The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-09-03
PICKETTvILLE.
A Large Meeting OF white and Color
ed Citizens Held there Last Monday
General Good Feeling Manifested
No More TroubIe Antieipated

4 A Large Meeting of White and Color
! ed Citizens Held there Last Monday
General Good Feeling Manifested
No More Trouble Anticipated.
Having been informed that mass
meeting Of both whites and blacks
would be held in Pickettville, we went
down last Monnay to this unfortunate
village. On our arrival, we found a
number of gentlemen present, quietly
discussing the situation. Everybody
seemed to think that the worst was over
and general desire was expressed to
see the laws enforced. About nine
o'clock crowds began to assemble,
nearly half of the number being black.
At 4 am. about two hundred people
assembled at the academy, when Rev.
r. H. Burns was elected chairman
and j. T. Warren secretary.
Mr. Burns, on taking the chair, said
the object of the meeting was for both
races to consult together in friendly
manner about our troubles and
pledge each to the other for the
maintenance of peace and quiet, look
ing to the protection of both races
under the law. Our wives and chill
dren had been terribly frightened and
excited, and the colored people had
been uneasy and afraid to appear or
to work. He was glad to see the col
ored people present, and told them
they could be here without fear of
anything. Some Of them had staid
at home during the excitement and
attended to their work, and he COM
plimented them for it. The citizens
of this town had protected them and
guarded the prisoners safely to Jail,
were law-abiding, and would continue
to do their duty as good citizens.
The following letter from Capt. T.
NJ. Hutchinson, one of the best citi-
zens of this or any other county, was
read and endorsed:
HUMBOLDT, Aug. 90, 1874.
Messrs. B. T. Northcott, NJ. F.
Parker and j. B. Moore: Gentlemen
i acknowledge and highly appreci-
ate your invitation as committeeman
to attend your proposed meeting of
our friends and neighbors, regardless
of race or color. | regret that my
private duties are such that it will be
impossible for me to be with you.
Feeling as certainly do, deep and
abiding interest in the prosperity Of
our common country, / write you a
few suggestions, which, if you desire,
YOU may read before your meeting.
That this is a serious affair upon our
hitherto pleasant and happy commu-
nifty, no man with moments thought
can fail to see. regret seriously the
calamities that are upon us as a peo-
pie. That wrongs and blunders have
been committed by somebody is appa-
rent; but rs these wrongs cannot be
recalled, let it be our highest aim to
take precautionary measures to pre-
vent the recurrence of similar wrongs.
We have our laws; our courts are
open. We have officers of our own
selection TO enforce them. If | under
stand the object of your meeting, it
is TO try to give guarantees to peacea-
BILE and law-abiding citizens, regard
less of race or color, evidence that
you will spare no pains in your power
TO put down a mob spirit, let it be
found where it may; that the white
men by any word, action or deed show
to the world their adherence of men
marauding over the country under
disguise, thereby precipitating good
citizens into trouble; that the colored
men with equal encrgy-for we are
all equally interested-use their efforts
to prevent any of their race from
committing any lawlcss acts. 1t does
seem to me that policy and selfinter-
est, if nothing else, should prompt
every man to this course. We can
not live together and prosper with a
spirit of hatred ranking in our bosoms.
No possible good can result from a
war of races. \ reign of terror will
be its legitimate result. | do hope
that every white man and colored man
will pledge himself to frown down all
attempts at lawlessness. Let each, in
a spirit of harmony, extend the olive
branch of peace one to the other, that
man of all colors may feel safe at
home with their families.
Allow me again to revert to the
fact that l regard your efforts to res
tore peace and harmony in the COM
munity as wise and laudable. My
humble conviction is that one week
of excitement such as we have had is
enough to sicken the heart of any we'll
meaning man. None but bad men
gloat and fatten upon anarchy.
| am very respectfully yours ETC.,
T. NJ. HUTCHINSON.
Col Sharpe, of Humboldt, taking
the stand, said he had known these
people all his life and needed no in
troIuction Wa wara haro IN counsel |
together and assure the country we
were law-abiding; to hurl back the
foul SANDER of the press of the coun-
try that we are lawless and reckless.
Wrong-gross and fragrant wrong
has been committed, and we must dis
countenance it. The trouble did not |
commence in Trenton Tuesday night;
that was the result of the work of |
unnrincinled mon who had baan Of !