Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-08-01
DEsHA COUNTY SPEAKS.
Leading Citizens Denounce John H.
McDowell's Vindication.
Special to Memphis Appeal.Avalanche.

good citizens of Red Fork and Silver
Lake townships, this county, to pub
licly protest against certain scurrilous
attacks made upon the good name of
our county and its residents, repre-
sentative body of men met last night
at Red Fork in the open roadway.
The meeting was called to order by
Capt. G. E. Buck, who made a brief
address, outlining the necessity for
decided action, and saying the time
had come when good men must speak
in no uncertain way. He invited
nominations and on motion DR.. H.
N. Austin, of Pendleton, was elected
chairman, and R, M. Blakemore, of
Medford, secretary.
The following gentlemen: Walker
w. Quilting, of Pendleton, j. II.
Sledge, of Red Fork, P. Mcfarland,
of Medford, were appointed a COM
mittee on resolutions.
After some delay they brought in
the following report, which was
adopted unanimously:
Whereas, John H. Mcdowell, for
merly resident of this county, but
now president of the Tennessee state
alliance, has, in reply to charges
made against his political character
by the daily American, newspaper
published in Nashville, Tenn, de-
scended to unworthy, outrageous and
scandalous methods of vindication;
and,
Whereas, the said Mcdowell has
seen fit. to publish his scandalous
statements in several newspapers of
Tennessee, to-wit: the Banner, the
Toiler, and the Appeal~Avalanche,
and,
Whereas, the said statements pub
lished by Mcdowell misrepresent and
malign our people, defame their
characters and distort the facts, all to
the commercial and material injury
of our county; and,
Whereas, we, whose names appear
signed to this document, are the own
ers or representatives of the owners
of more than three -fourths of all the
land in Red Fork and Silver Lake
townships, being mindful of the is
sues made by j. H. Mcdowell, and
intimate by personal knowledge, or
evidence easily produced, with said
McDowell's record while he resided
in this county; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That we are ready and
can produce evidence before any
court of law to prove that John H.
Mcdowell, while resident of this
county, affiliated with the negroes,
both as a man and a republican, and
held office through their votes as a
republican.
2. We cannot condemn too severe
ly the said McDowell's course during
his recent visit to our county, sum-
moning the negroes to his house, and
by threats and other means obtain
ing their denial of statements pre-
viously made in the presence of wit
nesSes.
3. We have contempt for the
method of McDowell's vindication.
It's a matter of public knowledge
that his two chief henchmen, jack
son Green and Harrison Nelson,
can be bribed at any time. Invok-
ing their assistance as a preliminary
move is evidence of guilt.
4. We hold it a monstrous outrage
that the said Mcdowell should have
suggested such obscene interviews as
appear in print by his authority.
They should down him in the es-
TEEN of every good man.
8. We denounce as an infamous
ais ehood the utterance of one Rev.
Robert H.Poynter concerning DR.. S.
j. Peoples, and we hereby record
ourselves as reposing the utmost con-
tidence in the honorable character
and uprightness of said Peoples. TO
each one of us he is personally known
and individually we can testify to his
worth.
6. We do not claim for ourselves
spotless christian characters, but
we concede that no man has
greater honesty in dealing with
our fellow men, greater honor for
our obligations, or greater truth in
affairs of life.
1--WE welcome to our county capt.
tai and labor of whatever kind or
color, but of such as ]. II. Mcdowell
we want not one.
s, We cordially invite any man or