Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-14
T. G. MURRELL. NJ. D.
STATEMENT OLE g MARKs


My attention has been called to state
ment in the Tribune of this morning res
pecting the recent trouble in Franklin
county, in which my name is used, and to
correct the inputation which is conveyed
in that statement upon the people of my
county, [ request you to publish the fol-
lowing facts:
1 was in McMinnville when the disturb
ance occurred, and returned to Winches-
ter on Friday evening last. When 1
reached Decherd depot / was informed
that the officers who had Col. Arledge in
charge claimed that he had been foroibly
rescued from them by the citizens of
Winchester, and that they would return
Immediately with sufficient force and arrest
and imprison all the citizens who had par
ticipated in the rescue. When l
reached Winchester l at once
inquired into the matter and was assured
that the statement as to the rescue was w
founded, and when I acquainted them with
the fact that their arrest andimprisonmeut
w0Uld be attempted, they we're filed with
surprise. They expressed their willing
ness TO submit to any prosecution that
might be instituted against them, but de-
clared that they would not be thrown into
prison and moved to Nashville under
guard if they could avoid it. 1t was dis
cussed among them whether it was prefer
able to take the train that night for Nash
Vile and submit themselves TO the authori-
ties; but as it was impossible for them to
know in advance who would be
charged with the alleged offense,
they determined not to go to
Nashville until it was known whether an
arrest would be attempted and the parties
sought to be arrested. In order to pre-
vent Tn arrest and imprisonment a young
man was sent TO Decherd that night, as 1
afterwards learned, to ascertain whether
the arrest would DO attempted that night,
and when the soldiery reached Decherd he
returned to Winchester and brought the
intelligence and several gentleman quit
their home to avoid arrest. The next
morning I went down in town and met
Gen. Harrison, the Marshal in charge, with
whom was acquainted and advised him Of
the facts and told him 1 was the occasion
of the absence of the parties from home
and their reason for il, and told him that
that they would 60 10 Nashville at the
earliest possible moment and submit them
selves to the civil authorities. The Gen
eraI very kindly expressed his satisfaction
with my assurance that they would report
themselves at Nashville, and stated he
would make no further effort to arrest
them, as his only purpose was to execute
his office, aud that he had no desire to az
hoy or Inortify any one unnecessarily in
the discharge of his Office.
In the presence Of several of the officers
l was introduced by Gen. Harrison to
Judge Emory, the Supervisor. He asked
me why it was that the officers of the
United States we're not allowed to arrest
men in Franklin county and bring them
to Justice. 1 told him the fact was not
that way and stated to him that no diff
Guilty in msking an arrest had occurred,
and reminded him that not more than
three weeks before Capt. Holden, an in
huential citizen, had been ARRESTED by a
few men and taken off without resistance.
He then asked me why men were not al
lowed to vote their sentiments at the polls
in Franklin county. l told him that
every man was allowed to vote Just Gs he
pleased. He said he knew th at. force was
used in Grants election to prevent an
expression of the popular will in
franklin county. l told him it was true,
that when our citizens were not permitted
TO vote, while the ballot was given to our
former slaves and strangers, that our peo-
pie were FESTIVE under the outrage, but
that all of it passed away with the repeal
of the franchise law. he then asked me
if the people of Franklin county were dis
posed to obey the laws, why it was they
had forcibly rescued Col. Arledgs. 1 told
him / knew nothing of the facts,
but was informed that our citizens,
under an apprehension that a deadly
assault had been made upon
the prisoners felt indignant and were not
disposed to stard idly by and see their
feIlow-citizsns murdered, and if any vio-
Ience had occurred it was occasiOned.
Lieutenant Whiteall then remarked
hat he aad made no such assault
upon the prisoners, and 1 replied to him
that I had been informed that he was a
man of courage, and if that we're so, it
was hard to believe that he would mistreat
a prisoner. l further told them that if a
rescue was made, as they claimed, it was
indefensibIe, but if it was done under the
circumstances claimed by the citizens, 1t
was excushble.
1t is due to Gen. Harrison to say that he
seemed disposed to act with fairness in the
discharge of his Office. A. S. MARKS.