USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee, from its earliest discoveries and settlements to the end of the year 1894 > Part 10
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7. The Military Governor of Tennessee, Andrew Johnson, was powerless to operate the government until the State had complied with the requirements of Congress. He issued a proclamation. January 26. 1864. ordering an election, March 5, for county officers. Many of the people refused to vote, and the election failed. A Union Convention met at Nashville, September 5 and nominated electors pledged to vote for the re-election of President Lincoln, and for the election of Johnson as Vice- President. Those voting were required to take an oath that thisghil been citizens of Tennessee six months.
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THE HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
S. This convention appointed a State executive committee. which issued a call to the people to meet at Nashville, January .. IS65, to nominate one hundred men to compose a Constitutional Couveation. This convention met and adopted various amend- ments to the Constitution, and repealed many of the laws enacted by the secessionists, and finally abolished slavery. February 22. 1865, these amendments were submitted to a popular vote. and were adopted.
9. On March 4. 1565, Legislative members were voted for, and William G. Brownlow was also elected Governor of Tennessee. William G. Brownlow was born in Wythe county. Virginia. August 29, 1805. At eighteen years of age. he became an apprentice. to a house- carpenter, but shortly after entered the Methodist ministry as an itinerant preacher, and, in 182%, moved to Tennessee. In 1843, he ran against Andrew Johnson for Congress, but was defeated. He was always an ardent Union man, and was very GOV. W.M. G. BROWNLOW. abusive in his denunciation of those who voted Tennessee out of the Union. In [$69, he was elected to the United States Senate, serving until 1875. At the close of his term he returned to Knoxville, where he died. April 29. 1877.
10. President Lincoln claimed that when the Southern States laid down their arms against the United States Government they would be recognized at once as members of the common Union. The Republican party in Congress now claimed that before these States should assume their oid relations, they should be recon- structed. The men elected by the South under the President's policy were denied admittance to Congress, and the State govern- ments established by them were repudiated.
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RECONSTRUCTION.
11. The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States had to be adopted by the States. This gave the negro certain civil rights. diminished the Congressional represen- tation of the Southern States, made the Confederate public debt unquestionable, forbade the payment by any State of any of the Confederate debt. and made certain persons ineligible to office. ( pon this change of the Constitution the Southern States could not vote. The liberal policy of President Johnson subjected him to a trial of impeachment, but he was acquitted.
12. Brownlow's administration was very odious. Under this administration the Franchise Act was passed. It required the county court clerk to register all voters, but the clerk was empowered to withhold a certificate of registration if he saw fit. The voter could not deposit his ballot without this certificate. In August the election was held, five different ways of granting certificates being used, three of which were declared illegal. which led to the rejection of the vote of twenty-nine counties. The total vote was sixty-one thousand seven hundred and eighty- three, but it was reduced to thirty-nine thousand five hundred and nine.
13. In January, isso, the Disfranchisement Act was passed. which in connection with the Franchise Act, gave the Governor almost unlimited power over elections. No one could vote who had borne arms for the Confederacy or held office under it. Other extreme measures were resorted to which made the dominant party offensive to the more conservative element.
QUESTIONS .-- I. Give the substance of this section. 2. What call you say of present factors? 3. What was the condition of Tennessee at this time? 4. What part did Tennessee take? 5. How did our soldier fight? 5. Explain the Reconstruction Acts. Object. F. Give the substance of this section. s. What did the convention do? o. Sketch the life of William G. Brown- low. to. What did President Lincoln claim? tr. What did the Fourteenth Amend ment guarantee? 12. What of Brownlow's administration? What o: Franchise and Disfranchisement Acts?
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THE HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
CHAPTER XXIV.
RETURN OF PEACE.
I. July 4, 1$66, an extra session of the Legislature was con- vened to ratify a certain amendment to the Federal Constitution. The State had returned to the Union, and her rights were sup- posed to be secure. Congress, in 1866, submitted to the States an amendment to the Constitution, giving the negro the right to vote, deprived those who had held Confederate offices from holding office until pardoned, and declared that the United States debt should be paid in full, and that the Confederate debt should never be paid. Tennessee objected to this but, in 1867. the franchise was extended to the negro.
