Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-07
LAwLEssnEss m TENNEsSEE


rutherford a few days ago is seized
upon as the work of "unrepentant
Rebels and paraded to the coun>
try as evidence of the untrustwor-
thyness of the nti-Radical people
Of Tennessee. This lawlessness is
heartily condemned by the substan-
tial citizens and property,holders
Of Rutherford county. The Muir
freesboro Monitor of Sept.4 says
'the sheriff could, between the
hours of eight and noon, raise in
the city of Murfreesboro enough
men to quell any unlawful assem-
bly, anywhere in Rutherford coun-
ty." The people of that county
have held themselves in readiness
to assist the sheriff in enforcing
the laws and preserving the peace
whenever he should call up
on them, and that officer testi-
fies to the fact. Yet a few yagas
bond negroes have told wonder
full stories of the lawlessness of
the white people, and these stories
have been caught up by Radical
journals and spread broadcast over
the country to. the injury of the
State. This is the only circum-
stance that the Radicals have heard
Of since the election, which has call
ed their eloquent denunciation. 1t
turns out according to the confess
sion of some of the negroes en-
gagged in these lawless outbreaks
that "they have been told that un-
less they did something to excite a
broil, the Rebels were sure to get
into power" 1t thus appears it was
a part of the Radical policy to ser
cure some lawless demonstrations
on the part of the white citizens
who had no sympathy with the
Radical party, and that some mean
white men were assigned the duty
of exciting the negroes to the
pitch of exasperating the white
citizens into acts of retail
iation. The Murfresboro Mons
itor tells us of Ga consummate
scoundrel by the name of James
Skillmar," who has been engaged
in this work in Rutherford county,
and who has fed from the lawlessA
ness he has excited. Here is q clear
case, yet no Radical paper has yet
denounced this infamous proceed.
ing. The Bolivar Bulletin of the
4th inst. states that "a few mean
are endeavoring to create
trouble" in Hardeman county.
These negroes arc no doubt urged
on in their insolent conduct by dis
white men, who are ready,
like the Rutherford county carpet
to pull up stakes and leave
as soon as the storm they have been
provoking has arisen, leaving their
poor dupes to suffer the conse-
quences of their folly. 1t is ever
thus with men of this despicable
character. But these are not the
only indications we have that bad
influences have been brought to
bear upon the negroes in this State,
A negro riot of very formidable
character broke out in Macon, Fay
cite county, on Sunday, Aug. 20,
and at one time it appeared as
though the whole county of Fay
cite would be given over bodily into
the hands of an iInpassioned rabble,
maddened by spirit of vengeance,
and led on by few men of the
most diabolical proclivities, who
would rejoice to see every home
stead in Fayette laid in ashes. This
riot appears to have had its origin
in a difficulty between a negro
named Tom Tarpler and some
white boys the day previous.
Early Sunday morning a largo
body of negroes from the
surrounding country had assem-
bled in the town, ostensibly to at
tend a religious meeting, but it was
that every one was well
armed. d. J. Boswell met Calvin
Tarpler, (negro,) brother of the
ono who had the difficulty with the
white boys the previous day, and
of him, odd you
threaten my life?" to which the
latter replied, Yes, l did," and
made an effort to draw a pistol.
Boswell Immediately shot him
and he died in about ten minutes.
The Memphis Avalanche's account
hen proceeds:
"The negroes soon met in a crowd, and
declared vengeance against Boswell and
his friends; against the white men Of the
own and their property. Some negro
women shrieked, Macon is doomed!
Macon is doomed!' Infatuated negroes
strobe through the streets displaying
heir weapons, with fearful oaths, threat
,ning the lives of the citizens en- masse,
md some by name, and saying, "To-mOr-
'ow morning Macon will be in ashes!"
That night they assaulted the house of
Mr.. Carroll in quest ofone of young Bos~
Wells friends, as they claimed; came near
Killing Carroll and burning his house, bes
.ause he could not tell where the young
nan was. The same night twentySseven
negroes went to the house Of ID. S. Bos-
veil, and swore they would hang him till |
10 told them where his son was; a 50 10 |
he residence of Esquire VIM. johnson,
ghose son is a friend of Albert |
Boswell. They threatened Mr.. |
ohnson with violence, and not content
Nth mere threats, they gathered TO-
ether n lot of fagotS and dry wood and |