Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-09-26
TENNESSEE.
What an Intelligent Northern Man, who
Lived with us for Years, has to
say About Us.
A Iall Answer 70 Morton from an Ex-
Northern Soldier who Went to
Louisiana with Butler.

Journals in their treatment Of the southern
question. 1t hardly seems pOsSib that tnos
| editors represent the views OF that Republl
can party 10 which 1 gave my allegiance II
lSSl-6l-a party which / believed was com
posed OF true men, whose regard Tor the pub
lie welfare was above personal greed; WnOs
uJterances in favor Of universal freedom an,
| against the intolerance of private opinion
| W ere, morally and intellectually, very muel
| superior to the partisan spirit, which, unue
the title Of Democracy, had controlled IN
government so long. For few mouths
| AFTER MY REMOVAL FROM THE SOUTH
1 was frequently surprised at the unjust accu
satiOns Of the press against southern men ant
| southern society generally, but attributed 1
to ignorance OF the real conditions rsthe
| than 10 design. But as the election campaigns
opened, 1 discovered a deliberate purpose Il
motion Of partisan ends. Mr.; Harri
son, on Friday night, exposed the Key
70 the whole programme WheI
he opened his remarks by saying II
effect that Just before the election we are
wont TO hear OF murders and outrages tnnum
merable over the southern boruer, which
kindles anew the Republican enthusiasm and
unites the party in defense OF Its principles
chiefly, should judge, represented by It's ne
gro policy. To any one who viii give the sub
feet a moments thought, II Will appear plain
ly absurd that this advantage of the one party
should be persistently adopted year after year
by its defeated opponent. II is the kepubli-
can party which profits by
THESE OUTRAGES,
therefore, the chief instigator Of them, II not
directly, TO quite as much effect Indirectly.
Entering the army in Buffers New England
division IN 1861, i served until the surrender in
1855 in the gulf department. Dniing most Of
that time 1 occupied a position which gave
me pretty thorough acquaintance with the
people of New Orleans and Of Alabama.
After the surrender 1 had charge Of the recon-
struction OF one of the principal southern
railroads for few months, and when that
work was completed was engaged In business
in KnnfncEV term of wears In lSl4 /
moved TO Tennessee, which was my residence
until last November. In writing, therefore,
OF southern affairs l may claim to know
something from actual experience OF the sub
ject under discussion, and 1t is Of
THE DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
now so prominently in the public eve, that
wish TO say few words. The cost Of appear
ing as in defense of those people, who have
been SO grossly maligned, has been fully
counted, but will not prevent my bearing true
testimony in their behalf Senator Morton,
in his speech on Friday night, asserted, un-
Qualihedly, that IL was unsafe Ior northern
man to enter the south and make his home
there. Ny own experience is very much at
variance with that assertion. During a resi-
dence Of eight years as private citizen, there
was never an occasion when l felt the slight
est hesitation, in private or in public, about
defending the Federal cause, for which had
done service. Often have
DEFENDED GENERAL BUTLER
from the absurd charge OF spoon-stealing, and
when on one occasion an editor, who had
skulked into Indiana from Kentucky during
the war, attempted TO make capital by a pub
lie attack upon that question, his action was
promptly denounced by all OF the more influ-
ential citizens. Frequently did sustain Sen
ator Morton's public course few years since,
although l am free to say that would have
been ashamed TO act with such men as con-
trolled the Republican party of Tennessee.
There was never moment when L carried
arms about my person or kept them at my
residence, nor did ever see any occasion for
the use Of them. In my business associations
was treated with the same
COURTESY
that might expect anywhere, and in fact Oft
times experienced a warmth of sympathy
foreign 10 the northern character. Euring
the past three years, as secretary Of the West
Tennessee lair, Travelled all over Middle and
West Tennessee, and became acquainted with
many of her people, and it appears to me as
simply outrageous that class of men 50 in
telligent and 80 true 10 the interests Of their
commonwealth and country-men who ha ge
striven with all their might for the past few
years TO wipe away every vestige of that Sec
uonal feeling which was instiiled into their
minds in the days Of slavery-men who have
accomplished wonders in the development Of
the RbOundiug natural resources Of that State,
should be publicly branded under the general
"MURDERERs."
There are men in all Of the southern States,
and in all Of the northern States, TOO, who are
lawless and unscTupulous, but 10 charge upon
the whole community the responsibility OF
the people or Indiana because of local TuffiRn-
ism. There are districts along the Tennessee
river, and along some Of the smaller streams,
Inhabited by people who know tom para
lively nothing Of civilization, who never
knew Whist a commOn-schOOl was, and who
live princ cipally by hunting and fishing,
which is a turbulent element IN the State.
