Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-16
LAME DUCKS AT THE COMES.
SIONAI

neither the lives nor the properly VI
Union men were safe even in East len
nessee, so thoroughly had the "kebeis'
inaugurated reign of terror throughout
the State. While doing this they pro-
fessed to be in favor of immigration, and
when Northern maa would write to in
ouire as to the condition of affairs here
really as to the truth of these storles-the
invariable reply was that he would be as
safe in person and property as in any
State north of Mason and Dixon's line.
Thus gentleman recently wrote to the
Knoxville Chronicle, the leading Radl'
cal journal in East Tennessee, and that
paper replied as follows:
"We say to him that there has never
been single Ku-Klux in East Tennessee.
Public sentiment would not tolerate such
lawlessness. In his person and property
he would be as safe in East Tennessee as
in Connecticut. We want him and all
others TO understand Ku-Klux do not
flourish in East Tennessee.
Just about the time this was published
it was discovered that leading Radicals in
East Tennessee had written a letter TO
Ben. Butler in which they represented
that they were subjected to terrible hard
ships by the ''Rebels," and appealing
piteously 10 Congress for protection.
Ga the lst of February this letter was
read in the House of Representatives, to
influence the action of that body, as fol-
lows:
Hon, B, f. Butler, Chairman Reconstruction
Committee, Wa .hington, District oil Column
| bia:
DEAR SIR-The undersigned would re-
spectfuIly represent to you and your COM
miltee, and through that medium make
knownto Congress, that the Union PEG
pie of Tennessee are liz helpless and de-
plorable condition.
Many of us have persistently opposed
suy further efforts at reconstruction, hay
ing been willing to await results before
asking Federal intervention; but we are
now constrained to appeal to you for pro-
lection in the enjoyment of that liberty
which is regulated by law.
Under the present state of affairs we
are completely under the control and al
the mercy of the enemies of the Govern
menL We yielded to The usurpation OF
the legislative branch of the State govern
meni; we quietly submitted 10 the fOrced
sdoption of an odious instrument digni-
fed by the name of constitution; We
witnessed The overthrow of the State
government, the displacement of lis rcgu
lar constitulionally chosen officers, IN
Guiding the Judiciary. This was all=ap
palIing, but we Trusted in the wisdom, il
not in the patriotism of the Judicial de
pal tment OF The government. We rellet
on the good sense of the new rulers. Il
all this we have been disappointed. W.
have seen the Supreme Court organize
in defiance of the National Constitution
Il mas proclaimed the confedGracy ma
ton, a government de factO; it has turn
ed UBion men out Of court, and JUSTIFIED
Rebels in robbery and crime; it has es
tablished doctrines which, if permitted Il
become the settled law of the State, will
ultimate in making treason honorable ans
loyalty odious. The law officer of the
State, the Attorney General, has already
caused several thousand dollars of thu
Rebel war debt to be paid, notwithstand
ing the United States Constitution eX
pressly prohibits the act.
The Legislature 70 proposing to Provid'
pensions for the Rebel soldiers in the
shape of artificial limbs. \ measure i
pending to reimburse certain Rebels fol
judgments recovered against them in thu
Federal courts for their tolls in behalf OF
the rebellion. In fact, the rebellion
rcigns in this State We are neither pro
tected In life OF property. Many of OuI
best men are trying to dispose Of thcIl
property and leave the STATS.
| We, therefore, earnestly invoke Sac.
protection as Congress may deem jus
and calculated to meet the demands Of
the Union loving people of this State.
We close by adding that we represent
nincty-n nine hundredlhs, if not the entire
sentiment, of the Republicans and Union
men Of East Tennessee.
J. NJ. Greer, B. P. Stacy, Assistant
Assessors, John B. Clotworthy, w. 0
White, J. a. Taylor, William Mcknight,
John Bleat, Z. H. Mathews, Joseph A
| Cooper, Collector ID District George
w. Ross, Assessor I'd district. NJ. j
Wilde, James Rodgers, Postmaster. "A.
S. Prosser, S. p. Evans, U. S. Marshal.
George Andrews, L. L. O:ment, Fred
erick, Rule, Knox county. r. Thorn
burgh, jefferson county. 4. ThOTuburgh,
Jefferson county. J. Lawrence, Jeffer-
son county. NJ. V. Wyrick, Marion
county. f. A. Millard, Sullivan county.
T. II. Hsmill, Hamilton county. W.
Hunt, Bradley county. William Grill,
Scott county. J. J. Edeng, Carter county.
w. P. Hayes, Sam. l.. Cbildress, Richard
Slow, ]. :. Riggs, John Anderson, Ham
itOn county. r II. Guthrie, Hamilton
county. Z. II. Kinzcl, John w. Stewart,
l.. H. Western, John Gibbs, d. I. Peter
man, Roane county. John z. Walker,
Rhea county. D. G. ThOrnburgh, Jeffer-
son county. Samuel MCMshan, Sewer
county, Alexander Reedor, Knox
county. W. F. Yardley, j. p, Knox
county. Stephen Matthews, Blount
county. E. c. Camp, United States Dis
| lllCl AllOluCy. d. 4ALhlOllNoObS lS4Ouht
county. Z II. Brown, Knox county.
L. c. Houk, Z. c. Edwards, Anderson
county. LIKE Wilds.
When the reading Of this letter was
concluded, Mr.. Maynard said:
''The list attached to that paper con.
tains the names of representative men in
that part of the State Cast TENNESSEE
and these men state whereof they know. y
The course of the Radicals shows that
they have one set of opinions for the i'm,
migrant and another for Congress.
The publication Of this letter and the
sharp comments of the Knoxville Demo.
cratic papers-fOr the RadicaHaper there
had not VOID to say, either in praise OF
acknowledgement the unuusLworth
mess of the representations as to the con.
dilion of affairs in East Tennessee SC
| glaringly, that some OF the men whO.C
names arc signed to the letter have felt
that some explanation of their conduct
was due not only TO themselves, but tC
the public. DR.. James Rodgers, The
| Postmaster at Knoxville whose name II