Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-21

in his testimony before The same committee
of this House, said that the whole registra-
ton Of the county Of Lincoln was set aside,
and he says:
l demonstrated with Gov. BrownloW
about his exercise of power in the case, and
asked him to permit the registration of Capt.
Ship, who was his appointee, and who had
been loyal to the Government ofthe United
States, and Captain in the cavalry regi-
ment commanded by Hon. VIM. B. Stokes,
State, to be reinstated. This the Governor
declined to do using this language, as near
as can recollect: ''that our friends say that
Capt. Ship has married into an influential
rebel family, and although he may not have
acted wrong in the previdis registration
they feared that he might thereafter do
wrong"
And then he says:
This made my case a hopeless one. I'm
der the law, if properly carried out, 1 felt
that would have received not less than
two thousand votes in Lincoln, one thous-
and in Franklin, and eight hundred in Cot
fee; but my vote in all of them was so small
that l really do not now remember it. Con-
neeted with the fruits of the refusal of the
registers to do their sworn duty in said
counties, and the willful omission to regis
ter, my district was, just before the election,
flooded with troops from East Tennessee.
They were stationed at Tullahoma, in Pu-
laski, at Lewisburg, at Fayetteville and
Murfreesboro and squads were sent out to
each precinct. know of no action on the
part of the militia, except they were
strongly opposed to my election, and
strongly in favor of Gov. BrownloW and
my competitor, and they had no hesitation
in so stating at public speakings and else
where. They we're particularly demonstra-
tive at Tullahoma, where l spoke, in COM
pany with Capt. C. A. Sheafe, who was a
candidate for the Senate on the Democratic
side. In my opinion the conduct of Gov.
BroWnlow was unjustifable; he used the
power Of his office for my defeat; there
were no charges against either of the regis
trars of having acted wrongfully, Illegally
or fraudulently, on file in his Office at Nash
vile, or that Of the Secretary of State. l
looked to see; none could be found. Itwas
the act of partisan for party purposes, and
it succeeded. l was overwhelmingly de-
feated. At the close of the canvass, and
after review of the case, believe if the
registrations had remained under the then
excitement, would have been defeated,
not because of the majority of the qualified
voters being against me, but because of the
frauds practiced in giving certificates to ne
groes who were not entitled to them, and
the presence of the militia.
In February, 1867, he authorized de-
claration of martial law, which reads as fol-
lows:
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR.
Whereas, there are now sixteen hundred
State guards at Nashville, armed and equip
ped, under command of Gen. Joseph A.
Cooper; and, whereas, these troops are in
tended to preserve the peace and enforce
the laws in counties heretofore partially in
rebellion:
Now, therefore, l, WILLIAM G. BROWN
Low, Governor of the State of Tennessee,
do hereby proclaim martial law in and over
ton, Jackson, Maury, Giles, Marshall, Law
renee, Gibson, Madison and Haywood.
And l further direct that Gen. Cooper dis
tribute these troops at once, and continue
them in service until we have unmistakable
evidence of the purpose of all parties to
keep the peace.
1t is further ordered in this proclamation
that the General in command shall enforce
the most rigid discipline among his troops,
requiring them in every particular to con-
form to strict military discipline, showing
no quarter to either officers or privates who
shall be guilty of habitual drunkenness.
In testimony whereof, have caused the
great seal of the State to be attach
ed hereunton this Goth day of Feb
ruary, in 1869; and l order that
IL. S. the same be inserted three times in
each of the newspapers entitled to
publish legal advertisements.
W. G. BRowNLow,
Governor of Tennessee.
Whereupon Gen. Cooper issued his order
and deprived those counties even of the
right to open their courts, suspended the
writ Of bGbeGS corpus, and put his soldiers
over them. That document is as follows:
General Order No. A.
HEADQUARTERS TENNESSEE STATE
GUARDS, NASHVILLE, Feb. %, 1S69.-In
obedience with the proclamation Of his
Excellency, the Governor, dated Feb. 20,
1859, Lieut.. Col. L. B. Gamble, command
ng First Regiment Tennessee State Guards,
S hereby ordered to move the five compan-
es composing the right wing of his regi-
nent to the town of Pulaski, in Giles
county, where he will establish his head
quarters. His district shall comprise the
counties of Maury, Giles, Marshall and
Lawrence. He will suspend civil law in
he limits of said district. Any person or
PERSONS disturbing the public psace will be
ried by military court, and summary |
lealt with. Col. Gamble will hold his COM |
nand under strict discipline, and will |
severely punish any officer of enlisted man |
Who may be detected in any violation of |
he Rules and Articles Of War.
All supplies of quartermaster and COM
nissary stores will be furnished when prac- !
icable by the Quartermaster General of |
he State. Should it be necessary in any
Instance to send out a forage party, they |
must be accompanied by the regimental |
uaTtermaster, who will receive written in |
from the officer commanding the |
Any offer or enlisted man detected in |
illaging, marauding or in any manner what
yer disturbing any peaceful citizen pursu-
lg the ordinary avocations of life, will be |
ried by a drum-head court-martial and |
punished. The General COM
handing, feeling the responsibility of his po-
ition, earnestly exhorts each officer and
nlisted man to aid him in preserving the
eace Of the country and restoring law and /
rider.
The Quartermaster Department will fur
ish the necessary transportation.
By command of Brig. Gen. James a.
"copper", JOHN COOPER,
Lieutenant and A. d. G..
In testimony whereof hereunto set my /
hand and affix my seal of Office at
- Nashville, Feb. 10, 1872.
JOHN S. WILKES,
Adjutant General Tennessee.
These things were done when the Governor had
cen advised by the authorities at Washington /
hat sufficient military force to aid the civil gov
rnment would be furnished by the United States. |
hat series of wrongs and expressions made it
lain to the people of Tennessee that they could |
xpect no protection from their State Govern
lent: they were crying out and rising every
here, protesting against the way in which they /
ayonet in subsection to an irresponsible power, |
he Governor himself candidate for Office, and |
ne members Of the Legislature candidates for
people kept in silence, and
AYOHRTS AT THEIR THROATS TO ENFORCE IT.
Therefore submit with all confidence to this
louise and to the American people that my state
lent that the State of Tennessee was Pande-
lQnium, made so by the arbitrary and despotic
diets Of her Governor and his worthless Legisla-
IRE, was true.
For that L was assailed. l was charged with
eing one of the vilest and basest of men. 1t
as charged that had left the pursuit of host
r in a livery stable, and