THEIR PREJUDICES ARE DEEP-ROOTED,
and especially against the negro, who has
been wont TO assume superiority to them,
both before the war and since. East Tennes-
see has large proportion Of this population,
and IL is from this class that the Federal Tegi-
ments were mostly recruited during the war,
and il is this class which votes largely with
the Republicans principally negrOes-iD Ten
nessee to-day. Having no sympathies with
she better classes OF the State, but rather
feuds Of long standing, the war
gave opportunity for qualification VI their re-
venge, and the necessities Of the
REPUBLICAN OFFICE-HOLDERs
have still further afforded an ample field for
the exhibition OF their bloOdthirsty procliVi-
ties. l need not charge the possibility di-
rectly upon the Republican party, only In so
far as they defend the action Of unscTupulous
who unblushiugly seek office,
with the connivance and aid Of Federal offi-
cials, among people with whom they have
no shadow OF sympathy, and from whom, by
such course, they cannot expect 20 be re-
garded with very much Of respect. The con-
siderRte action OF Governor Senter restored
the state TO the control OF its own citizens in
1868, since which time up to the present there
has been condition Of aboundiDg prosperity
throughout its borders. NOpeople tnat have
ever met in twanty-nine OF the states are
more law-abiding than the people Of West
GIBSON
is one Of Its most prosperous counties, but its
population includes a few Of the class named.
Naturally the action OF congress. in half en-
acting the civil rights bill, which had better
have become a law than TO have been left--I
fear intentiOnally-in its present status, has
quickened into life all OF those preludices
which md their deepest root among these
poor whites" 20 whom I have referred. 1t
was a most unfortunate and uncalled for
and will retard for many years the
growth of that kindly feeling between whites
and blacks which was making such satisfac'
tween whites aud negroes. Almost without
exception the kindest relations have existed
all through the war and ever since between the
NEGROES AND FORMER MASTERS.
The autipathie5 and antagonisms which
we hear 30 much about are only as between
the negroes and those whites who never
owned a negro, and the ante war pre-
judices are the inspiring cause. Even
of the prOperty-holdeTs and substantial citi-
Zens, whose interests, II nothing else, prompt
them 10 sustain the law and maintain or
der; ami shall the people of the Lorth, who
boast Of their common schools and their su-
periOr intelligence, withhold from them that
sympathy and cooperation which the neces-
stiles OF the situation demand? After the per-
petration OF
THE TRENTON OUTRAGE,
for which have no words of condemnation
sufficiently severe, the State authorities, with
a promptness becoming their response bilities,
moved Tor the arrest OF the fiends. The United
States marshal, It appears, acting under the
general instruction Of the attorney-general's
circular, also proceeded TO act, not in cOnjuuc.
ton with the state authority, but independ-
emily. Governor Brown, than whom no truer
man lives In any State, addressed the Presi-
dent, setting forth the facts, and representing
that the State authorities were competent 10
take care OF its criminals, and 10 bring them
speedily TO justice. The answer was as heart
ess as could well be conceived, TO the effect
that a law OF congress PEI mitted the action OF
the marshal, and be should not interfere.
Well may the good people Of Tennessee wrttbe
under the infiiction Of such injustlce-al in
the interest Of
THE GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY
Let us for moment suppose similar course
OF proceedings for Indiana: a party Of ruff
fans rob train, or rob and tie victim to
the track in the face Of the train, both acts of
special atrocity. The State authorities move
vigorously TO discover the perpetrators. Can
we conceive OF any excuse for Federal inter-
ference: The whole north would rise as one
man 10 resist such an usurpatiOn, Would it
not be well 20 regard the precepts Of the
golden rule a trife c'Oser9 Il is at best a stu
pendous task devnlved upon the good people
OF the south TO adapt themselves and their
surroundings TO the changed conditions re-
sulting from the war, and IL is deplorsbie that
anybody at the north can be found 20 throw
obstacles In their ~, and this for no other
pretext than 70 advance the interests OF
party. CHAS. w. GREENE.
WaFsFrigafe Ashore.
KEY WEST, FLA, September 25 -
As the feet under Admiral Muilary was get
ting under way for New Orleans, on Tuesday,
the frigate Brooklyn ran ashore in the SOUTH
west channel IL was at first feared thai She
fa frt hfar haf