Year: 1874

TO THE PEOPLE OF TENNES-


SEE.


Address of the Conservative EX-


ecutiVe COmmittec-Au Law


less Acts Strongly Condemned


The Responsibilities Placed


Where 1t BeIOngs--CiviI Rights


the All Important Question At


Issue-A Pruning Down of


Needless Expense Demanded.


FELLOW CITIzENs-TEe peculiar exi-
gencies of the times render it necessary
and proper that we should address you
upon the condition of public affairs, and
upon the issues involved in this canvass.
The Democratic party of Tennessee met
in convention at Nashville on the 10Th
of August, 1874, and, after full and free
consultation, laid down a platform Of
principles upon which all men who are
opposed 10 the ruinous measures of the
Radical party may unite. The only
way in which party can be united,
harmonious and successful, is by sup
porting the principles upon which the
the party in convention was agreed, as
well as the nominees of 'thc party
Any other course would lead to the dis
integration Of the party, and its final
overthrow


We are aware that attempts have been
made and will continue to be made, to
create prejudice against the Democrat
ic and Conservative party of Tennessee
because of the acts of lawlessncss which
have taken place in some parts of the
State, but when it is remembered that
effort has been made, and will continue
to be made by the proper officers of the
State to bring the offenders to justice,
that throughout the State these acts
have been condemned not only by the
public press but by the various Demo
cratic and Conservative conventions
which have met, without single dis
senting voice, that in no part Of the
United States are acts of lawlcssness
1r.tyre discountenanced by public senti-
ment than in Tennessee, an fair minded
men viii say Chat it is unjust to attempt
to throw odium upon whole State be-
cause of the acts of few reckless, bad
men, which they could not prevent, and
for which they are in no wise RESPONSE
BILE, and this, too, for the ignoble pur-
pose of making political capital to serve.
the end Of sinking party, We con
denim as thoroughly as any one all acts
of violence, whether committed by
white or black We feel determined
to defend all persons of every race or
color, in the enjoyment of their legal
and constitutional. rights, and to secure
to them ample protection for their per
sons and property. Our object is to
preserve friendly relations between the
white and black races, because in so do
ing. the welfare and Happiness of both
will be promoted. In this State, under
a Democratic and Conservative adj
ministration, the negroes enjoy as many
rights as they do in any State in the
Union, and there is as little prejudice
against them on account of color as in
any of the Northern States.


BY our State laws they have the right
to vote, to hold office, to testify in
courts, to sit on juries, to acquire and
hold property. both real and personal,
and to enjoy all the benefits of a com
mon school system, established and paid
for mostly by white people of the State.
If let alone there would be entire har
mony between the races, and general
would be the result; but, un-
fortunately, it seemed to be the desire
of certain parties, for personal and polit-
cal ends, to engender strife between
them, just previous to an election.


The Civil Rrights Bill, so-called,
seems to have been intended to bring
about the unfortunate state of affairs
which now exists in many of the South
ern States, our own among the number.
The object of that bill seems to have
been to poison the minds of the black
race, and to infIame their passons and
so as to bring them into an
tagonism with the white race, with |
and good viii. It has pro-
dueed its legitimate fruits. First, by
arousing the passions of the negroes so
as to cause them to utter inflaInmatory
sentiments and TO form unlawful COM
binations and conspiraeies and then it
has naturally excited the white people
to such an extent that some reckless
men, disregarding the obligations Of !
law, have been induced to commit |
acts of violence, bringing reproach upon
Tire State, though, as We feel, most un-
Justly.


If it is Iutended to Introduce social |
equality between the white and black i
races, this never can be done by /
though the attempt 70 do II /
may cause serions disturbances |
to the Interests of bCth.


There may be a few negroes i'm the
country who are unwilling to associate |
with their. own race, and who desire to
force themselves into the society of the