Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-11
THE PUTNAM DIABOLISM.
It II Denounced I'm UnIiaeasured Terms
by the Citizens Of smith County.


At public meeting held in Carthage, on
Monday, Sept. Z, for the purpose of expires
sing the indignation Of the citizens of
Smith county, at the reoeut Outrages and
murders committed in Smith and adjoin-
ing counties, the following proceedings
were had:
On motion of Judge Fite, Capt. John
Allen was elected chairman of the meeting.
Capt. Allen, ON taking the chair, stated
tue object Of the meeting in few eloquent
and appropriate remarks.
On motion Of Judge Fite, Capt. E. 5.
Williams was made secretary.
Judge Fite then addressed the meeting.
In his speech he denounced the lawless acts
Of the Ku-Klux in unmeasured terms, and
in eloquent and fOrcible language pointed
out what must be the consequences, unless
the people should unite in suppressing the
lawlesS acts Of the desperate men, who are
at present terrOrizing the country. Sorrow
fully, almost weepingly, he referred to the
tarnished name of Smith county, on account
of these acts of. violence.
At the close Of Judge Fite's speech the
following men were appointed a committee
to draft resolutions expressive Of the senti-
mentS Of the meeting in reference to the
AClCnb OitleA--eos % " llCg OOuiA o.
Gill, B j. Walden, Vim. b. Whitley and K.
III. Cato.
While the committee were out the meet
ing was addressed by Col. A. Z. Garrett and
Capt Z. 5. Williams
The committee reported the following
preamble and resolutions, which Were
unanimously adopted by the meeting:
Whereas, We, large body Of the eiti-
lf Smith in rrFriITa
assembled, have learned that a bloody
murder was committed upon one Richard
Mckinley, eolOred, in our sister county of
Putnam, near our line, and in which we
have no doubt citizens of Smith eOupty
participated; and
Whereas, one F. Hall was present at the
murder and turned States evidence, and,
together with one Of the guilty parties, was
committed 90 the Putnam county Jail, from
which, in few nights thereafter, large
party Of disguised men forcibly took said
persons and murdered said Hall; and
Whereas, other facts show that there are
a number of desperate men banded to
gether for unlawful purposes, ON which ac-
count law-abiding men shOuld rise up and
denOunce them, and resolve TO stand by
each other in asserting the supremacy Of
AllC l1Mf III oilllANHoiAA. NAoAgAANN tAiAa PAh-
ishing crime, and thus rescue the good
name Of our county from the OblOquy that
we confess with shame now justly rests on
it, from the bad conduct Of a few men;
therefore,
Resolved, That the great body Of our
citizens are earnestly opposed to all law
lessness, and that We particularly denOunce |
the Ku-KluX organization, or any secret |
organization banded together for acts of |
violence.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to
aid in every lawful way in preventing all |
such acts Of violence, and in bringing the |
offenders 20 cOndign punishment.
). NJ. FIFE,
JOHN ). GILL,
u. J. VADEN,
WM. b. WHITLEY,
X. II. CARO-.
On motion OF w. L. Shaver, it was Or
dered that the proceedings Of this meeting |
be Published in the Nashville papers, Cal |
latin Erdniner and HGrtSUiiie Sentinel, |
after which the meeting adjourned.
JOIN ALLEN, PreSt.
Z. 5. WILLIAMS, Sec'y.