Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-31
MESSAGE OF wHT. 6. BROWN
Low, GOVERNOR OF
TENNESSEE.
Delivered TO the Legislature
July Is, 1865.
Gentlemen Of The senate and House of Repre-

Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentativess
The constitutional provision authoriz
ing me to convene you in extraordinary
session, makes 1t my duty to state to vol
the purposes for which you have beer
convened, and at the same time limits
you In your acts of legislation TO the
business for which you have been called
together.
AT your session of last winter, by large
malOrities In both houses, you repealed
what was known as the militia law.
accordingly paid off the militia and dis
banded them, so that for the last ten
months there have been no State troops
at my disposal. AS members of the Leg
isiature, you were assured by leading
COnser natives In their respective coun
ties, and dOubly assured by the leading
rebel journals OF the State, there would
he no necessity for any troops whatever
and that law and order would be strictly
observed. 1t turns out that the rebel
liOus elements of the State were at that
time secretly Arning themselves and
perfecting military organization known
~ the Kuklux Khan, composed Of eX-
rebel soldiers and those who were in
sympathy with them; thus violating
their parole at the time of the surrender,
and violating the laws of the State
and plotting and planning mis-
chief in every respect. These men
have been arming and organizing
for q year past, with an eye to the over
throw of the State Government, and
ultimately, to carrying the S ate in the
Presidential election. They have known,
as well as the political leaders and bad
men who have prompted their action,
that the President OF the United States
was bitterly hostile 10 the men and
measures of the present State Govern.
ment, and would readily favor a move
ment that would overthrow both. They
have been confident, and have SO ex-
pressed themselves, that the President
would give them, as TevOlutionists, such
aid by the disposition of troops, and
changes in this military department, as
would insure them an easy victory and
some Of them have been so iudisereet as
openly to beast of this. Their schemes
have involved the overthrow of the ex.
isting Stale Government, the abolition
of cOloTed suffrage, the immediate en-
reimbursement. under the revolutionary
Constitution, If every rebel who fought
to destroy the G0vernment, aud a wiping
from the statute books of all the whole
some and patriotic laws enacted since
April, 1865.
So violent and murderous have been
the conduct of these armed outlaws in
Middle and West Tennessee, that, acting
under the authority of a resolution you
adopted last spring, 1 have called upon
the brave ana patriotic commander o.
this department at Louisville, to furnish
me regular troops for these counties
The following correspondence will show
with what result:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
NASHVILLE, Tenn, June Is, 1875.
Moj.-Gen. George d. Thomas, Commanding
etc;
The following is copy of dispatch
from Hon. MT. Arnell
"COLUMBIA, Tenn, June Il, 1868.
ITO GOV. W. @. BrownIow:
1.-The Kuklux searched the train foI
me last nighi, pistols and rope in hand
Empower me 10 call upon the military
here if necessary in your name, to sup
press all armed and masked parties in
this vicinity.
81 propose 10 fight it out.
as. N. ARNELI.p
This Is but In keeping with what is GO
ing on in other counties If Middle anG
West Tennessee, as 1 am advised by re-
llaJie men.
I therefore call upon you to furnish a
company Of troops for the counties OF
Lincoln and Marshall jointly one fol
the county Of ObiOn, one ioIp the county
Of Dyer, and one for the county of Glib
sOn. Without troops in these counties
the civil laws cannot be enforced or loyal
men allowed to exercise their rights and
liberties. If you have the troops, also
desire u company to be sent to Fayette
county. have the honor to be, etc.,
w. @. BROWNLOW,
Governor of Tennessee.