Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-09-19
The State Authorities Determined
to Punish Offenders Against
its Peace-A Digni-
fed and Able
Protest.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, September Is
Governor Brown, of Tennessee, sent the fol-
loving message this afternoon 10 President
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
NASHVILLE, TENN, September Is, 1874. }
TO His Exec gency L. s. Grant, President Of
the United sJate-. Washington City, D. C.;
There were sixteen negroes committed 10
the Of Gibson county in this State charged
with q conspiracy 10 take the lives Of the
white citizens OF their neighborhoOd. On the
night OF the tweuty-dfth Of August, lSl,
Marty uf disguised men violated the Jail and
took these prisoners fOrcibiy from the Jailer
and KILLED FOUR and wounded two, the re-
maInder escaping and being now ct large.
The next day / offered reward Oh i've hun
d-eI dollars each for these unknown offend
ders. The state court being then in session
took immediate cOguizance Of the outrage,
and the Iabors Of the regular and special term
nave resulted In The detection and indict-
1sleut OF forty-one Of she guilty parties, the
majority Of whom have been arrested, and
ire remainder viii be II they have not ned
sbe country. They are indicted under the
second and third sections Of the act of tue
general assembly OF Tennessee OF lo6g-7Or
i,sss-d the thirlieth of January, 1870, entitled
AN act 10 preserve the public peace" ana
which is IN fuu force. The sections are as fol-
lows:
he IL rgfAsr enacted, That If any person or
uar-lu disgu Ised or In mask, by day or by
hlrFt- ,balJ enter upon The premises Of anoth-
fI. Oh demand entrance OF adfnl aaiOn INTO tne
house ~ enclosure OF any eillzen oI thls 9tale,
u snail be considered prsriI Jaels that AIS OF
their Intentions are 40 commit a ielonys ana
-rrn demand shall be- deemed an assault Win
am luTeutto commit felony, and the person
or persons 30 offending shall, upon conNictlon'
b- punished by imprisonment IN the penllen-
tlaTy not less Than ten years nor more than
sglTr5,y <. Be u further enacted, That II a
person OF person 80 prOwlInE, travelling, riding
,Jr walking through the towns OF country OF
ans state masked or In disguise, shall or may
al-aulL another with "a deadly weapon be or
uley shall be deemed guilty oI an assault with
ssu iuteuLto commit murder In the nIst degree
auu5 uu conviction theTeol' small sunst ue.ltlA ~
bv hanging: Yr0Uidsd the jury trying the case
may substitute Imprisonment IN the pen
iteuuary for a period oi not les tlaA zen
-. ars Dor moTe than tWenty-One years.
Zoe slate authorities have manifested he
r1osf earnest desire 10 enforce the law against
the guilty parties, and have demonstrated oy
these indictments and arrests not only their
.1I-positiOu Dut their ability 10 enforce the Law
.zEd protect all citizens without regard 10
rats, color, or previous condition Of servitude,
These efforts, 1 can assure you, will in no
sense be relaxed until the majesty Of the law
ls fully vindlcaled. Notwithstanding these
efforts, with the result stated, the United
state, marshal and commissioner for the
western division OF Tennessee, with the aid OF
dataeHmeuts from the government garrison
N humboldt, have arrested, and are conttnu-
sDp 10 arrest, citizens, conveying them 70
.Ierop. US, nearly one hundred miles distant,
IA, a,,-y- r for the same offenss charged against
rf4ul in Z. Ne Stale courts. As governor OF Ten
r,sz-e-T do most respectfully, but earnestly
r.rot..t asaID u this exercise Of jurisdiction by
Inc r-,.ftss ..faf. IS commissioner and marshal,
without reference 20 the question whether the
-.s.8-a. are frops subjects OF cognizanee by
tie United States eourE,' out alone upon 'l7
.-ouui that the peace of society will be more
certainly r.re-erved .Nud tie rights Of citizens
as reII protected by onced.hs the JuIIsole-
lion 90 the state courts, SDd therefore respect
fluy ask your ExceIlsn.sy TO order that no
further arrests b. made by Inc marshal and
That the parties already in his custody De
turned over i0 the proper local triDuhals loI
anal and punishment. under Nahf 70 7eat4A
YOUR excel IeuCy ll 90 no effort e'ltl pc p -
To- enforce the avs and project the cltllels "
The officers ui Che state government through
uur the HlrdeE- ui this State, and believe Jhe
local Authority D. ample 90 protect her people,
OF every race and condition 10 life. An cary
reply b. spegiTulsy solicited.
JOHN G.. BROWN,
-#sEHE nv u M