Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-23

commenced their midnight trtIyels and deprssla.
Ions. The present condition ,Ef affair az piven
above, is sustained by sworn testimony before ne
Sommstee or Military Affairs OK the Iegislature If
Of witnesses from var5us counties in that
state and Is corroborated By the personal observe
ton OF the committee and confirmed by the history
OF the Tennessee troubles We Iregret NJ pei
dent not being able TO furnish vog with min tad
/ copy Of that report and testimony on which h Is
based When we left Nashyille they were in The
hands Of Che printer, aud we were unable % pro.
| cure one y Pr
wenow come 10 the other part of our ins.ruc.ions
which is TO urge upon you 70 taxs stens = so No.
lection TO the law-abiding citizens of the stats ~
tennessee, under the provisions df tbe Constitntoo
OF the United States This we n,T N
not because we believe, or the L4gislatrs and nc
governor believe, that thu State IA unable "a over
come BY military force the opposition 10 the STATE
government there and the Ru Klhx Khan. and nun
Ism the offenders, but because they (the Ie0slatnrel
and we deem il better 20 have FEDERAL tro9ns there
TO aid in the enforcement of the laws and supnress
any riots or insurrecon chat might be ATTEMPTED or
occur. Federal troops are prefbrred on another
ground. They have no local pergonai likes or dis.
likes TO influence them 70 commit wrongs on peace
ful citizens nor be subject tberhselves after dis
charge from service, to wrongs and outrapes for
having been in the State military service Fur
Their this Khan threaten that no udre elections shall
be held in Tennessee in the counties where thew
have the power 10 prevent it, Ifthis should be the
principle upon which they act III the absence of
proper force, then probably no election could be
held in Tennessee for the Republicans in the coun-
ties where they have the numercial strength might
drive the CONSERVATIVES from the bolls What v q
desire sufficient force TO aid thb civil auhofties
IN holding elections SO that every man who Is en-
tilted TO exercise the elective franchise NAV exercise
It, no difference for whom or for what PARTY he may
choose to vote That this lie tie discrimination Of the
hian is established by their continued night tfsvels
their saying 10 Union men, as we'll white as colored
they shall not vote unless they execise the privilege
IN particular way. They are DISCERNING white and
colored men whene yer thew can. The Legislature
hoped the numbers Of tho Khan would decrease and
their outrages would diminish but in shs il was
mistaken. II has delayed action having we'll
founded hope and expectation thst the efforts Of
certain prominent and distinguished representative
men who had pledged their honest lendeavors 10 eff
feet, as far as possible, such debrable result
Their efforts thus far have although made in good
faith, been crowned with no beneficial results On the
contrary, their numbers and violebce in many To-
ealities the increase. Nothing is therefore
left but to resort 10 the military add the Legsla-
ture prefers for the reasons above sisted, the
Federal instead Of State troops be used.
We therefore, behalf fthe Legs AZURE Of Tennes-
see respectfully urge that you send, as early as
practicable-the sooner the better sufficient Fed
eral force 10 that State 20 aid the civil authorities
70 act wish them in suppressng thete wrongs and |
bringing TO trial the guilty parties giving assurance
to all that the laws will be enforced crime punished
and protection extended to such ofchrs and citizens
as may attempt 10 execute the laws pr prosecute for
their violation. The Legislature Of Tennessee, in |
sending to make the request we hdve did SO upon
the ground that she is part Of the GREAT American
Union, contributing TO the support Of the common /
government enjoying its benefits and blessings and
that they come asking Of the goydrnment of the
United States that which they believed they had a
right under the Constitution TO expect
We respectfully request as early a1 answer from
your Excellency it is convenient fbr you to give
it. for the reason that the Legislature has adopted
resolution fixing Monday the dag for adjourn
nent, and il is important for them I'd know the re-
alt of our application before that lime.
Hoping favorable result to our application, we /
subscribe ourselves,
Respectfully, your obedient servants,
w H. WIsKNszR
On the part of the Senate
THOMAS a. HAMILTON.
J. II. AGEE.