The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-09-03
TENNESSEE.
shamefal sOuIrages Upon RepuBIi'
q CHATTANOOGA,
o8sye.p0naenee Y 7. 2toles.

wednesday, aug 20 4e0o'
More than $50 persons have, within
the last three weeks, sworn before
committee of the Tennessee Legisla-
ture, that thew and other Republicans
white and black-have been snpJect.-
| ed to the most shameful outrages; tnat
they have been whipped. ana thelr
neighbors outraged and in SOME
/ cases murdered; that some o1-then
4 have had their feet roasted at fires TO
make them reveal the hiding places OF
other Uniopists; thatwomen have been
| whipped on suspicion of having told
who Ku-Klux were, and others muir.
dered for not revealing the hiding
places OF their husbands; that in por-
lions of West and Middle Tennessee
there has been no safety for Repu0ii-
cans, and that sincethe New York Con-
VentIon there has been great increase
OF bitterness against Southern loyalists,
and an increased confidence ofex-rebelS
that they would yet attain all the OBJ
jects sought by rebellion and secession.
This testimony, given before the Com
mlttee of the Legislature was presented
just about the time when twenty ex-
rebel Generals were telling the State
Legislature, that they could preserve
the peace, and asking the Legislature
not to authorize the Governor to
send militia into counties where there
were complaints of outrages. The Leg
islature attached more consequences 10
the complaints of prosecuted loyalists
of men who pride themselves on hRv-
ing been rebels. The members of the
Legislature were unanimous that it
was the duty of the State above every
thing else to protect the person and
property of even the humblest of its cit
liens. The outrages became more FREE
quent for a short time, and now they
suppose that the hope of influence
ing the Legislature, SO that the mi
litIa may not be called out
TO protect the polls on election day,
has Induced this sudden change of base.
1t is, however, stated in weIl-informed
circles that the leaders of the Democrat
ic Party throughout the South have re-
ceived letters from their Northern aux
ilaries which state that continuance
of such outrages before election day
will secure the defeat of the Democratic
Party in the North and the election of
Gen. GRANT. As the Southern leaders
know that even the driving out of
white Repn blicans and the lerroriZing
of blacks will have no permanent effect
unless they secure the control of the
Federal Government, they appreciate
the force of the letters from their
Northern conductors, and have, it is
said. issued orders for suspension of
ku-klEx violence until after election
day. That such orders have been is.
sued can scarcely be doubted by any
one, since the fact is stated by moderate
Democrats here! at Tullahoma, Nash
Vile, Maury County and in different
parts OF West Tennessee. It will not
deceive the Legislature, which will pass
the bill authorizing the Governor to
call out the militia in any county
where It may be needed. Whether
the ex-rebeIs will. on election day, in
sist upon their right 10 vote, and by
outrages and terroFlzing prevent white
and black Republicans from voting,
cannot now be determined, but no
Unionist of any intelligence in Ten
nessee doubts that the success of Sey-
mour and Blair, guaranteeing the sup
port of Federal authority to the
schemes OF the Southern Democratic
leaders, would be followed by the other
steps in their programme. These steps
are the driving OF white Radicals out OF
the State or compelling them TO forego
the open advocacy of their principles,
and then the terrorizing of the blacks
and by State laws putting them COM
pletely under the control OF white ex-
rebels. The Ku-KInx have gone a lit
tie too fast. To be sure they have
driven out a good many white Radi-
Gals, and have SO scared the negroes
that few ofthem in many localities will
attempt TO vote; but these outrages have
! SO checked Immigration and killed
business that many Conservatives have
been Obliged to leave the State.