Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-08
COLUMBIA.
Maury County Speaks for Law
and Order.
The Meeting i'm Columbia Adj
dressed by Chief Justice
Nicholson.
A strong Endorsement Of the Course
OF GOV. Brown.
Special to the Union and American.


ance Oh our County and Criminal Courts,
a meeting was organized by calling Judge
Martin TO the chair, to have an expression
of the sentiment of our county in regard to
the recent outrages in Gibson and other
counties. Judge Nicholson being discOv-
cred in the crowd, yielded to the urgent de
mand made upon him to address the meet
ing. He said i was the first time he had
spoken to a popular audience since he had
been upon the Supreme Bench. He would
be far from doing so now, but for the pc
chliar object of this meeting, and the ext
gency which demanded such action. He
spoke for no party, but for his eOuntrymen
of all parties. A great wrong had been
done the State. The courts had
been deied, and the law
trampled under foot. During the
sitting of a court and within the hearing of
the Judge, Attorney General and the Grand
jury, an armed mob Wrested prisoners
from the custody of the law and inflicted
summary punishment upon, them. Similar
disregard Of life and the authorities has
manifested itself in other places. If the
enemies Of prisoners could take them from
the Jail for one purpose, their friends could
rescue them for another. This was blow
at the very basis of all governments. He
was getting old and would soon pass from
the stage of action, but he saw around him
younger men ON whose shoulders would
rest the responsibility of government.
He appealed to them to vindicate the honor
of the State, and show our full capacity for
self-government, which can only be done
by a sacred regard for the law and the con-
stitutional authorities.
He saw in these outbreaks no reason to
question the capacity or good intention Of
our people, but he did regard it as an
emergency that loudly called for action in
putting down this Outlawry. 1t was not
his purpose TO discuss the relation between
the races. They were all under the law,
and all were entitled to its protection
without regard to color, and that man was
false to his race who would usup the pre-
rogative Of the law. The social relations
was different matter, and should not bias
any one on the consi deIatiOn of this sub
ject. He knew there was but one santi-
ment with the great body of the people of
Tennessee, but it was necessary that they
should come boldly to the front in uphold
inc the hands Of our Chief Executive, in
order that the lawless should be brought to
punishment and our honor vindicated at
homs and abroad.
Judge NichOlsOn's brief remarks were
listened TO with marked attention and ap-
proval. A committee composed OF Messrs-
Hickey, Aiken, Chairis and Dunnington,
brought in the following report as express
siye of the sense Of the meeting which was
unanimously adopted:
| We, portion OF the citizens of Maury
county, in convention assembled, hasten to
give expression to the very earnest indigna-
tion which we feel at the frequent recur-
renee of mob violence in different portions
of our State, especially the recent outrage
in the county of Gibson; that in. our judg-
ment the machinery of local selfgovern-
ment as wisely provided in the constitution
and laws of the State, are amply sufficient
for the protection of life, liberty and
property; and that their disregard by any
number Of citizens who seek TO take the
law in their own hands, is an ineXcusable
outrage against every principle sacred tC
constitutional liberty, the peace Of so
ciety and the security Of tho
citizens; that the evils resulting from such
infractions of the law, if tolerated by the
legal authorities, would be incalculable
and the thought cannot be for a moment
entertained; that, in our judgment, the
people of Tennessee as a political commu'
nifty, are as much welded to the principle
of law and order, as the people of any State
of the Union, and that the natural infer
ence to which these violations of the law
necessarily lead us is false to the true sen
timen. and manhood of our State officials
both Executive and Judicial; that the cir
cumstances Of the times loudly demand
such a general uprising of the citizens in
the support of their civil officers as will Sc
cure the arrest of criminals and the stern
administration of justice; that to this end
we give orr most cordial approval to the
energetic policy inaugurated by the Chic
Executive of the State, and appeal to Oul
= fellow-citizens throughout the coun
ties in which these disturbances hav,
taken place to come earnestly ant
energetically to his support, and that VI
urge our people every where to resolve upOI
r such timely action as may be necessary Il
5 correct the miscOnceptiOn that has gon'
abroad that ours is a state in which the Law
is. not supreme and the citizens not secure
; and that we will show to the world that VI
are capable of self-government, and nee'
not the aid of Federal bayOnet orOthel
, Federal Intervention to secure that end
therefore,
Resolved, That we pledge the preseu
State authorities our hearty approval AM
l cordial cooperation in the prompt polio.
t inaugurated to vindicate the laws and +
suppress crime.
? Resolved, That we tender 10 our dis
r tinguished citizen, Hon. A. q. +. Nlchol
= son. our thanks for his wise and timel,
= counsel in this critical emergency.
! Timely remarks were made by Judg
Martin, Col. Wright, Capt. Hickey and +
g G. DunningtOn, Esq.
Legislative Candidates.
\ convention assembled here to-day t
nominate candidates for the Senate ant
: House of Representatives. Col. ID. +
Wade was made chairman. After the hf
= teenih ballot, without effecting a nomina
n ton for Senator, the convention adjOurne'
e to meet again Sept. IA. MAURY.
4 REPUTATION.