2. In 1867, the Governor's power over elections was increased, which the people viewed with apprehension. Brownlow was still Governor, and was nominated for re-election, August I. A convention of Conservatives met at Nashville and nominated Emerson Ethridge, a Whig, for Governor, but Brownlow, by his strong denunciation of his competitors, and the abuse of the Franchise Act, caused his opponents to retreat, and he was elected by over fifty thousand votes.
3. Brownlow was extravagant. When the war began, the State debt was twenty million four hundred and eight thousand dollars, exclusive of the three million dollars voted in aid of the Confederacy. Much of this was issued to the Union Bank, the Bank of Tennessee, to buy the Hermitage, to build the Capitol. for the Agricultural Bureau, and to build turnpikes and rail- roads. The Legislature was vested with power, in 1852. and the power amended, in 1854. to issue bonds for the construction of railroads, etc. From April. 1866, to December, 1868, more than fourteen million dollars' worth of these bonds were issued to railroads and turnpikes. During the war the interest on the
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RETURN OF PEACE.
State debt and coupons had amounted to over seven million dol- lars, which had to be paid.
4. The Confederacy had failed, but it had numerous sympa- thizers who organized a secret oath-bound society throughout the South known as the "Ku Klux," whose brutality had to be suppressed by legislation. In July, 1868, Governor Brownlow convened the Legislature in extra session: it organized a militia called "The Tennessee State Guards." An act was passed authorizing the Governor, when deemed necessary. to declare martial law in any county, and protect it with troops. In February, 1860, he proclaimed martial law in Overton. Madison, Jackson, Giles, Maury, Gibson, Lawrence, Marshall and Hay- wood counties.
5. In February. 1860. Governor Brownlow was elected to the United States Senate, and D. W. C. Seuter, then Speaker of the Senate, became Governor to fill Brownlow's unexpired term. The Democrats supported Sen- ter, and this weakened the Re- publican party, whose leaders met at Nashville, May 20. 1869. but could agree on no candidate. This Republican Convention had two factions: one nominated W. B. Stokes, and the other Senter, who was re-elected in August. D. W. C. Senter was born, March 26. 1834, in Mc- Minh county. He represented GOV. D. W. C. SENTER. Grainger county in the Legislature from 185; to 1861. In 1865. he was elected State Senator, and again in 1867, when he was elected Speaker. Hiseducation was meager. He opposed seces- sion, but was a quiet man.
6. In 1869. Tipton was elected Superintendent of Public "
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ST. LEKES THEOLOGICAL. HALL, UNIVERSITY OF THE -DI TH. SEWANEE
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Schools. For the first time since the war. the Democrats had a majority in the Legislature, which met October 4. 1869, and adjourned March 5, 1870. The Constitutional Convention met at Nashville, January To, ISTO, and adjourned February 23. On March 26, the present Constitution was ratified by ninety-eight thousand one hundred and twenty eight for, and thirty-three thousand eight hundred and seventy-two against it. In August. the Democrats elected the Supreme Judges.
7. In September, the Democrats nominated John C. Brown for Governor, the Republicans nominating W. H. Wisener. The vote for Brown was seventy-eight thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven: for Wisener. forty- one thousand and five hundred. With the ascendency of Democ- racy, the restoration of confi- dence came. The State debt was the main issue at this time. John C. Brown was born in Giles county, January 6, 1827: was admitted to the Pulaski bar in September, IS4S: entered the Confederacy, May 17. 1861, as Captain of a company, after which he was Colonel of the GOV. JOHN C. BROWN. Third Tennessee Infantry Regiment. He did good service for the Confederacy. He was President of the Constitutional Con- vention which framed our present Constitution. Brown served four years as Governor, after which he became connected with railroads.
S. The agitation of State issues, in 1872, caused much con- fusion. The State was entitled to a Congressman-at-Large, and Andrew Johnson wanted the position. The Legislature had not divided the State into the necessary number of Congressional
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THE HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Districts. The Democrats nominated B. F. Cheatham, and the . Republicans named Horace Maynard, who was elected, owing to the division on Johnson and Cheatham.
9. Governor Brown couvened the Legislature in extra session March 12, 1872, and the State was apportioned into Congression Districts. Ex-Governor William Trousdale died March 27. 1972 This year Tennessee was visited by cholera and yellow fever. On March 25, 1873. John M. Fleming was appointed Stas Superintendent of Public Schools.
