Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-08-03
An Ohioan in Tennessee.

ling recently in Tennessee, and
in a letter now before us, dated
July 24th, gives his views of
our people and country, based
on his observations. Since his
return home, while riding along
the highway he was assailed by
three tramps, and fearfully beat
en-, wit hout provocation. He
says-
| | left a brief statement of the
facts in the case with an editor
of a paper that is not slow and
lazy to publish any item of, or
pertaining to, the so-called
Southern Ortrages." l desired
this COURAGE" to be published.
This one near HMM the coun-
lty-within 5 miles of Dayton,
one that could be proven: But
no! he couldn't. That news
paper was the Dayton Journal,
one of the most prominent Re-
publican newspapers IL the
State of Ohio.
1t is supremacy amusing to
me, TO see what a change will
come over the minds and faces
of certain individuals, who some
times begin to tell me about
some Southern Outrage they
have just read or heard of, when
I relate to them what / know
about Montgomery county, (my
own county.)
Sir, / have faith in the South
and Southern people, and hope
to live to see the tine when it
will flow with ''milk and honey"
She is bound to "come up" and
rise superior to all the obstacles,
that an inefficient and greedy,
INSCRIPTIONS and money loving
administration, and trucking
adherents have environed her. |
For the period of five months
/ talked about little else than
Tennessee, Georgia and Alaba-
ma, and their resources. This
was previous to March /, 1876,
as l expected to prospect in
one of them if not all. l will
not weary you with a detail of
the various kinds of men and
stories, with whom and which
/ became conyersant. When l |
made known to my friends that
l was going South, they warned
and cautioned me not to go.
To all Of which 1 replied: "Gen-
tlemen, save your feelings and
sympathies for one who needs
them. 1 do not" as soldier
Of the North I haze met soldiers
and citisess Of the South, DIT
ring the Gear and since, and
found them TO be a bold, cour-
dgeous, asagssanimous and cour-
teOats DeODLe, and eUith them II
sUsU feel perfectly SAFE" Then |
after this little speech, | would
ask their attention whilst /
would relate some of the per-
sonal adventures in which l had
been an unwilling participant
and actor, within our own coun-
ty. The stories to them were
almost incredible. But they
knew me to be an honest man
and without any motive to tell
that which was untrue. They
would exclaim: as it posi-
ble?" "Do we live in the midst |
of such scenes and know and
see them not?" My reply was
an emphatic one: "You do!
therefore cease this eternal harp
ing apon Southern Outrages
Take the beam out of thine
own eye, and you will see no
mote in thy neighbor's."
By the way; permit me, at
the risk of being tedious, to
say a few more words. Which
words I have repeated to many
persons since nay return North,
and they were compelled to
drop their heads. But to the
swords" The first week of |
nay stay in Nashville, 1 was a.
mazed at the lack of profanity.
Not that l expected to find con-
fusion COMPOUNDED, anarchy and
chaos. Nothing of the kind,
sir; I expected to find as much
order, decency and pIopriety |
there as I would find in Gin
cinnati, Dayton or any other
place in the North. I was in
and through all such crowds
and gatherings as we usually
see in towns and cities, upon
the streets, sidewalks and cor
ners, and in all that week | did
not hear as much profanity as
would in an hours walk in a
city not far from this point,
and that CITY is abOnt as laroe