the highest admit
ration. liz large cities the courts are more
impartial; but taking the lower order of
law officers, Justices of the Peace the de-
cisiOn is generally with the lower order of
whites, and consistently oppressive in its
character.
Just previous TO the August election in
Tennessee, and ever since, there has been
considerable feeling aroused among a GER
tain class concerning the misbehsvior of
the State militia in that part of the coun-
try.
On two occasions i have sent officers of
my staff to make inquiries and investiga-
ton on the spot, and they could elicit
nothing of a general character which could
be considered in the light of gross irregu-
larities, such as the malcontents of the local
press endeavored to represent. Occasional
rows, such as might be expected from a
newly organized body Of men, would occur,
and would then be Immediately seized up
on by an INSCRIPTIONS set of newspaper
demagogues only too willing to misrspre-
sent, If the opportunity were afforded.
Anticipating trouble at the period of the
August election for Governor in Tennes-
see, l so disposed of my troops at central
points, particularly at Memphis and Nash.
vile, that they could be on hand TO render
all the assistance in their power to the
civil authorities in suppressing riot or vio
lence should any occur.
Under the direction Of the General-in.
Chief, went in person to Memphis, as
there was more probability of an outbreak
there than elsewhere. Everything went
off quietly, however, and to the satisfac-
ton Of the defeated party as we'll as to that
elected. A report Of the election was for
warded TO the General~in Chief, immedi-
ately after my return to my headquarters at
Louisville.
After the election was over at Mems
phls, there was quiet throughout the
State of Tennessee with the execution of
some cases of irregularities reported against
the militia in different parts of the State,
which, upon investigations, either proved to
be groUndless, or where lawless acts had
occurred, the men committing depredations
were either turned over 10 the local civil
authorities or punished by their officers }