Io. In the campaign of 1874. the State debt was the great issue. Much of this debt was fraudulent, which the people were in favor of repudiating, but the just debt they wanted to pay There were eleven Democratic candidates for Governor, alinos: all of whomi favored the full payment of this debt. The Demo- cratic Convention met at Nash- ville. August 19, and nominated Jamies D). Porter. The Repub- liean Convention met at Chat- tanooga. September In, and nominated Horace Maynard. who was overwhelmingly de- feated.
GOV. JAMES D. PORTER.
11. James D. Porter was born at Paris, Tennessee. December 7, 1828: was admitted to the Far in i85t, and was in the Legisla- ture in 1859. He was Adjutant- General under General Pillow. at Memphis, and helped to or. He was in many prominent
ganize the Army of Tennessee. battles. He was in the Constitutional Convention of INFO. and was that year elected Circuit Judge, but resigned in February. 1874, and. in August, the Democrats nominated him for Cing- ernor. He was elected, and again in 1876. He has held many
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eminent offices. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of te in March. 1885. resigning in 1887. President Cleveland. his last administration, appointed him Minister to Peru. ød later appointed him United States Attorney for East and Addle Tennessee. but the United States Senate refused to con- rm the nomination, and Charles D. Clarke, of Chattanooga, was appointed.
12. In 1875. Horace Maynard was appointed United States Minister to Turkey and served till isso. This year, Andrew hnson was elected to the United States Senate. but died soon Her taking his seat, and Governor Porter appointed D. M. Key, of Chattanooga. to succeed him. Mr. Key was given the position of stmaster-General in Hayes' Cabinet in 1877. Key was promi- ent in the Confederate army, and Hayes wanted to remove He feelings of distrust in the South and develop a condition ot onfidence.
13. In 1875-76, the State could not pay the interest on its onded indebtedness. The bondholders invited Governor Porter appoint a commission to meet their representatives in New Work for a conference. Accordingly, five citizens were commis- ioned to meet the representatives of the State's creditors. A Seated agitation ensued. The plan of settlement recommended as that the State issue bonds for sixty per cent. of its indebted- les, interest included, the coupons to be receivable for taxes, nl the bonds to bear six per cent. interest. The measure was "popular. An extra session of the Legislature was convened, a December. 187;, to consider this plan of settlement, but noth- 'Ig was accomplished.
14. In August, 1878, the Democratic party "opposed the repu- "iation of the just indebtedness of the State," and favored an vijustment. Governor Porter favored paying the debt on a basis ! sixty cents on the dollar, with six per cent. interest. The Re jiblicans were opposed to the repudiation of the debt. and avored the bondholders' proposition. The Democrats nomi-
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THE HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
nated Albert S. Marks for Governor, the Republicans cha
Emerson Ethridge as their
didate. Marks was ele- Albert S. Marks was bers Daviess county, Kentucky. . tober 16. 1836. He Was to a farmer, and had few to! tional advantages. Heheil eral positions before the " In May, 1961, he entered Confederate army and wasd. ed Captain. He lost a leg a: battle ot Murfreesboro. He sumed the practice of las Winchester; in Isto, was elec. GOV. ALBERT S. MARKS. Chancellor, and was re-elec without opposition, in 1878. The Democrats, in IN-S not nated and elected him Governor. He favored the settlement the State debt on the "fifty and four" basis, which led to : divisions that he was not a candidate for re-election.
15. The people of the State demanded some settlement of State debt question. The Legislature. in 1579. adjusted the d on this basis: Fifty cents on the dollar and four per cent. terest. This was acceptable to many of the bondholders. when it was submitted to the people it was rejected. For ye no interest on the bonded debt had been paid. Many had # ferent ideas about the propriety of these bonds. In June. IS the Democratic Convention met at Nashville, but could unite no tangible compromise. A majority favored "fifty and tous The minority bolted the convention. The Republicans opp- anything but the bondholders' proposition.
16. The "fifty and four," or "State Credit" faction of : Democratic party, nominated John V. Wright for Governor: t Low Tax element nominated S. F. Wilson, the Greenbr
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nominated R. M. Edwards, and the Republicans inated Alvin G. Hawkins, who · elected. Governor Hawkins was : in Bath county, Kentucky, De- ber 2. 1821. His youth was spent ! farm. without the advantage of Rood education. He removed to ery county, Tennessee, in 1$20. I thence to Carroll county. He selected to the General Assembly :453: was on the Bell and Everett coral ticket, in INO: was electel Congress as a Unionist, in 1862. : could not be seated. In 1864, he GOV. ALVIN G. HAWKINS. appointed District Attorney for the District of West Ten- see, but. in 1865, he resigned and was appointed to the vreme Bench of the State. In 1865, he resigned this position i went as Consul-General to Havana, but soon resigned. : was elected a Judge of the State Supreme Court. in 1969, but Ne Constitution of ISTO displaced him. The Republicans nom- intel and elected him Governor. in 18so. He again received i: Republican nomination, in (882, but was defeated.
