Year: 1870

give names of those murdered. That
there are cases of violation of law
here, we dO'nOt deny; but they are
not of more frequent occurrence than
in any other State of equal pOpula-
ton. We have taken occasion !
to examine the number of cases
of mob violence reported to the
Executive of the State, and know
the truth of what we speak, and we
feel that we are fully sustained in the
assertion that fewer instances of such
have occurred under the administra-
ton of the present Executive than
during any period of time of equal
length during the administration of
Governor BrOwnlOw. To show how
these mischiehmakers are belabOred
for instances to sustain their charges,
one of the cases of murder cited by
them, as of recent occurrence, was in
1856, and another more than twelve
months ago, and both while Senator
BrOWnlow was Governor of the State.
It is true there are bad men among
US, who steal, rob, and do acts of viO-
ence, without regard to political
opinions.


That any considerable portion of our
people cOnniVe mt such, is gross SLAM
der upon a people who are orderly
and strictly law-abiding. AS to the
charge that the people encourage
masked marauders, we know that the
people of all political phases condemn
such; and that if such ever existed, it
is now almost entirely suppressed by
condemnation of public sentiment.
In proof of this, although we have
travelled a great deal over different
parts of the State, we have not seen a
masked man for more than twelve
months. What, then, can be the OBJ
ject and design in making these false
and slanderOus statements? We will
attempt briefly to explain. In the
political and civil confusion that inn
mediately succeeded the close of the
war, many acts of malteasance and
/ peculatiOn in office, and fraud upon
the State, were committed by rail-
road rings, public officers and Gov
ernment agents. The powers of the
/ Government were almost entirely sub
sidized to the interest of individuals,
and large fortunes made by few at the
| expense of the public treasury. In
many instances indictments fOT MUIR
der and other high crimes were dis
| missed without a trial, and, in brief,
all the agencies and resources OF the
| State Government were used to the
advantage of the few, and to the in
| jury of the many. The present Legis-
/ lature has attempted to institute in
VestigatiOn of the acts and dOings OF
such State officials, as the law author
ICES and requires them to make. Many
| of these fear a fair and strict inveStiga-
ton of their official acts; hence the
clamOr that is raised by such, in order
! to eIude or prevent an investigation of
! their official acts, and to excite the
| svmpathy OF those abroad who do not
| know of their misdoings and malver-
sation in office. They wish to make
/ good men in other States believe that
they are martyrs to their political
/ faith, and thus excite the sympathy
! of all lovers of the Union, and cause
places of profit TO be assigned them by
! the President or Congress, after they
! have lost the confidence and good
opinion of a people whom they have
! outraged and embarrassed by their
maladministratiOn. Such men have
! plundered the State Treasury, and
wish to escape justice and an expos
ure OF their crimes. We speak the
truth when we say, that our people
are at peace among themselves, white
and black, and. if undisturbed they
will soon restore their individual and
State credit, and do much in,the future
TO reflect honor and credit upon the
! National Government. No antipathy
of race longer exists in our State, but
all are labOring harmOniOusly to repair
their shattered fortunes and improve
their present condition. No idea OF
resistance tie or disrespecC OF the laws
Of the national Government exist
among our people, but a sincere de-
sire to see peace, happiness and pros
perity prevail throughout the length
and breadth Of this great Union. Try
us, and give time to our people, and
the result will attest the truth of all
we have said.


ID. B, THOMAS,


Speaker Of the Senate,