New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-22
AFFAIRS IN TENNESSEE.
4 HOPEFUL VIEW.


iuprGS the contrary Notwithstanding hnd iha'
West Tennessee and Memphis particular can justly
lay claim 10 a far more pcacedbe and law abiding com
muuiy than ever before since the war Indeed, nave
the assurances OF old and tried Unonsts, against whose
feay TO the Union aud 10 the Republican party breath
~ suspicion even ) come that the general oDser
ancc Of law and order is better to-day than before
the war. I that the public journals nave
cemed with Of gross ourages in this and that
locality To say the least such accounts must be taken
~ highly exaggerated intensely partisan ana systema'
Cally put forward for effect.
strong effort is making to induce Congressional inter
ference this State. with view to either entirely over
throw the Government organized, or at least suOVer
by practically putting it under the control OF Re" ou
party hacks or attaches Of the Republican party Org
nay The programme as understood here, was to remand
the State back to a condition of Territorial dependency
Later however desparng OF such legislation the pan
has been somewhat modified. As understood here now,
m certain circles consisting almost exclusively OF Dacks
the programme as changed, consists Of bill by which
Congress uuderpetense Of the enforcement oil the Four
teenth Amendment declare the late Legislature
unconstitutional BODY and order q new election Pre-
paraOry such election. now registration Is to be
ordered ~ conformity TO tho restricting clauses of the
present state Constitution.
That such programme IL carried ont will result in the
complete overthrow OF the Democratic party in power is
beyond doubt. In its consideration, however, several
Important questions arise not the least Of which VIII
its certain rebound result in the overthrow OF
the National Republican party as well The principal
points decided before the adoption of such pro
gramme however these Are the evils in Tennessee
rs 10 absolutely demand Congressional interference
VIII the remedy proposed render the condition Of affairs
therein better wosef Is it the political demagogues
attached to the party majority Of the more respccta
lie Republicans who most desire such interference In
.swtrto the first, u most unheStatngly assert and
alenge the test that such evils exist in the state Of
tennessee. short OF fabulous manipulation
worthy Of veritabe Munchausen justify any pretense
even for such Congressional acton. AS far as West
Tennessee at least is concerned he who asserts
20 the contrary, bellies the testimony Of every
prominent Republican who can lie found.
Upon this point have consulted more of the
more prominent life long Republicans in Memphis There
Is not one who does scout the very idea Of there being
10 day one whit the condition Of affairs in regard
tolaw and order than during Republican rule. That
outr1ges have been committed, aud that mnch lawless
ness to-day exists in maay of the counties Of Middle Ten
- true. That such, it be III very exceptional
cases arise from political differences. not Republican
IN one hundred believes On the other hand, they most
cmphatcally deny Dit. On the contrary, too, have
the every hand in Republican circles, that
80 far there being anything like the manifestation
OF sectional animoSiy as seen only one short year
ago save In exceptional cases. 1t has to great extent
disappeared Indeed hnd it matter Of remark among
those whose seadastness TO and open advocacy Of Re
publican pIlCpleS formerly brought tnem uDuef inc pan
of prescription that to-day they everywhere treated
with consideration and respect. and than this.
frequently made tho recipients Of Testimonial: Of
"A q in point, and to show the marked change
which has been brought about, Will mention the Of
the Rev T. Bliss of this city, To those at all CONVEX
cant with social affairs in the South since the war; it is
unnecessary for me TO state the fact that nowhere was
social O>rac.sm for opinions sake more manifest than IN
church, crccs. Coming here as representative OF the
Bible Mission Society OF Boston, for the purpose OF
founding d Congregational Church, just after the
war. few were more completely ostracised than
times been hold and manly in his open expressions
Of UudYiI- loyalty aud Of fealy to Republican principles
than ias tho ltN l. l.. blss. lie was Known ana
abused on every hand as the Radical preacher lie
occasion: 4 meeting of the Memphis Pastors Assucia-
ton and the unanimous adoption OF resolutions highly
their sincere regret at ms Withdrawal from their midst.
Certainly. in the language OF a church member and
,h,rcc" Now does the Rev. T. L. Bliss believe that
ouraEcs ale committed in Tennessee for opinions sake
on the contrary H. tells ne that he does not believe
word Of i thar ~ no section can an honest man speak
ms homes convictions, IN gehtlenaIIy manner Win
more perfect freedom than here.
Saoh too, lind 10 be the opinion Of every prominent
I,prbican here. But says the doubtful reader. how
about tbe outrages of which heart As sand before
thai much lawcSsuess exists n various counties in Mid
Tie much awesSness existed even before the war,
and u matter Of serious doubt in point Of fact
Eut bow about these gangs Of kuKluX of masked men
reported. numbering Them as wolg That such an
organization existed in Tennessee, ~ elsewhere in
~ It's &c. sns, do not doubt. That such organization
iu"dc even hcn The cloak under which 10 commit
even -Iyccs OF murder and outrage 10y gangs OF Ges
p,vdoo, under control hut their own base devish
uituTr- lave reason To KNOW full we'll That the or
der dp,c organization is stil IN fnl blast under
h,,,. D., made CLOAK for Tho com NISSAN of crime
CERTAIN localities Is beyond doubt That such crimes
and OuffHccs however are committed through point
zeal hatred, l certainty caunot as yet ind
= respectable Republican to say he believes.
Il IS ,ipy matter of robbery and p!under, and occa
sonaliy, as natural consequence OF murder attendant
upon tAc That the poor blacks come In for the
lions share because as class, they can he Iundefed
with more IMMUNITY thAi' the whites Nor are these
reported Ouirdges generally OF nature that Will bear
investigation. When sted they found highly cxag.
gtraicd, aud evidently gwen TO the world for the sole
purosc OF making capital to the accomplishment OF par
nave the testimony Of Col Palmer, Bureau Agent at
TN, point OIoDoS here that he actually knows OF no
WhcIo Two years since he had 200 murders report
he has not single one. Certainly this ought TO
be good testimony IN the premises II claimed that
justice cannot be enforced Now have the fact IN un
cn81c shape that several Of these rpored desperadoes
in various counties now under indictment in the
80 ~ ,"de IN The Tinted states Marshal Certainly
# the United States Courts make not the slightest at
cmp To ferret out and these offenders when in
diced little fault eau be found with the lesser light
Tie shape of county magistrate for the same neglect
Again il there be such urgent need of Congressional
interference Why not This the most proper manner for
the United States Court cannot be enforced then law
lcssnc,s is indeed triumphant aud the United states
should interfere Ii is notorious fact, too, that there
was far moro iawesness in Tennessee during tho admin
stratlou Of Gov BroWhuw tIah now Why tno eNelnp-
On then and thc necessity " Congressional interference
to-day simply because a, appears Gov sehteT: using
tho pow er conferred uIon him by Republican Assem-
biy, sold : out TO the Democracy.
Nov upon question Of the eXpodeucy Of such inter
ference Ihayc ud tie first Republican ~ prOmi
euce who expresses the belief that it Will be ot an
advantage the premises On the contrary, IL seems
the universal opinion That while i Will remedy nothing,
will aGCrdvate one hundred fold the very evils com
planned Of That the present Legislature has been guilty
many uIhcard OF CNtIdvdghhces. seems uIdoDabc.
That very much Of the same unconstitutional nclud
ing, perhaps, the calling Of tho Convention in the
manner done, is admitted. That the Convention
finally OF itself, unconstitutional body
aud it, acts, therefore, Illegal Is admitted as
probable even by many Democrats Themselves.
Admitting all this however, certain 10 Is that the RopuD
hcans see remedy for wrongs committed BY neiier-