Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-24

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now have in manuscript again urging
Tits passage upon the Legislature, before
| its adjournment but / was persuaded
that 1 had done al that could in the
| Recommendation made, and all that
could have been honorably expected Of
me, Ia my FIRST message l therefore re.
tanned the second message which | had
written. The bill was defeated by the
adjournment of the Legislature. ] had
made out list Of marshals whom in
tended to appoint in the event Of its
passage. and who do you think they
wereG tt hti
Reporter--I can hardly imagine.
Governor Senter--They were such men
as General h. +. Cheatham, of David
son; General I.ucius Polk, of Maury;
General John c. Brown, Of Giles; and
General G, G.. Dibrell of Warren. /
had selected them because ! believed
that they would have had it in their
power to suppress all marauders and
outlaws, and that they would have done
so. | wanted peace, that commerce and
trade might flourish and that our State
might be rid of the baneful influences of
Ku-klux and midnight assassinations;
and that capital and emigration, prohib-
tied by these outrages, would come into
our State in great abundance and bear it
ON the highway to wealth and prosperity.
WENT RACK OK HIN.
| felt that the Legislature had gone
back on me, instead of my going back
on them. Nine-tenths of its members
gave their pledge to me that they would
vote for the Fifteenth Amendment. 1t
ought to have been passed, not only be-
cause it declared universal suffrage to
every man, just and inalienable right
but Il was n stroke of policy which would
have won peace for Tennessee at once,
and there would have been afforded no
pretext for the cry which has been raised
about reconstruction. | believe that,
had it been adopted, even the declaring
of the seats of the Judiciary of the State
vacant would have been passed unno-
ticed. The Fifteenth Amendment was
at last forced upon them, whether they
willed it or not. have never gone back
upon the people, and they will find,
eventually, that have done everything
in my power for their good.
WIZ nh cENl run
Finding that the Legislature had bereft
me of that power which it ought to have !
given me TO suppress marauders, the only |
recourse j had was to ask for United !
States troops, which j had right to do |
under chapter 4, section 4, of the Con-
stitution. Had the Legislature passed |
the County Marshal bill it would have |
obviated the necessity of calling for
Federal troops | called for them with
considerable reluctance, but not without I
mature, calm elaboration.
OPPOSED TO RECONSTRUCTION.
Reporter-What do You think will be
the end of this reconstruction matter?
Don't you think the reconstructionists
have taken advantage ofyour calling for
troops as sort of prop for their
schemes
Governor Senter-I did not think the
petition which sent to President Grant
would be taken advantage OF by the re-
in Congress. The petit
ton is based upon the highest Federal
that could have been taken, and
has no reference to reconstruction, and
upon which the Government will have to
take some action am not in favor of
and never have been. /
am opposed 10 il because there is no
need of it. All desired in calling for
troops was the protection of our people,
and not with any view Of furthering any
scheme. don't believe
that this State will ever be recon-
structed.
FLETcHERs TREAcHERY.
Reporter-It has been reported that
you and Secretary Fletcher were closeted
together on the day previous to his and
Captain Hyberger's departure for Wash
ngton; that be assisted you in making
out the papers TO President Grant, and
hat you left for East Tennessee on the
lay of their departure to shirk the re-
'ponsibility Of the course which you had
adopted.
Governor Senter-Any one who says
hat ever so associated myself with Sec
etary Fletcher or conceded with his pc
,uliar views and opinions, either men
ally, physically, morally, religiopslY on
n any other manner, does me the great
ST injustice Secretary Fletcher was
lever closeted with me at any time. /
lever asked his advice in regard to call
ng for troops. i had been forced into ,
he necessity of.callipg for Ioops BIZ the
.ction of the Legislature, and ! did it Of
1y own accord without consulting with
my one. Secretary Fletcher would !
lot have known that | had made
uch application had not Cap
ain Frank Hyberger, my Private
iscEs.aEy, Inadvertently SPOKEN about
Is soon as he became aware Of it he 1
oisted himself upon Captain Hyberger ,
nd went 10 Washington with him.
,aptain Hyberger was to have gong 10 {
Fashingtoh glfhout Secretary Eletcher's (
but was delayed two days BY
ne, that he might thus erade the com
any Of Fletcher thiiher 1t seems that
'letehef Las Endegypgea 10 leake II an
leaT as Washington that he gaa sent I
here by me IN company with Captain
Iyberger, with a view, probably, Of
Gaping the benefit which such state !
nent might afford him. Secretary
fletcher went there without any author
" from me whatsYGF, and Captain /;
1yberger ought 10 have corrected such
tatements. went TO East Tennessee
0 visit my family, whom | had not seen q
or six weeks. | had remained here !
turing that time. hoping that the Legis-
ature would grant me what demanded
When had given Captain Hyberger all 9
be necessary papers and instructions, {
went home with a view Of returning in |
ime to receive dispatches ~ TO what be !
Iad learned on his arrival at Washing
on. have never shirked any respon- !
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