Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-02

Judge Houk stepped forward and said
that he had no speech TO make and that
he knew but few of their citizens--that
he came from the mountains of East Ten
nessee-came here in the interest of peace,
oflaw and of order and 60 far as hs believed
the authority of the State was concerned
they were going to have it for veal or for
woe. He did not want to make political
speech. but one word he wanted to say, and
one word he demanded TO be tolerated in
saving. there were two parties in Tennes-
see who were the worst deceived Get of men
upon the earth. Oae party takes the res
cent events in the State to be triumph in
one direction, and the other party take il
to be in the opposite direction. Since the
troubIes had commenced in Middle Ten
nessee he had taken the responsibility
to correspond with the Governor of the
State BY telegraph. He knew his feeling
and sentiments. He intends to protect eve-
~ man in the State and call upon the
United States authorities to back them.
loud applause.) He did notspeak from
guesswork but by authority. This law
lessnes. will be put down if it takes every
able.bodied man in the State to do
| it, and he for one and every 9TH
er Senter man would go forward
and help to do it. All they had to do was
to keep cool. Every step that the Execu.
| tive or his agents authorized to act for him
has been done since this trouble begun.
Gov Senter would be here in day or two,
| perhaps TO morrow. He assured the col
ored man, white man, Republican Demo-
crat, Rebel and every othtr class of men
that the object of Gov. Sentel's admins
tration is TO preserve the peace of Tennes-
see, and it should be done. He asked the
people to be good citizens, and endeavor
TO make Tennessee one of the proudest
States in the Union, which they could do
if they would. t#
r. B. Cheathsm was then called for and
addressed the meeting in a few remarks,
the substance of which was as follows:
He said he came there, feeling it his
duty, as Representative of the people in
the next Legislature. In the interest Of the
people he regretted as much as any citi-
zen in the State of Tennessee the necessity
of this meeting, and was glad to see the
press with one voice condemniDg this law
lessness.
He could not better express the senti
ments he entertained in regard 10 the re-
cent trouble in Rutherford county than 40
article published in to-day's Press and
Times, all Of which he heartily endorsed,
and in commenting upon the article, said
that the day for men TO wear masks had
passed. If they wanted to commit deed,
take their masks off and face the law. If
they were right, they ought not TO
be ashamed to show their faces.
He was for hanging every man
caught with mask Oh committing dep
relations. This thing will ruin the ma
terial interest of the people of Tennessee.
If every good citizen of Tennessee and |
such men in Rutherford county as Charles |
Ready, Gen. Palmer, Ed. Ewing and |
others would go forward and take the bull |
by the horns, they could stop this violence. |
Whenever it is known by these rufians |
that their work is condemned by the lead |
ing men in the State, they will stop their |
violence. He was in favor of put |
ting this thing down let it cost |
what it might. If his own brother was
found in one of these masking gangs he
would be for hanging him, for he would |
be disturber of the peace of the State.
If the laws were not strict enough he, as
representative of the people, would vote 10
make them stronger. He told the colored /
people that not one of their privileges
would be restricted by the next Legisla-
ture, and advised them 10 keep quiet and
attend TO their business.
Gov. Foote, chairman of the committee
on Resolutions, offered the following which
were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we have learned with
The deepest regret Of the receat violation
of law in the county of Rutherford, and |
feel bound TO declare that We regard all |
such proceedings as those, the Occurre nee |
of which has been satisfactorily established |
before this meeting, as most shameful and |
censurable ofenses against the government
of the State, the principles Of justice
and social order, and the laws
of civilization and humanity; and |
that we are of opinion that it is be /
solemn duty Of all good citizens not only
to aid in suppressing all such proceedings
and to take proper steps for the prevention
of similar outrages in future, but also 10
use the utmost cal and industry in bring
ing to prompt and signal punishment the
perpetrators OF all such ofenses, 10 what
ever part Of the State they may be COM
mitted, and whoever may be the individu-
ais participating in, or couaseling and en-
couraging the same.
Resolved, That we do hereby tender to
the constituted authorities of the State our
cordial and active support in all legal and
constitutional efforts which may bs made
to maintain civil order, and to give the
fullest security and protection to all cIasseI
of our citizens, TO whatever race or lineage
they may appertain.
Resolved, That We earnestly call upon
our fellow citizens of the county of Ruther-
ford, and upon our fellowscitizens of every
county in the State, to cooperate with Us
in the maintenance of civil order and in
securing the repote and safety of all classes
Of our people.
Resolved, That we hold in special dis
approval and adherence all secrt organ.
izations, by whatever name called, set on
foot and kept in existence for the purpose
Of lawlessness and violence; aud we recog-
nize the members of all such organize
tons as enemies to peace and good order
of society, as hostile to the principles OF
civilization and humanity, and we trust
that their longer existence in this State
will not be tolerated by our government
and people.
Resolved, That the welfare and honor
of this commonwealth imperiously demand
that in future all proper exertions should
b. made to restore feelings Of kindness
and true brotherhood among our people,
and to suppress all unreasonable jeaIousles
and prejudiCes heretofore existing among |
Us; and that it is the special duty of all /
good citizens in every legal and becoming |
ooIa IN utaIH and cvnpNnlarv
protection 10 that comparatively feeble
class of our population who have recently
emerged from q state of servitude, and |
who stand so much in need Of our sympa-
thy, our kindness and our support in all |
things lookiUg to their moral improve
ment, their intellectual advancement and |
freedom.
Gov. Foote said that he was present at
the investigation Of colored witnesses and
that he was surprised and Mortified at the
facts presented to them. He would not
90 into any detail. The statements
10 the resolutions, just adopted were
in strict accordance with the |
facts ELECTED from the examination |
of the witnesses. In adopting those reso-
lutions they only did what would have |
been more zealously done if you would |
have heard those witnesses testimony. |
They had come there to interchange their |
different views upon the recent troubles in |
Rutherford county. The Governor Of the
State would continue to do his duty, and |
the people could be trusted in maintaining
the peace and order Of The country, and in |
assisting the Governor in maintaining
peace aud good order in the State. This |
movement as humble as it nigh seem to
some to be, would be responded TO By all
the intelligent and patriotic people in this
State, This will prove the fact that the