The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-05-08
A Memorial from our Congress.
SlOnal Delegation TO Governor
BrOWnlOW.

Under the caption Of "An Important Doc
ument the Knoxville This Of 'April 2sth pub.
fishes tho following, 1t will be observed that
Senator Fowler's signature is affixed 10 the
memorial, the closing sentence of which is
rcry significant.
We present an important document below.
The Governor prepared the first draft OF a
proclamation, covering the whole ground in
this matter, the week before this Congress
sional document was received. lie is pleased,
however, to be backed up in his views and
purposes with such a document MS this. The
late militia act, reducing the pay Of pri.
Yates aud officers so low that men could not
serve, it is NOT the purpose Of the Governor
to call ont the troops under said act, but to
call out otherwise, and TO rely upon the low
al people Of the State to sustain him:
WASHINGTON, y. c., April 81, 1868.
DEAR SIR. AS constituents identified with
you in the success Of your administration,
we beg leave to call your attention to what
cannot have escaped your notice, the disor.
ders prevalent in certain localities in our
State. LawlessEess and violence have at
tanned alarming proportions. Peaceable cit
liens are terrified by threatening missiyes
the s%anct:ty of their homes is invaded, often
in the hours Of sleep ; their property is cou-
signed to flames; some are seized and scourg-
ed and otherwise cruelty mistreated Others
are shot dead, OF hanged, or subjected "a
some other form of murder and assassination
Punishment rarely follows, and in most in.
stances no form of legal redress is r~esorted
to. On the contrary, the victims Of these
outrages are maligneG, aud their character,
DETAINED by the perpetrators, whose conduct
finds many to ~eonnive at il, and not a few
openly to justify it.
Upon you, as the first Magistrate and peace
officer Of the State, devOlyes the duty, under
the constitution and the laws, OF seeing these
disor lers suppressed. Not the statute Law
merely, hut the common law, even without
Legislative enactments, clothes you with the
very high powers. You do not bear the
sword in vain. The safety Of the people is
the supreme law and nothing less than the
exercise Of all the physical and moral force
Of State, by summOning to your aid, If need
be, all TIE good people Of every age, sex, col
or and condition, will satisfy its Imperative
requirements.
The community must he protected at oil
hazards and at whatever cost. Happily for
our beloved State, the exercise Of this extra
ordinary authority has beeen required so
rarely, indeed, that some are possibly una
ware of its existence. We refer to it, there
fore, not only by way Of admonition to evil.
doors, but to shield you, 80 far ms our eoun-
sci can do IL, from the imputation of trans
cending your just and legitimate powers, in
taking all necessary measures to suppress the
maladies affecting the people.
w. rasuarfGuIlv snWOcet thn nenN.saN- -
organizing and arming, under the recent act
of Assembly, a small militia force, with Judi
cious aud competent officers, to be stationed
ut points where the civil law is found the
least efficient, to repress and punish high
handed crime. We know your indisposition
to impose unnecessary burdens upon our
people, already oppressed with debt and inn
poyrrished war; and have the utmost conf
dence that you will exercise your great OIL
cial powers within the limits Of necessity, as
demands OF humanity. While we hope not
to see our State government driven to de-
pendenee upon national protection, we at the
same time, hope sOol to see the moral in
aueuce Of the national government exerted
in its behalf and against its enemies.
We have the honor TO be, very respectfully,
your obedient servants,
HORACE MAYNARD,
JONI TRIMBLE,
SAMUEL NJ. ARSELL,
W. n. SroKEs,
JAMES MULLiSs,
r. r. BUrLER,
JosEPH s.. Fowler,
ID. A. NUM-.
His Excellsney, Vim. G.. BrowulOw, Gov
ernor Of Tennessee.