Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-01
Further Refutation of the Libels
Cast upon the State.
Gov. BrownlOw Largely RespOn,
sible forthe Disorders of
the Past.
A True History of the Origin and
, Doings ofthe ''Ku-Klux.'
Correspondence Of Chicago Times,

| When A. ]. Fletcher asked for mill
| tary escort to take him home to East
| Tt nnessee, several gentlemen in Nash
vile promptly responded, offering to es-
cort him at their own expense, and to be
| personally responsible for his safety. A
prominent life insurance agent there also
called upon him, soliciting policy on his
life and volunteering to insert special
guarantee against 'sKu-Klux" perils free
of charge.
I rode from Nashville to Leb-
anon on top of the coach not long since,
on as fine day as ever shone. By my
side sat pleasant, intelligent gentleman,
who kindly pointed out the fine farms
and objects of interest. exclaimed as
to the beauty of the scenery.
eyes" he said, ''it is the finest country
in the world, morally, socially, and po-
litically! And as quiet as any place you
ever saw!"
He was Radical. His name is Evins;
his office United States Deputy Marshal,
and he lives six miles west of Lebanon.
At the hotel in Nashville occupied the
same room with German who had been
for years foreman in the Chicago, Bur-
lingtOn and Quincy Railroad shops at Au-
rora, Ill. At night, after l had gone to
bed, he came in, and 1 asked him if he
had heard anything later concerning the
military bill for Tennessee. 'rNO," he
said; ''what do they want of soldiers in
Tennessee9 The country is quiet. When
left Aurora | was afraid to come South
on account of the big stories | saw in the
papers; but believe they are all lies. l
here, and have been introduced to Gen.
Cheatham and several others, and have
met with nothing but kindness"
might multiply instances, but the
above will show how truthful and intelli-
gent men feel when they come and see for
themselves. The whole damnable scheme
is so transparent that comment is super
fluous. 1t is simply and solely desper-
ate effort for Radical supremacy. feel
certain that the political affairs of Ten
| nessee, touching both white and black,
would be as fairly administered if COM
mitted to her representative men, as those
of Illinois or Wisconsin. Furthermore, l
do not believe that history furnishes a
parallel to the patience and confluence of
these men under continued calumnyl No
man who reads can forget how readily the
people of the South at the close of the
war responded to every demand made on
them by the General Government !;
| how men from whom the sweat OF
battle had scarcely dried were seen and
heard on the stump, counselling cheerful
obedience, peace, and an immediate re-
| turn to the pursuits of industry. 1t was
remarked even by Radical papers that the
universal disposition at the South then
was to resume the occupations of civil life
| and to observe the laws. They expected
| that the Union men would control the leg
islation, and shape the policy of the State.
| During the last five years their conduct has
| been such as to entitle them to the conf
| dence of the North. 1t must be remem-
bered, however, that the war left in the
South, like the residuum of subsiding
deluge, all manner of villains and despera-
does. Lacerny, robbery, rape, and muir
der in appalling audacity and frequen,
CIV, rendered life and property un
safe. The courts, organized by
Judges and District Attorneys appointed
by sAndrew johnson, Military Govern
orr put in motion the long disused ma
chinery of justice, and soon the jail
were filled with criminals of all grade;
and colors. To try was to convict; TO
villainy was bold, and robbed and muir
dcred in the streets of she capital. TIT
dregs of the caldrOn of civil war, thu
camp followers of both armies, the mel
who robbed friend and foe, the living anC
the dead, filled the penitentiaries to over
flowing. Social order was returning
and a sense of security beginning to com
fort the weary souls of men, when tn
State government struck hands with VII
lainy; Baownlow began to open the prisol
doors, and to pour back upon a terrific
people the dangers they had just escaped
Week after week, through the streets 0
Nashville, gangs of these cOnvlcts, /
prison stripe, were paraded to the whole
| | sale clothing house of Bolivar Ii. Cook
& Co., in the Public Square, clothed
| citizens dress, and turned loose. If
try was to convict, to be convicted wa
to be pardoned. Felons, encouraged b
? these pardons, grew holder, and, embi
! tered against the men who had prosecute
! them in the courts, went back into eveI
4 neichborhood, spreading terror. Grin
= ran riot; for Brownlow had organize
! he'll
! Let each army furnish an instance, an
| doubters are challenged as to their trui
Y by the public records at Nashville. Thr
t men of the 10th regulars deliberately d
g cOyed Policeman Kennedy from his hon
: at night, and murdered HIM. They we
convicted and Brownlow turned the
loose. In few months, one of ther
Grant, came back, waylaid d. Weaver, If
90 wears teller in the Planters Bank
- Nashville in broad daylight on the OPT
l. highway, gagged him with cords, robb
10 him, and threw him into a ditch to dl
o He was convicted, and is now in t
10 penitentiary, Brownlow having no long
Of the pardoning power.
st Now for the other: Bill Tucker, p
vate in Company G. list Tennessee ca
airy (Confederate) for some crime "
put in jail at Knoxville, and occupied
., same cell with Brownlow. He did
IN reverence the kindness of thrashing sol
" one who insulted him. (See BrOwnlov
% book, where the incident is given IN {
81 tall The rank of neither army CT
Sc tanned a more murderOus ruffian til
o. Bill Tucker. Since the war he YVES arr
ted in Nashville in the act of commit
burglary, was tried, and convictt
Brownlow pardoned him out. Since thu
NJ he has been charged with rape, and is n
to in iail, having been caughtwith ''jimn
ist in his hand forcing stOre-doOr in Ma
IS. vile. Hundreds of such instances can
dy furnished, which can be substantial
mt item by item. What followed w
at would have followed in any count
What always has followed paralyzed
In and strangled justice? Lynch" Ii
The State ''bore the sword in vain, " {
70. had ceased to be ga terror to evil-doel
no. no Its contract with the people was brok
al and self-preservation was found even
setbe territories" to be the first law of
ture. In California lynch law has n
as the "yigiiance committee" in lndi
oro &c tbe esregulators" and in the South
-on the ecKu-Klux Klan." 1t has done
,st. work. and it is thing of the past L
ned all its fellows, it dealt out tough jus
;on and sometimes overshot its mark. E
ave the law in its recognized tribunals so
de- times does the same. It was an organ
ton forthe prevention of crime, not fol
avs murder of the innocent, either black
cen white, Rebel or Union. Clad in t
ere mysterious mantles, they inspired tie
YET in every one who met them; for to
them was to be frightened. But then
% rand was with the guilty alone, and
.os, only mark they looked for was the n
ruit of Cain. Who were they, these ght
cavaliers, who rode by night and m