17. Now the Republicans had the power and they utilized it. The Legislature, April 5. 1880, passed an act adjusting the State -bt at one hundred cents on the dollar with three per cent. nterest. The coupons of the bonds the State would issue were 'o be made receivable for taxes. The issuance of the bonds was sjoined. and the Supreme Court decided it illegal. Governor Hawkins convened the Legislature in extra session and passed " act to settle the debt at sixty cents on the dollar, with bonds staring three per cent. interest for two years, four per cent. Merest for the next two years, five per cent. interest for the next No years, and six per cent. interest thereafter. Many of the synthollers refused this settlement.
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THE HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
IS: The Democratic Convention met in June, 1882, and . cided in favor of paying the State debt proper in full, the r at fifty cents on the dollar with three per cent. interest. nominated William B. Bate for Governor, who was elect. The "State Credit" Democrats left this convention, declared the same settlement the Republicans favored, and nominee Joseph H. Fussell for Governor. This fraction of the por was called "Sky-Blues." The Greenback party nominat John R. Beasley for Governor.
QUESTIONS. - 1. Give the substance of this section. 2. W .: was Governor? Whom did the Conservatives nominate? What immense debt had been incurred? How? 4. What car you say about the "Ku Klux?" 5. What of Governor Brown His successor? Others? 6. Give the substance of this section. ". Whom did the parties name for Governor? S. Who we". candidates? Who were elected? Why? 9. What did Brun. do? Name the State Superintendent of Public Schools. i What was the great issue now? II. Give a sketch of the life Governor Porter. 12. Give the substance of this section. What was the condition of the State now? 14. Give a bo graphical sketch of Governor Marks. 15. What did the Legi- lature now do? 16. Name the nominees and result of the elec tion for Governor. Give a sketch of the life of Governor Han kins. r. Give the substance of this section. IS. What did the Democratic Convention of r882 do?
CHAPTER XXV.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
t. William B. Bate was elected Governor, and the party the has posed as the friend of the poor from the dawn of its exist. ence. began active measures to ameliorate the crisis. Governo Bate arged the immediate adjustment of the State debt in accord
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
ince with the platform on which he was elected. Long debates ensued, but it was finally settled by the passage of the act by which this debt was adjusted. The State debt proper was to be paid in full, mifaus the war interest. The rest of the debt was odious and was scaled to fifty cents on the dollar with three per cent. interest.
2. William B. Bate was born near Castalian Springs, Ten- nessee: received an academic education: when quite a youth served as second clerk on a steam- boat between Nashville and New Orleans: served as a private in the Mexican war in Louisiana and Tennessee regiments: a year after returning from the Mexican war was elected to the Tennessee Legis- lature; graduated from the Lebanon Law School in 1952. and entered upon the practice of his profession at Gallatin: in 18544. was elected Attorney-General for the Nashville District for six years: during his GOV. WILLIAM B. BATE. term of office he was nominated for Congress, but declined: was a Presidential Elector, in INGO, on the Breckenridge-Lane ticket: was private, Captain. Colonel, Brigadier aud Major-General in the Confederate service, surrendering with the Army of Ten- nessee in ($65: was three times dangerously wounded: after the case of the war returned to Tennessee and resumed the practice of law: was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in IN68. served on the National Democratic Executive Committee for Tennessee twelve years: was an elector for the State-at-large on the Tilden and Hendricks ticket in 1876; in 1882, was elected Governor of Tennessee, and re-elected, in [&&4; in January. >> ;. was elected to the United States Senate as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1893.
