Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-12-31
Light From a Radicai Candle.
TENNESSEE.

lh~NNi1COi1iN.
THE REPAL OF THE KU-KLUX LAW
The STATE DEBT-NO PROVISION
TO PAY THE INTEREST-REBEL
SUPREME,
NASHVILLE, Dec I2.-The rank and file
of the rclel army are quiet and orderly cit.
liens; you seldom see them lille or iissipa-
ted: as n general rule, however, they sus-
tain their leaders, most of whom are polti-
clans. Their future i"pends upon keeping
up the Southern feeling. Hence this gener-
alton must pass away before the whitu race
becomes homogeneous. The O, vernon OF
tie State has no veto powers, aud the Leg
isldthre can pass such laws as in their W rs.
dom they see proper. The action Of the
Legislature since they met has been - rc-
a!,many of the laws passed by the prece
ding onc-all laws that were passed TO pro-
tect the negro race and loyal men from vio-
lence. Previous to the passage of what is
known as the "Ku-KluI law" armed and
masked men Travelled through the rural
counties, whipping negroes and white men,
and committing acts Of violence; such was
Tie terror Of the negroes that they fed to
the cities for protection, and many loyal
citizens left the State. The Legislature, by
law, made 10 high crime to 20 armed and
masked; this in some degree suppressed the
evil. There were some provisions of the
bill that ought to have been repealed as
useless and obnoxious; its main features,
however, we're right. Bnt the entire law has
been repealed aud the maskers are operating
with impunity in various sections of the
Safe. whipping negroes, burning houses sc.
Tho consequences are the negroes will be
again driven to the towns and cities. The
Union citizens who are scattered over the
State live in fear of these ghOstly visitors;
they feel that the protection Of the law has
been Withdrawn from them by the Legis
lature
Our State debt is about $4,000, 900. At
the eommencem- mt Of the war it was about
SlT ,0O0,000. No interest was paid from
1861 10 1865, the ACCUMULATED Interest being
funded by the Legislature. The railroads in
which the State had large interest, were
Frustrated by the war; TO put them in run
ming order required large advance, and
bonds amounting to about Sl5.O00,0 900 were
advanced for which the State retained a lien.
This debt is as honest as over was made and
the State is bound by every principle of
honor to pay it. The preceding Legislature
made every effort TO pay the. Interest, but
owing to the hostility to the State Govern
:,
aud every obstruction was thrown IN the way
Of their collection. The prese mt Legisla ture
will make no provision 10 pay the interest;
instead Of doing 50, Dih Inns passed the
Senate reducing the State tax 10 two mills on
the dollar, one nalf the previous tax, which,
with proper legislation, was only sufficient
to meet the interest on the public debt, with
the Tux on privileges and the. interest paid
by the railroads. This is in effect repudia-
tion, an is so rega ded by all citizens who
are anxious to sustain the credit of the
Safe. The grIund assumed is that the
debt was created by Rpicai Legislature,
was illegal Id its in ,eption, and ought not
to be paid. The people are too enlightened
to be long deceived, but il is now popular
hobby with the politicians. They are Ca
tering TO Il at feeling growing out Of the hos
tility 10 the North, where the bonds Of the
State are principally owned. The doctrine
OF reputation as yet finds but little farvor
with the good citizens of the State. Itis i'm
possible to say what will be the nit mate of
feet upon the people when their passions
aud pr, judices are aroused by political
hucEsters.
The Legislature is repeating all laws that
looked to the protection of the loyal ee
ment. The future of the negro race is very
gloomy. A convention mas been called by
the Legislature. The election comes off on
18th. Three fourths Of the members will
be disqualified by the 18th Amendment. aud
nine tsnths would answer on the roll-call of
the army of the Confederate States. There
will not be q half dozen Union men in that
body. Extreme men have in many Of the
counties been nominated, and will be elected
The promises made the negro in the last
contest for Governor, that he should have
equal rights, will he less regarded, and |
greatly fear he will be dispossessed Of his
political rights.
The present political organization Of the
Government, from the Supreme Judge to
Constable, will be changed Every office will
be vacated, and those whe won honor or saw
service in the Confederate army will fill
their places.