The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-26
Text of Gov. BrownIow's Proclamation
Calling out the Militia.
The Knoxville Wing of the goth contains the fol-


The Knoxville Wing of the 10th contains the fol-
lowing
PROCLAMATION By THE GOVERNOR.
WHEREAS. There exists. in the middle and west
divisions of this State, awless bands of despera-
does, who are setting at defiance civil law, and
who, by threats and acts of violence, are forcing
many Of our citizens to leave their homes
and
WHEREAS, In certain localities, in those diyi.
sions OF the State named, it is entirely impossible
for the civil officers OF the State TO enforce the
laws thereof; and
WHEREAS, Those masked villains, called Ku.
Klux, are taking prisoners from the county jails
and hanging them without due form of trial, and
are entering railroad trains and abducting thence
passengers pursuing their legitimate business, aud
notifying conductors of Northern birth that they
must leave the State forthwith thus having driven
four conductors from one road and
WHEREAS, Certain ambitious, disappointed and
bad men have been engaged for the last two or
three years 10 making ncendiary speeches, advis-
ing the overthrow Of the State government. and
thereby ipfusng an insurectionary spirit into the
deluded wretches who are thus breaking the laws
and destroying the qpiet and welfare OF the State
and
WHEREAS. The leading rebel newspapers of
this State have encouraged this state of things
first, by denying the existence of the klan-se-
condy by ridiculing their atrocions acts and
further, by failing to condemn and denounce their
outrages, showing thereby that at heart they ap-
prove their conduct: and
so amended the militia law of Tennessee as 10
remove the restrictions which heretofore crippled
it, giving the governor full authority to meet such
outrsges with suffice Mt force.
Now, therefore, /, VIM. G.. Brownlow, governor
of Tennessee. do call upon all good and loyal cti-
zens to enter the ranks OF the State guards and be
mustered into service, and assist in putting down
these lawless combinations and proceedings, and
brir giDg the offenders TO justice, aiding to pre-
serve the peace of this commonwealth.
Those enrolling under this call will be subject to
the rules and regulations. az to rank, pay, etc..
governing the United States military. Those en-.
rolling in East Tennessee will be furnished with
transportation to Nashville, where they will be
armed, equipped and distributed, under command
of General Joseph A. Cooper Companies here
tofore organized will be preferred
This proclamation will, 10 due time, be followed
by snother, designating the counties over which
shall declare martial law, the effect of which will
be TO set aside civil law, and turn offenders over TO
the military. who will try them, and, upon their
conviction, dispose Of them In q summary manner.
These outrages have long been borne with, in
the hope that they would be abated by the public
sentiment of the respective communities con-
cerned. Forbearance has ceased TO be a virtue.
The executive is not to be brow beaten caioled
nor terrified out of the discharge of the duties
demanded by existing exigenoes.
All citizens who may not enroll under this call,
are hereby requested and enjoined to use their
utmost endeavors in conjunction with the State
guards, and otherwise TO restore and preserve the
peace and dignity Of this commonwealth, and all
citizens are also hereby warned against harboring
those masked marauders called Ku-Klux- Klans, or
giving them aid and countensnce.
The governor is determined to make the State
Guards sufficiently numerous and effec i've and to
continue them in the field sufficiently long until
Middle and West Tennessee are as orderly and
secure, as, happily, East Tennessee Is to-day.
Papers in the State, authorized by Law to do the
public printing, are requested to copy this pro.
clsmstion three times.
In testimony whereof have signed the forego-
ing, and affixed the great seal of the State, this
twentieth day of January. A. D. 1869.
WILLIAM q. BRowYLow.