Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-04
MEMARIks OF GEN. 0uARLEs
Before the Military Committee OF
saturday Evening.

Before the Military Committee ON
saturday Evening.
Our report of Gen. Quarles' remarks be-
fore the committee Of the Legif lature in
behalf Of peace, was SO much abhreYiated
that We give, at his request, the following
a. more nearly Just to him:
General Quarles reiterated the same as
surances of those who had preceded him.
He agreed with General Cheatham that by
law the sherids had power to summon per-
sons 10 arrest viOlators of the peace and TO
suppress disorders, and while they pos
sessed that power all they had 20 do, when
peace was necessary 10 be preserved, would
be 10 call or summon Confedesates upon
the posse, and they would find them always
ready and willing 90 preserve the peace.
The, if summoned, he pledged himself to
do, and all the gentlemen present. lie
was astOnished that there was not more viO-
lence in the country than there was We
had just passed through a gigantic war,
and general Generalization had been the
result of IL, without distinction of par
ties, color or race. He believed that,
in order that there might exist peace,
sincerity and friendship among the people,
that all should be possessed Of the same
rights and privileges. As lawyer, he
had had a great deal to do with the
crime of the STATE, and he found that
almost universally outside Of the ranks
of the army. There were persons in every
county who took sides with the parties
which they thought TO be in the ascen-
dency in that particular neighborhood,
who had no other interest than self. These
were the disturbers Of the peace and the
most violent. The Confederate soldier
was necessarily the preserver Of the peace.
In the first place they had been disciplined,
and secondly, IL was TO his interest TO pre-
serve the peace. He had nothing to gain
by disorder and lawlessness and violence.
but everything to lose. He suggested hat
the general peace could be preserved with
out the expenditure of one dollar. The
very moment the Legislature showed dis
position 20 trust and have faith in that class
of citizens embracing Confederate soldiers,
that very moment they placed them on
an equal basis with other citizens in rights
and privileges; without the expenditure of
a single dollar OF the public money there
would be enlisted on the side of law and
order sixty thousand veteran troops, the
best aud the brayesL IL was exceedingly
unfair and unjust 10 hold the disfranChised
Persons Of the community responsible for
all lawlessness committed. The law break
ers were generally deserters from both ar
mics. Men who had proved false TO their
Colors would Of course prove false and faith
less as citizens. Ii Is true, the people of the
State who were disiranchised were restless.
Give the people an equal chance. There
would be no sort OF COutentment or quiet
ness until their disabilities were removed
Without making any argument on the
subject, he asked the committee 10 take the
matter 10 themselves. Suppose they, by
the casualties of war, had been denied the
privilege Of voting Snd holding office. Let
their hearts reply 10 the question, and say
whether they would have not been discon-
tented. lie wished the committee not to
understand any thing he said in the nature
Of threat de only desired 90 simply
speak the candid truth. He thought the
calling out Of militia force would add TO
the inhamed condition OF the public mind
TO such an extent that bloodshed was in
eyitable. The people Of the South IN their
widest moments did not indulge the de-
sire, much less the active organisation Of
revolution or rebellion against the State
and Federal government. For security and
peace the hostages they presented were the
devastated fields Of the South, and the in
ability Of the people 10 make war Of any
description. All that was lacking was faith
ln one another, sincerity and integrity Of
purpose. Some remarks having been made
about the course Of certain editors, he said
that the Generals and the people were Eot
and could not be responsible therefor.