Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-24
RECONSTRUCTION.
Senter's Mode of " Hedging" the
Radical MaIcOntents.
Hs Says tennessee is in a Condition
of Lawlessness Beyond his
Power TO Suppress.
His Own Version of his Conduct, as
Given to the Nashville Banner.


From the New York Herald OF Saturday.
WASHINGTON, March 1S.-As stated
in my dispatches last night, A. j.
Fletcher, Secretary OF State of Ten
nessee, and Colonel Frank Hyberger,
of Governor Senter's staff, have ar
rived in this city this morning. Col
onel Hyberger visited the Executive
mansion, and presented to the PTesi-
dent dispatches, of which he was the
bearer, from Governor Senier. The
dispatches called the attention Of the
President TO the existence OF a cOndi-
ton of lawlessness in Tennessee which
was beyond his power 10 suppress;
that the Legislature had repealed the
laws giving him the right to cali out
the militia of the State to suppress
violence and disorder, and TO author
ize q posse of citizens to pursue and
arraign criminals; that the operation
of Justice had entirely ceased, and ne
was perfectly unable to protect innO-
cent persons; that gangs of ruthans
We're organized and deliberately muir
dered citizens with the pretense OF
law. In consideration Of this condi-
ton of affairs, the Governor asked the
President Of the United States TO
authorize him to take command Of the
United States forces now in the State,
~ that may be sent there at his re-
0ue.t. The President read the dis
1stcbes and stated that he would give
fhan immediate consideration. There
are many other persons here besides
Fletcher aud Hyberger working
20 induce federal inJerposltion in Ten
nessee matters. and 1t Is said by some
disinterested parties that the whole
movement is urged on by unscrupu-
lous and designing politicians and
sneoulators. One Of the petitioners
for government interference Is said to
he a man who figured discredliably
So connection with a Tennessee bank,
1 who Is represented as saying,
an, lately, "If we can only get the
meisi States Government TO recon-
CnIled - -~uessee again, il will be
s1t uS. AL = Wsy TO make money.
4nlsIty sS,-,- 80 : TN with Federal bay
onets once more q. - We IN IN, it-anI Lint Of Of
the money We want. ,i-e.,-.,,o-ir7e- O. a
that as g motive for IT
sovereign State once nOre.I 49, TI,,,ss
Mr.. Thomas, Speaker OF NS ,1,a,eo,, +to.-oo
of Representatives, Of the lea 4.,I5,..1
Legislature, made q statement p>,'or0
the Reconstruction Committee to-o.t>t
In reply TO the stories which haSF
been put in circulation about the rev
olutionary character OF that b00y'
He denied that 8 condition OF laWleSs-
ness exists in the State, or that there
was any necessity for troops to enforce
the laws and protect the people. MI
Thomas was going on with an eiHO-
Orate defense Of the Legislature When
he was suddenly stopped Dy Ben
Butler, who subjected him to close
examination. Butler discovered or
thought he had discovered a dspO-
sition on the part of Mr.. Thomas 10
keep back something fwhat he knew
and to tell only so much as he tnOught
was necessary. Ben. admonlshed nlin
that he had better tell a plain, un-
vanished tale, because 1t was use
less to attempt to deceive the Com
mittee. With knowing Wink OIL MS
we, butler told him that the Recon
struction Committee had means OF
gaining correct information OF which
he knew nothing. Under these cir
cumstances Mr.. Thomas thought II
was best to make 9 clean breast OF lt.
Iti said that he first admitted that
there was some disturbance IN the
State, and finally, under the sharp
cross-examination OF Butler, he ad-
mitted that the Governor was not
able to procure the enforcement OF the
laws.
In contrast with the above, we
make room for Senter's own state
melt Of his conduct, given to the edi-
tor Of the Nashville Banner on Tues
dav night. We copy from the even
ing Ledoer's dispatches Of yesterday;
The editor Of the Nashville Banner
;y,+srvieyad Governor Senter last
evening. and obtained from him the
following statement: am not IL
favor OF reconstruction, and never
have been. / am opposes 70 L. oe-
eause there is no need of IL. All !
desired ia calling for troops was the the
protection of our people, aud not Win
any view Of iurthering any recon-
struetiOn scheme, / don't believe that
this State viii ever be reconstructed,
/ had been forced into the necessity
foT calling for troops by the action oi
the legislature; and L did II Ui my
own accord, without consulting with
any one
Ored 10 make it appear IN Washing
ton that be was sent there py me, ia
company with Captain Hy9erge5r,
with view probably OF reaping. the
E,anpfiy which such q statement might
afford. Fletcher went there without
a2y authority from me Whatever, ahu
Captain HybeTger ought TO nave cor
rected such statement.
went to East Tennessee to visit
nv family, whom ! had not seen iof
six weeks. I had remained here our
ing that time, hoping that the Legs
lature would grant me what ! ue-
Tnanded. When | had given Captain
Hyberger all the necessary papers ana
distinctions. ] went home, with @
view of returning in time TO receive
disDatches as to what he had learned
on his arrival at Washington. nave
never shied at any responsibility
whatever, and do not propose 10 90
II What / do, / do independently
and without fear. have taken u
stand which / believe TO be right; and
what man is there that can do more?
l felt that the Legislature bad gone
back on me, lusiedA "a l4F EO4h5 b~NA
on them. Nine-tenthg Of its members
cave their pledge TO me that they
Would vote f0F the Fifteenth Amend
fnent. Ii ought 10 have been passed,
moi only because it declared universal
suffrage TO every man q just and IN
sIiepsble right, but it was a stroke OF
policy which would have made peace
Tor tennessee at once, and there
would have been found no preteXt ioI
the cry which had been raised about
recopstructiOn. ] believe that had II
been adopted, even declaring of the
status Of the Judiciary of the statt
vacant. it would have been passed
unanimously. The Fifteenth Amend
ment was at last forced upon them
whether they willed it or not. L have
never gone back upon the people, and
thev will find eventually that / have
done everything in my power 10
their good. Finding that the Legls
Iature had bereft me of that power
which it ought to have given me Z
suppress narauders, the only re
course 1 had was to ask United State
troops, which / had a right TO d'
under the Constitution.
Fast Day,
a Hs-aw -