Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-11


government, in all Of its departments,
ought to be brought to bear to bring them
to punishment. Every civil officer; from
the chief executive down, was bound, obli-
gated by his oath, to use every means to
effect that end. Every citizen owed it TO
himself, to his wife and his children,
as well as to society. to detect the
murderers and punish the assas-
sins. He said this was a crisis which
every citizen should meet under his just re-
sponsibility before the law and unto socle-
ty. He believed the people OF Gibson
county would sustain the courts and their
civil officers in every effort looking TO this
end, and that the agencies charged by the
law with the protection of society and with
the punishment of crime, would never
cease in their operations until these ofien-
ders in all classes should be brought 70
condign punishment. The Governor then
pictured the state Ofsociety attendant upon
the course of men taking the law in their
own hands. There was no security to so
ciety while men assayed of their own &C
cord 10 say who should be punished. He
pointed to the anarchy Of Mexico, the fear
ful condition Of South America andto that
OF France, when in the midst OF turmoil,
mternecine anger and civil outrage, the
streets of Paris were running with blood.
He spoke of the fact that the maintenance
oflaw was necessary for the preservation OF
life, liberty and property, and without law
there was no security for their families or
homes. lie deplored the agitation rs well
rs the origin Of the Civil Rights
bill gotten up for the purpose of exciting
the country, and that we would act unwise-
ly did we permit its agitation. He advised
the maintenance and cultivation Of kindly
relations between the white people and the
negroes. He regarded the neg-o as an ele-
ment Of production and development in
this country, and as such a useful ally to
the white man, upon whom he is depend
ent fOrthe tilling and the means of tilling
the soil, as he did not own it. This
should beget mutual relations of conf
dence and friendship between the whites
and blacks. If wise oOunsels prevailed
with both races, that they could and should
live together in peace. He then referred
at some length to the duty of civil officers,
embracing sherifis, conStables and all ju-
dicial and administered officers whose
sworn duty it was to see the law faithfully
executed in preventing all breaches OF the
peace in preventing crime and in bringing
criminals to punishment. The measure of
protection society receiveddepended largely
upon the watchfulness and fidelity of sher-
ifs, conStables and magistrates. This duty
alike extends to the white man and the
black man. He said any of those officers
had the power, when necessary, tOsummon
any or all the inhabitants of the county TO
aid him in maintaining the law and pre-
serving the peace of society, and wherever
these officers appreciated and faithfully
performed these duties society would be
fully protected. He exhOrted these Off
GERS to vigilance and activity, rs upon them
very largely depended the solution whether
a State government could maintain itself.
The Governor spoke about an hour and
a halt, during which time he was listened
10 with breathleSs interest by the vast
crowd. The negroes received the speech
in a gratifying manner, and also evinced
the sympathy manifested by the white
people, both frequently ~applauding. The
speech of Gov. Brown was mastery, thrill
ing and fearless. 1t did him more than
official credit, and e~levates him higher still
in the temple of TenneSsee's glory.
Gov. Brown was followed by Attorney
General S~kiffingtOn, MeSSrs. Sharp, Spiral
Hill. Il. p. Caldwell and Charles n. Gibbs,
Secretary Of State. These gentlemen made
able speeches, all concurring with Gov.
Brown in the ideas he expressed.