Year: 1875

the Maxwell house. The governor wa


listening TO the dulcet strains OF al


itinerant string band, and talking O


matters and things generally with th,


venerable Judge Ewing, one Of the re


cent candidates for senator. AS soon a


he deserted the correspondent of tht


RspubiicGa the governor inquired aftel


the health Of his old friend and conrad,


in arms, General COckrel, and then Lee


off into an animated conversation UPON


public affairs, some portions OF which,


as indicating what will be his policy in


view of possible troubles to result from


the despOtic and revolutionary course O


the Grant administration, are of public


interest. Governor Porter belongs t


the new school Of southern politicians


OF which Senator Gordon, General
Cockrell, Governor Garland aud Lieu
tenRnt-GovernOr Penn, OF Louisiana, are


with himself, the foremost representa-.
tives. He is q tall, handsome man ol
about forty years of age, Of erect form,
graceful carriage aud affable, winning
manner. His bearing is very quiet and


unObtrusive, and his style Of talking il
earnest and dig nified, but very easy and
pleasant. He is most evidently man ol
strong moral convictions, and, though


not in any sense a brilliant intellect or
a genius as the saying )es, he is full OF
practical common sense, and q safe
counsellor for such a people as those OF
Tennessee in times like these. The


governor, after some illusions to minor


matters, said that the Arkansas mes
sage Of the President, together with the
general policy fOreshadowed by the Re-
publican congressional caucus, had filled
bis mind with anxiety, not to say alarm.


He had begun to hope when the result
OF last falls elections became fully
known that the tribulatiOns OF the
south were about over, and that the
time would soon come when the people
OF every State in the Union would be
enabled to conduct their own affairs
without the constant fear of interven-
ton from Washington, but late develop
ments of Republican policy bad led him
to fear that the troubles of his people
were not yet ended. He felt that, in
view Of the fact that every effort would
doubtless be made to set the outrage mill
again, it was very Important
that the people OF the north should be
fully and truthfully advised Of the
temper of the southern people. He re-
garded the services of the two OF three
independent newspapers which had
sent their correspondents to Alabama last
fall a. Of inestimable value. They had
completely blocked the game Of the au-
thOriues at Washington, and had turned
the outrage mill into farce and its work
into ridicule. He believed the people of
the north were just and that they wished
the south well, but that they had been
misled in judgment and thereby led into
ssnctioning harsh and cruel policies and
through systematic misTepre-
sentation to them of the temper and
feeling OF the southern people. These
Misrepresentation had been made by
interested politicians Of the Republican
party and by their partisan newspaper
organs, because they found political
profit in such cslumnies. He was re-
ioiced to see the independent press of
the north leading off in search of the
truth and in opposition to the schemes
Of those who sought to peTpetuate their
own power by wholesale defamation and
oppression Of the southern people. 1t
was field in which not only enterprise,
but philanthropy and patriotism were
by those newspaper mana
gers who sent correspondents down
here in search Of the truth, that justice
might be done. He realized fully and
keenly that the only hope of salvation
'Or the south rested in the success Of the
Democratic party in the north. South
ern men fully cOmprehended the Radi-
;al policy and thoroughly understood
what course would be requisite on their
part in order TO meet and defeat it. The
Radical policy was 10 irritate the south


nto violence, and, if possible, into in
If this could be accom-
llished, the voters who had recently left
he Republican ranks would be driven
back again, and thus the perpetuation
1f the power Of the present ring assured.
This was Enthusiastically the Radical
plan. He presumed that if it could be
,arTied out according to programme, its
'esults would not fall far short Of the an


of its authors. 1t rested with
he southern PEOPLE to defeat this wicked
)lsn by refusing TO perform the share in


{ allotted 10 them. The Radical poll
icians expected them to furnish out
ages, by the recital of which the
lortheTn heart might be fired. 1t there
ore became their duty to furnish


pectacle' of patience under suffering
md fOrbearaDce under irritation, 10y
which the north would be moved


o sympathy. He was thoroughly ac-
Iuaiuted with the feeling Of the people
II Tennessee, and he was satisfied that,
Inder no circumstances, nor by any
could they be induced 10
DlAy into the hands Of their enemies.
They would endure whatever infiictiOn
night be visited upon them by those in
power at Washington, depending upon


he great Independent and COnseTva-


i've newspapers of the north to tell the
tory OF their wrongs and upon the men
If the north to rescue them by driving


heir OppressOrs out Of power. II the
,ivil rights bill passed the senate and be-
anne a law, he believed it would be the
policy Of the Radical politicians like
MAYNARD and Barbour Lewis TO incite


he negroes to UstentatiOus exercise of


heir newly acquired privileges, hop
Ag thereby to infiame hOt-blOOded
lud reckless whites 10 acts OF violence.
But if the civil rights bill became law,
ne should employ all his personal in
1uence, and all the influence ofhis posi-


ion, with the people OF Tennessee TO re-
jtrsin violence and to prevent infTac-
ions OF the law. There might be much


Indignation at the intrusion of the ne
noes into theaters and hotels and on


he vehicles Of transit, but the


Influences that could be exerted by


he older and wiser heads would be
,rought to bear to prevent any violent
The negroes, if left TO


heir own pleasure, would not make


themselves obnoxious under the civil
lights bill. But they were perfectly sub


ervient TO the influence Of men like
Barbour Lewis, and might be led by


heir advice or iustigstiOn 10 make


themselves obnoxious, particularly in
claiming accommodations at hotels.
This was the source Of his greatest ap-
but he believed that mOdeT-
atom would prevail. He should do all
le could TO enforce whatever laws might
De enacted so long a. they remained in


orce. II violence were done 10 q negro
~ white man, he should vigorously
enforce the laws. IN case the civil rights
lill should become z law he thought it
would be proper for the legislature 10
adopt in the shape ~ joint resolutions,
AL address 10 the people Of Iennesse,
setting forth the peculiar eXigencies Of
the situation and cOunselling that for