Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-31
THE MILITIA BILL.
Meeting OrNashVilIe Tax Payers.
Speeches of MeSSrS. a. 5. COiyar,
a O.. NeiII =. Brown. GOV. II.
~ = :. FOOte. Judge Whit
worth and Others. L

rum LLAc FaslAhaL4E AAou n EaAAASAANa-A -~s-A
A meeting of the General Committee
composed OF 8 large number Of the tax
payers and property holders of Nash
Vile, was heidin the club room OF ths
Democratic clubs yesterday afternoon
W. R. Ellistsn, Esq, presiding.
Ex-GOv. Foote, from the Sub-COmmit
tee appointed to inquire into all the facts
connected with the present condition o
the city, submitted the following:
The Subcommittee would report to
the General Committee that we have
made q partial Investigation of the mat.
tiers submitted to Us for examination
that we have resson to believe that there
are other facts in addition to those which
have come under our consideration, of 8
nature highly important TO be ascer-
tanned that we are not prepared at pres
ent TO report the precise remedial eXpe-
dients proper TO be adopted by the eli.
zens for relief from pressing grievances
aud that, if further time shall be given
US for further inquiry, We shall be pre-
pared, Saturday next, to make known
the proper judicial remedies.
i Gov. FOOte asked that the committee
be granted more time to prepare full
report. Agreed to.
Gov. Brown said he would like to know
where all the bOnds were that had been
issued. Nobody knew who had posses
sion OF them, and asked for further time
for the committee.
Messrs. LeIyett and Elliston were added
to the committee.
Col. CoIyar, speaking OF the militia,
ssid:
am not willing to stand here and see
that thing go on in that way. There will
not be vesHge of liberty left to any man
in Tennessee If that bill is passed. II the
Legislature had said that Brownlow lie
King, ii would not have been more ex-
| pressive than this. He may declare any
county in the S.ate Of Tennessee under
martial law, that means to send all the
! COnstables, Justices of the Peace, Judges,
| ChEncellors and Sheriffs home, to sus,
pend all law and civil officers from the
| discharge Of duty. He may then call out
/ one or more regiments of men from each
! COnG Residual district. He has all power
upon the question Of money. He may
/ then send that military force to these
counties and compel the people to pay
another sum OF money, whatever be msy
demend. So far Gs organizing an army
OF 100 600 men, he has all the power. /
am unwilling TO stand still and 10 moth
ing. L do not propose any violence.
[Gov. Foote here asked the speaker to
say smethingof the Detective Police.
They have a right to organize Detec.
tive Police force as large 8 number IS they
please and the law allows them IS per
dsy. They have the right to put them
out on election days. This militia bill is
the most monstrous bill ever passed in
any Legislature in the world.
Let US assemble and express our griey-
aBcss. Let us have a large public meet
ing, and let that meeting appoint 3 CORR
mittee Of men Of sound Judgments to re-
port upon the constitutioBalily of that
bill. One OF the members Of the Lsgisla-
ture said it did not matter whether il was
constitutional or not. Such men ss these
have not minds capable of grasping such
a thing as this.
EX-GOVERNOR browns SPEECH.
L have seen that bill, and have taken
the patience to analyze il. Ii is the
most mOnstrous bill, perhaps, | ever saw
IN country that pretends to be free. II
gives the Governor all the. power to do
anything he desires. He has the sword,
for there is no limit to the number of
regiments he may call out from ed IN
Congressional District. II viii be con-
yenlenee TO the negroes Of Alsbama and
Georgia to come here and Join the
militia, for they can get rstiOns, clothing
and everything else. 1t is said by some
men that Gov BrownloW will not call
cut the militis, that he Intends FOR the
responsibility 10 rest upon the members
Of the Legislature. ] can guess what
man of bis disposition will do when
excited. When 1t is found that the Dem.
ocrstic party is making headwsy iB some
of the regions, there will be men there
who viii need the militia, aud then he
,ls.F. a.
service. / make up my mind that if
that bill becomes q law, this State will
be covered with militia. / do not care
how many Federal soldiers come
here. 1t would give quietude to
every family in the State. There
is no disloyalty in this State. Whether
there will be any Federal troops
sent here do not know. OF all the ques-
tions that hsve crossed my path in my
life none have struck me with such deep |
solemnity as the one now pending the |
action OF the Legislature. II it were pos !
sible 20 cover the State of Tennessee in |
mourning, Il would be but at tribute to |
her mournful condition. am for peace |
ss long as 1t can be maintained. There |
is bat one thing worse than peace, and |
that is dishonor know the people OF |
Tennessee are not going 10 have their |
houses pluIdeTed, their wives ravlshed, |
and be driven from the ballot-box like |
herds Of cattle by the militia. And We
are expected to stand all this. / will |
stand as much SIS / can. II this militia is /
called cut, it will be the ruin Of the State. !
But, sirs, il is useless TO etaDd here and |
complain about Il. / think the people |
ought sll TO meet here on next Saturday |
to enter upon record their solemn protest !
against the passage Of that bill, did |
say that when our efforts failed In send
ing petition to the Legislature for peace,
! would never try any more. But am
willing TO go with this movement and
meet here on Saturday. will not endure
this thing 8lwsys. II 1t cannot be
stopped by the power of the State can
find another home TO cast my lot.
Ex Gov. Foote arose and spoke al
some length against the militia bill. He
thought the best plan would be to adopt
3 memorial 10 the President, setting forth
all the grievances with which we are
burdened. He thought the people were
entitled to the United States military
support. -
Mr.. CoIyar moved that Mr.. Elliston
set As Chairman Of the meeting to be
held on Saturday, and Mr.. Duncan Dor
ris act as Secretary. Carried.
Ou DibNAl |
Foote, and Whitw0rth were appointed
a committee TO draft resolutions to be
presented to the meeting. ~
Judge WhitwOrth YVES the nsxt speaker
who addressed the COMMITTEES. He said
do these men Intend to do what that
militia bill contemplate? If they are
really IN earnest, It means no protection,
but the destruction of the material In
terests OF the State, and of the people
who control II. / have lost every hope
OF ever controlling anything Ia the
State Of Tennessee. say If wecan defeat
this bill we viii have gained g point more
important than any outside party TO
whom we can appeal Il, like nay friend
Colyar ana unwilling 70 stand herequieIy
are true they mean to exterminate us. % I
take our property and control il forever.
I did not think that theY Wotlld ohnvart I