Year: 1874

large number stl It was wrong that the men were In
the hands OF the law and that they could not se'
mile when six halted us and made the same demand
when pretty much the same o oPVi them
reported these proceedings to the Sheriff and he re-
night There was no trouble that night, and next ues-
say) morning and my posse returned 10 our homes'


SPEECH BY GOV. JOHN C. BROWN.


During his Official visit Trenton, to investigate the
outbreaks there Gov Brown Of Tennessee, at the re-
quest OF many citizens addressed largo public meet
ing In the course of his remarks he said:


After conference and free Interchange OF opinions
with the leading citizens OF Gibson County he was salts
fed that the great body Of the people had no
public throughout the country but that they were
severe in their condemnation as were the people re-
moved from the Of the trouble. He believed tnat
there people In the State taken as mass VINO
recognized In higher degree the majesty Of the law or
who more anxious that offenders be punished ac
cOrding to the forms OF the law He also said he had
great pleasure in stating that he had seen the Grand
Jury, Judge, and other civil loficers and was fully
satisfied that they taking tho most active meas
to discover and bring the offenders TO justice lie
commended citizens OF Plckettsville for meeting
these aggressive the part OF the NEGROES
by issuing warrants arresting the negroes, and CON-
mtting them to jal instead of resOrng TO force ana
violence But when committed the negroes were en-.
titled prisoners to the same protection as they had
been white Yet while custody, helpless ana un-
armed they taken from the Jail IN the night tme
forcbly, by body OF masked men, and some OF them
put TO death. The men who committed this outrage
which had brought stain upon the character OF tue
whole State. were guilty Of three-fod felony; first,





breaking the jail and third. for numbering the prs-
oners He had no language adequate to the condemna-
ton OF such a diaboca outrage, which could not be
justified by any law CUSTOM by any motive OF self
protection. The perpetrators elons and had made
themselves outlaws Every power of the State Govern
ment In all OF It's departments, ought to be brought TO
bear TO bring them to punishment Every civil officer,
from the Chief Executive down, was bound obligated
py his oath to use every means to effect that end
Every citizen owed IL to himself 10 his wife and his
cndren as well to society," to detect the murderers
and punish the assassins.


He said this was crisis which every citizen should
meet under his just responsibility before the law and
unto society He believed the people OF Gibson County
would sustain their courts and their civil officers in
every effort looking to this end aud that the agencies
charged by the law with the protection OF society and
with the punishment OF crime would never in


their operations until these offenders all classes should
be brought to cOndgn punishment He advised the
maintenance and cultivation Of kindly relations between
the white people and the negroes He regarded the
negro element OF production and development in
this country and such useful ally TO the white man,
upon whom he Is dependent for the tilling and the
means OF tilling the soil, he did not own 1t. This
should beget mutual relations of confidence and friend
ship between the whites and the blacks II wise coun.
sells prevailed with both races, that they could and
should live together In peace.