Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-11


honor to present to you before. 1
would not mislead yeu or any man
if understand myself. These reso-
lutions are signed by large number
of people. My candid opinion is that the
Republican party of that county will say,
Relieve US of the military. If relieved of
the militia we could go out and be pros
porous and lsw-abiding people. There is
a calm and certainty Of dread in my own
breast which is almost insupportable. Mr..
N. F. Ewing said there was better state
Of friendship existing in Giles county be-
tween persons Of both parties now than there
has been since the war. Now shall our
happiness be blighted by The acts of few
lawless men. We have come here to-day
TO ask you to withdraw the troops from
Giles county.
Alter few remarks from Messrs Dickey,
Saunders, Sheriff Parsons and Newton
White, Governor Senter spoke TO the dele
CATION, in substance as follows: In the
opinions | am about TO give you in this
case, you may be sure that will give you
none Of any party. would ask each dele
gate present to place himself in
my condition, as the one called
upon 10 execute the laws of the
country, and to do it as though he were
blind-blind TO persons and Individuals
to yerything else except the execution of
the laws and preservation of the weak
against the strong In short, to do the
duty of an executive of the people over
whom ] have been called to preside.
There have been certain outrages perpe-
trated in the county of Giles by parties
perhaps that not one of this delegation
claim TO recognize or indorse. They
were never endorsed by the better
class Of people 10 any county. From
the recollections of certain delegates
present an organization has existed, ru-
mored existence, at least, in the county of
Giles, since 1867. l would appeal TO each
one of the delegates present if he ever
knew any good to grow out Of this organi-
cation? The better class Of citizens say
ave don't approve of this; we don't like
to see it going on in the country and do not
like to see men riding through the country
and infringing upon the rights of an limo
cent man." This has been the difficulty and
hence martial law and the entrance of the
militia into your county. | am ready TO
admit that your county has been for the
last two or three months quiet county.
Now what we propose is, that the militia
shall not take charge of or arrest these Vio-
lators of the law. We propose to give you
citizens of Giles county an opportunity to
arrest and bring to justice these men, who,
in the opinion of one of the delegates, are
citizens of Giles county, but do not
know such to be the fact. / ask
each one of you honestly, first,
if every one of those three hundred
men seen on the public street on the
4th of July last are innocent, that there is
no intention to do wrong, if three hun
dred men could go into a county
and go for twelve months and it not be
known whom they were. Arrest these
men, take them before magistrates and
prosecute them honestly and earnestly.
This is better than resolutions it is better
evidence to the soul, to the country and TO
me; not doubling the honesty Of purpose
of any man in this delegation to bring
| about the state of affairs as before de-
scribed-peace and happiness. The
militia 10 Giles county are there only
TO assist the civil officers, and when the
civil officers drive from the country these
men, and l ascertain the fact that they
have been driven from the covntry, you
| will no longer have the militia. Dat Of
the 727 names signed to these resolutions,
would il be reasonable that not one of those
men have knowledge sufficient to bring
prosecution. | have no names of the men
who have been committing these crimes
and outrages. If had, there should have
been guard sent after them long ago.
Mr.. Jones said: We ask no pardon for
the men who have been committing these
| crimes.
The committee extended an invitation
to the Governor to visit Giles county and
make q speech to the people.
Gov. Senter said that nothing would
give him more pleasure than to visit the
places where it had been necessary to pro-
claim martial law. l have got to stand
between the law and the people. He as
sured them that he would give the resolu-
tions careful consideration, The com
mittee then, after shaking hands with the
Governor, vacated the room, satisfied with
their interview. Most of the committee
left the city yesterday afternoon for their
respective homes, where the good people of
Giles county will receive them with enthu-
siasm for the good assurances they re-
ceived from the Executive of the State.