Year: 1868

Gen. Quarles-Reiterated the same
assurances of those who had preceded
him. He agreed with Gen. Cheatham,
that by law the Sheriffs had power to
summon persons to arrest violators
Of the peace and to suppress disor-
aers, and while they possessed that pow
er all they had to do, when peace was
necessary to be preserved, would be to
sall or summon confederates upon the
posse, and they would find them always
ready and willing to preserve the peace.
Fhis,i if summoned, he pledged himself
to do, and all the gentlemen PRESENT.
He was astonished that there was not
more violence in the country than there
was. We had Just passed through a
gigantic war, and general decentralization
had been the result ofait, without dis
tinction of parties, colorlor race He be-
lieved that, in order that there might ex-
ist peace, sincerity and friendship among
the people, that all should be possessed
Of the same rights and privileges. As a
lawyer he had had a great deal to do
with the criminality of the State,
and he found them almost uni
outside of the ranks Of
the army There were persons in
every county who took sides with the
parties which they thought to be in the
in that particular neighbor-
hood, who had no other interest than SELF 4
These were the disturbers of the peace
and the most violent. The Confederate
soldier was necessarily the preserver of
the peace. In the first place they had
been disciplined, and secondly, it was
to his interest to preserve the peace -
He had nothing to gain by disorder and
lawlessness and violence, but everything
to lose. He suggested that the general
peace could be preserved without the ex-
penditure of one dollar. The very mo-
ment the Legislature showed DISPOSE
tionto trust and have faith in the class of
citizens embracing Confederate soldiers,
the very moment they placed upon them
an equal basis with other citizens in
rights and privileges, that without the
of a single dollar of the
public money there would be enlisted on
the side of law and order sixty thousand
troops, the best and the brav-
est. 1t was exceedingly unfair and un-
just to hold the disfranchised persons
of the community responsible for all
lawlessness committed. The law
breakers were generally deserters from
both armies. Men who had proved false
to their colors, would of course prove false
and faithless as citizens. It is true, the
people of the State who were disfran-
chised were restless. Give the people
an equal chance. There would be no
sort of contentment or quietness until,
their disabilities were removed. With,
out making any argument on the subject
he asked the committee to take the mat
ter to themselves Suppose they, by the
casualties of war, had been denied the
privilege of voting, to which they had
been used, and holding office. Let their
hearts reply to the question, and say,
whether they would not have been dis
contented. He wished the committee
not to understand any thing he said in
the nature of a threat. He only desired
to simply speak the candid truth He
thoug hit the calling out Of a militia force
would add to the infamed condition of
the public mind to such an extent that
bloodshed was inevitable The people
of the South in their widest moments,
did not indulge the desire, much less in
the active organization Of a revolution
or rebellion against the State and Fed
eral Government. For security and
peace the hostages they presented were
the devastated fields Of the South and
the inability of the people to make war
of any description. Alpthat was lack
ing was faith in one another, sincerity
and integrity of purpose. Some remarks
having been made about the course of
certain editors, he said that the Generals
and the people were not and could not
be responsible therefor IN ftrsi g.5....


General Williams expressed great sat
isfaction at the spirit here shown, and
believed that this was the dawn Of the
prosperity of the State IF things exa
listed as they were now represented, cerl
tainly no military force would be needed
in the State. The soldiers on both sides


were the friends of law and order. SSThis
meeting would bring about good re-
suit, and it would not be long before
these men would exercise. all the rights
and privileges of citizenship. -9l-.s


General Forrest concurred with the
views expressed by the committee. He
had tried to discharge all the duties of a
soldier as soldier, and he intended to
IL o,f In y,rooe &c All,


during the time of election he had offered
1000 disfranchised men to help the pub
lie preserve order. The idea which had
gotten into the public mind that there
was an organization in the State, whose
purpose was to overthrow the State gov
ernment, was utterly without founda-
ton. His name had been used in con-
nection with violence, especially to the,
negro, which was also false. He would
always endeayor to, see justice done to
all. atL--t-.. So - 5rt .,aE. %


General Smith {Senator from Shelby
Expressed his qualification at the peace
full character of the meeting. He thought
the day was fast approaching when all
who had proved themselves the con-
servators of peace would be enfranchised.


General Dibrell - Said that in his
county both Radicals and Conservatives
would testify.to its peacefulness. a9ioa


General Palmer-Remarked that his
friends had already'expressed themselves.
He, when Johnston surrendered, COM
all the Tennessee troops, and he
thought he could pledge them to peace
and due respect for thellaws.a


Colonel Believed this meet
ing would result in the greatest good to
all classes, and would add incalculably
to the peace and prosperity of the State.


Representative Roach and Senator
II LII -. 4 .,.e "a tba uonfinnantr nf Gala