Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-01-14
Under the Bayonet.
sBanditti" Sheridan convicted of
FaISehOOdS.
Indignant Protests.

Secretary Of War
"It is with deep regret that l
have to announce to you the ex-
istence in this State Of a spirit
of defiance to all lawful author
ity, and an insecurity of life,
which is hardly realized by the
General Government or the
country at large.
"The lives of citizens have be-
come so jeopardized that I'M
less something is done to give
protection to the people, all Sc
curity usually afforded by law
will be oyer-ridden. Defiance
to the laws and the murder of
individuals seems to be looked
upon by the community here
from a standpoint which gives
impunity to all who choose TO
indulge in either, and the civil
government appears powerless
to punish or even arrest. l have
tonight assumed control over
the Department of the Cult"
New ORLEANS, January s.
Excitement has run high here
to-day. The publication of
General Sheridan's dispatches
of yesterday representing the
whole State in a condition bor-
dering on, if not in actual, an
archy, came with the stagger-
ing force Of an unexpected blow
to the people. The facts elected
before the Congressional Inves-
tigating Committee, as we'll as
by careful observation, do not
sustain General Sheridan in his
assertions Of yesterday. There
are discomfort and dissatisfac-
ton amounting almost to dis
order on all sides, especially in
the city of New Orleans, but
with wonderful strength and
patience these feelings are kept
under control, and there are
peace and quiet. The people
are sore, and have been aggra-
waited almost beyond endurance
at the thought that at the very
moment when they were exer-
cising the greatest self-control
they are accused by General
Sheridan, who has been here
scarcely a week, Of being pos
sessed of a spirit Of mutinous
INSTRUMENTATION and outrageous
disregard of law and order
The charge is unjust and I'M
true.
The following is Sheridan's
dispatch, asking permission to
butcher the white people Of
three States
Headquarters MILITARY DIVISION OF }
Missouri, New ORLEANS, La, JAN. 5.
Hon. w. w. Belknap, Secretary of War,
Washington, D. c.:
l think the terrorism now ex-
listing in Louisiana, Mississippi
and Arkansas could be entirely
removed and confidence and
fair dealing established, by the
arrest and trial Of the rin9lead-
ers Of the armed White Leagues.
If Congress would pass a bill
declaring them banditti, they
could be tried by a military
Commission. The leaders Of
the banditti who murdered men
here on the 14th Of last Septem-
Der, also morerecently at VicAs-
burg, Mississippi,should in JUS
tice to law and order, and the
peace and prosperity of this
southern part of the country,
be punished. 1t is possible that
if the President would issue a
proclamation declaring them
banditti, no further action need
be taken, except that which
would devolve upon me.
p. II. SHERIDAN,
Northumberland u. S.Army.
a meeting Of Northern,
Western and Eastern men do
ing business in this city, held at
the St. Charles Hotel, tonight,
was well attended. Resolutions
were adopted expressing aston
ishment at the published tele-
grams of yesterday and to-day,
from General Sheridan to the
Secretary of War, and stating
that they have witnessed no dis
play of force, nor heard any ex-
of opinion in bust
ness circles that would give
color to the statements made in
said kilograms; that on the con-
trary, upon all sides we hear
assurance of an earnest desire
FOR submission to the lawfully
constituted powers. Speeches
we're made by several Union
officers.
COLUMBUS, o., January u