Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-01-07

usual functions of such a body. Gen. =.
was emphatic in his determination to pre-
serve the public peace at all hazards.
Acaucas ofthe of House representatives of
the peoples legislature was held this morn
ing, fifty-seven members being present.
The Clerk of the House proceeded to the
City Hall and removed his records. 1t was
agreed In caucus that they would assemble
at IL o'clock NJ. at Odd Fellows Hall.
At the armory, in Davidson Court on Car
oudolet street, at II O'Clock this morning,
strong force of Metropolitan police was on
duty, Gen. Badger being present te-inspect
them. In the second Court four brass guns
of TIE late regiment of artillery were drawn
ND in charge OF gunners, and with horses
in harness at hand. In TIE first Court
detachment of policemen were busy pack
a.. -ba cuiss with am milton. The street
entrance TO the SnssmoFy connnueS ciOS'u
and under guard. of
Shortly before II o'clock the members -
the Peoples Legislature commenced as
sembling at Odd Fellows Hall and the en-
traf.ce and stairway were at once crowded
by an immense cCneeurse Of people. The
multitude extended from Po7dras street
and through the Square to the steps IN the
City Hall. In the course OF very lew
Iainrtes eight or ten thousand people had
arrived. Mono manifested any great eX-
citernent and there was no tnrpulence
Whatever. Great reticence was e1hlgl5ed
by the multitude, and little or no conyersa-
ton was to be heard. The general under
standing is that the PEOPLE now assembled
will wait lquietly until the Legislature
! meets In case the meeting is not l1Ger-
| fered with by Pinchback then quiet dls-
persion will ensue; but in the event OF any
effort to disperse the representatives OF the
people, the citizens will form for their pro-
lection and move against any force put the
| military of the United States. Ihe mass
| in the Square fills the central passage
| from the gate TO the base OF the Frankllh
statue and both sides, in the shape OF
wedge on whose face the GUNS rays snlne,
the mass being as animated and fun OF
motion as an ant hill. The street cars can
not pass the front of the City Hall without
much log rolling, for the street IS 1lled III
the SQUARE. A human wall is standing on
tbe iron fence and the only vacant spaces
within are the outside passage right ana
left.
At this moment The American flag is
hung out from the front Of Odd Fellows
! HALL The crowd make a rush towards the
hall from e7er5 direction, pell neil. A cry
is raised: "They're going .-to odd Fel-
lows Hail." The crowd is in the greatest
good humor.
A body of men can be seen going up
stairs through the iron gateway Of the hall
unattended. Just as the clock strikes
twelve a voice from the gallery announces
thau the Legislature is in session. The
stairway Is very soon jammed with spec
tAtors.
The House was called to order at u NJ
occupvipc the main hall in the Odd Fel-
lows building. Mr.. George P. Shepherd
then proceeded TO the calling of the roll
when forty-seven members answered to
their names.
Cant, Cain, who was sbodt to force him
self past the sergeant-at-arms, by showing
p badge of the U. S. Marshal, was told p0-
Iitely to retire, but refusing, lie was elected
Mr.. Finney, of Orleans, moved the
Hall be open to as many spectators as
could ill without crOwding 1t, >Mr.
Secaeharie, of Orleans, moved that Tx
Sargeant-at-Ar1as be instructed TO nodiJ
absent members that this body is in ses
sion. Carried.
I2:I5 p. N.
The crowd filling the street IN front o
the hail do not allow the street cars 10 pass
There are rushes made to secure available
situations, and the unOccupied house stand
ing near the Hall is filed by men who re
appear upon its three front galleries.
At half.pasti12 o'clock a majority Of tn
business houses on Poydras, Magazine
SchaupItoulas and Camp streets had closed
and both proprietors and their Eer1Ployee
were thronging the square. Not the slight
aet evidence of disturbance was to b3 OBJ
: served, and good feeling seemed everyWher
: to prevail.
PInchback Interviewed.
g The Picyrlnc has the following:
Our reporter this LdGtnlng visited th
y Mechanics Institute, which h9 toun
? guarded, at the doorway, by about five so
diers and police. In the ante-chambe
q were assembled about thirty policemen, al
! colored. from the fourth and fifth precincts
! under Cap. Rey. Pinchback was IN hi
= private Office, and made the following state
: ment: Upon being asked what be though
+ of the present situation, he replied: .
think it is exactly what said it would be
some months ago. It is the stirring up o
the white element sgainst the black, and
as long as this state Of aff.iTs exists, 20
cannot have peace. have always lahore
= to bring about peace between the tW
L races. but IS long as there is tie least diff
y Guilty, or intimatiOn of one, there is a terr
l. bic outcry against the colored race, an
o therefore you force them, as it were, int
.e the Republican party. l purpose to liz
Is hero in this State, if can, and so 60
al great many Of the black men, and we d
Is sire peace and quiet. But rs soon az 8 lC
" Of white carpet baggers come here az
IS kick up a row, you at once blame the n
10 gro. l tell you, as L have told the peop
o before, show the black man that you VI
II be bis friend, and he will come with 20
a. and be your steadfast friend"
/ Reporter: "But, Mr.. Pinchback, you Sc
u We claim that you have overthrOwn our ie
gal government and now attempt TO dc
u fraud us of our rights"
v Mr. PInchback: ''Well, in that you see
u am doing nothing more than you are q
II tempting to do. am helping to perpe
d uate my party. If you were inside and
u out, you would not let me in if you coul
I. help It; and besides, suppose was to sui
. init to your party, how do l know that
U might not be hung at oDce."
'' Reporter! "If you do not admit the
our rights, what action will you ta4e in
gard to our Legislature?'
Pinchback: 81 will positively let thel
alone as long as they do not attempt to ex
cute laws against or interfere with the leg
government. They will be allowed
as meet, to make laws, and inaugurate an
ae body they please. They can do so peac
10 by and they will not be interfered With"
IN After this our reporter was retiring when
was called back by Pinchback, who stat
that as he was going to the United Sta'
Senate probably, he desired TO go there a.
is friend of the people and not their enen,
et He also said that the programme of the NJ
o. ion al Government had been arranged G.
S would not allow of interference until t
re matter was placed before some proper t
Ill bunal. And let this matter go before I
u people of the United States in peaceaS
ny light. Do not have any difficulty, but ke
10 quiet, and l, for one, am willing to have
"a placed before any investigating tribuE
that may sit here, in Washington, or ell
u where.
Sc Review of the Day.
III The citizens meeting to-day is regard
~ as the greatest ever held here. No spes
ing and no action whatever was taken, Il
ed object being solely to give moral support