Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-16

made up under such circumstance, tnat
now and then there should be an admins
tration, or member of the party not al
together as they should be. But in the
| apostles there was one who was accused oil
stealing. and the Ku-Klux Jews did not
steal from the master, but they cruciied
him. | would rather take my stand with
the fepehtant believers, than the murder
ing Ku-Klux Jews. That was an excel
lent sentiment of Georgia divine, thai ne
preferred government of thieves to one Oh
murdereTs. (Applause.)
There should be some additional Con-
gressional legislation to prevent these eyils'
We want an extension of the jurisdiction
of the Federal Courts. There IS ample
authority for this in the late amendments
TO The constitution. The Federal Courts
and officers should be clothed with ample
authority TO Oppress and punish these out
Fages. This convention should recommend
such legislation as to Lag down in practical
form the great doctrines Of the fourteenth
amendment, which sets forth that al citi-
zens are entitled the equal Enjoyment OF
the privileges and immunitieS Of citizen
ship, and to equal protection before the law.
Life, liberty and property are not secure in
the South, and this convention should crys-
talize its views so as to SECURE such legisla-
ton as may be needed.
1t had been suggested that this meeting
would not create q ripple at the Nofth, but
be could not believe that the cry Of the
loyal men of the South, and the emanci-
pated colored men, would fall upon deaf
ears. In the advance of the Union army,
we never struck negro cabin that we did
not find friend, and may my arm be para
lyEed, and my tongue cleaye to my mouth,
when go back on the colored man.
hope that, after due discussion, and such
argument as may come from the proper ex-
ercise of private Judgment, the convention
will take such united action as should Sc
cure the legislation needed.
Gov. Books then made an explanation
of the situation in Arkansas, and said:
We are now before Congress, trying TO
show that the Republicans were entitled TO
rule the etc. Two years ago, Baxter was
nominated by the regular administration
Republicans, and was the nominee of the
reform Republicans. l believed that was
elected, and not Baxter. l sought con-
test before the Legislature, but the petit
tion was rejected by an overwhelming ma
iOrity, a majority secured by bribery by
Baxter, forty members of the Legislature
having been appointed to lucrative offices,
within ninety days after the Legislature
adjourned. Then an application WIS made
to the Supreme Court for writ of qUo
,cdIrdRtO, which was OveTIded. The case
was not Brooks vs.. Baxter, but the Com
mOnwealth vs.. Baxter. In the meantime,
brought suit in the Circuit Court against
Baxter lie appeared, by attorney, and de-
INJURED TO the jurisdiction Of the court. For
fifteen mOnts the case went on, andwas final
" submitted on brief The demurrer was
Oyerrtilcl, and Baxter refused TO answer, and
Judgment OF custer was rendered In my
favor. | was by the Judgment Of court In
Quoted in:o the office, and proceeded, not
with an armed mob, but with few friends,
and took possession Of the Office. Baxter
retired after a few urgent invitations, stat
ing that he went ont only because he
lacked the physical force 10 resist. Then
he called out the militia cfficered ly White |
I,eag,ierz, BE had stated that he should |
proclaim martial-law aud diSperse the curt |
il they undertook to act on tie case. The |
Judgment OF the court In this case is SELF |
executing. I'm less than ten minutes some |
of the Ku-klux came in and said they |
would have the State-hOuSe in twenty-four |
hours. They did not capture it in even !
thiFty-iOur days, and, so far as they were |
concerned, we had the men and the pluck |
to have cleaned Baxter and his ku-KluX |
from the face Of the earth II We he'd been |
disposed to do so. When the order came
from the Federal authorities TO evacuate
the State-house, We tipped our hats, and.
however erroneous we believed the decis-
ion to be, peacefully retired from the State
house, disarmed and in the presence of a
blOOdthisty mob.
They have been rather eoInplacent since
then. They have only hung four or five /
white Republicans, ,lOt three or four col
ored men, and whipped several nearly to
death.
Parson Brooss closed ~ thanking the |
convention Tor hating invited him 10 speak,
and retired amid loud applause from the
colored Gnlesales.