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THE HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
3. This party repudiated the interest that had accumulate.i during the war, and issued new bonds, payable in thirty years. with optional redemption in five years. In I88t, A. W. Haw- kins was appointed Commissioner of Agriculture, to succeed J. B. Killebrew, who served from 1875 to ISSI. W. S. Doak was appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction, to succeed Leon Trousdale, who had served from 1875 to 1881. The State had now returned to prosperity, and confidence was once more restored. The population had increased from nine hundred and thirty-six thousand one hundred and nineteen whites, and three hundred and twenty-two thousand three hundred and! thirty-one colored, in isto, to one million one hundred and thirty-eight thousand eight hundred and thirty-one whites, and four hundred and three thousand five hundred and twenty-eight colored, in 1880. In 1883, it developed that State Treasurer M. T. Polk had defaulted with more than four hundred and fifty thousand dollars of the State's funds.
4. In 1985, the State appropriated ten thousand dollars to exhibit its products at the New Orleans Exposition. August 5, 1886. Peter Turney, W. C. Caldwell, H. H. Lurton, W. C. Fowlkes, and B. L. Snodgrass, Democratic candidates for Supreme Judges, received and average of one hundred and fifty- seven thousand votes: W. M. Randolph, J. A. Warder, W. M. Baxter, Samuel Watson, and W. W. Murray, Republicans, one hundred and twenty-two thousand five hundred votes. G. S. W. Crawford was appointed State Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion in 1352, and served until 1983. when he was succeeded by Thomas H. Paine, who served until 1887, who was succeeded by Frank M. Smith, who served till Governor Taylor's term expired. March 19, 1887. B. M. Hond was appointed Com- missioner of Agriculture. September 30. 1887. there was a popu- lar vote taken on a prohibition amendment to the Constitution. with the following result: Against, one hundred and forty-five thousand one hundred and ninety-seven; for the amendment.
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THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
one hundred and seventeen thousand five hundred and four 5. The Democrats, in 1886, nominated and elected Robert L. Taylor for Governor, against Alired A. Taylor, Republican, and brother of Robert. This campaign attracted the attention of the whole country. Two great orators, brothers, whose politics differed so widely, and who were candidates for the same high office. Robert was elected, receiving one hundred and twenty- six thousand one hundred and fifty-one votes. Alfred received one hundred and nine thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven votes.
6. "Our Bob," as he is familiarly called, was born in Carter county, Tennessee, July 31, 1850; was educated at Pennington, New Jersey, and Athens, Tennessee, where he attended the East Ten- nessee Wesleyan University. In 18;8. he was licensed to practice law, but was in this year elected to Congress. In 1884, he was on the Cleveland- Hendricks Electoral Ticket for the State-at-Large: soon after he was appointed to a Federal office, which he re- signed to accept the Demo- GOV. ROBERT L. TAYLOR. cratic nomination for Governor. In ISSS, he was re-elected. Since he retired from the governorship he has become prominent as a lecturer, and his fame is national. In 1893, he was a can- didate for the United States Senate, but was defeated by Senator William B. Bate.
7. In 1891, the Alliance and the Democrats nominated John P. Buchanan, a farmer, for Governor. The Republicans nomi-
THE HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
nated Samuel Hawkins. Buchanan was elected, but his adm .. istration disappointed his most sanguine supporters. He h ... fair ability, but lacked stabilit: The farmers thought they had hoc: imposed upon, and they brought out Buchanan. a leader in the !: liance, which had been called the "Wheelers." Governor Buchana appointed W. R. Garrett. Superin tendent of Public Instruction, and D. G. Goodwin, Commissioner .. Agriculture.
S. Soon trouble began in the in- surrection of the miners, which occurred first in July. DOI, and again in the fall. The miners it the fall released six hundred Site prisoners at Briceville and Cual Creek. Governor Buchanan organi- ized a provisional army, with which This command, under General Kei-
GOV. J. P. BUCH.AV.IN.
he garrisoned Coal Creek. ler Anderson, maintained law and order in that vicinity until it August, 1892, when a general strike occurred, which resulted in a third uprising, effecting the entire mining district of fel .- nessee. This time the branch prison at Tracy City wasattacked the convicts turned loose, and the prison burned.
9. On the following day, the stockades at Oliver Springs an : Inman were attacked. At the former place a gallant detens was made by the civil guards and a few soldiers, who were Hur- riedly sent out from Knoxville to re-enforce it, but Inman gave up without a struggle. The defenders at Oliver Springs hadl t. surrender the following day. because their ammunition wa- exhausted. The miners were so elated over their success that they laid siege to Fort Anderson, and for two days the soldiers at thec
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THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
place were under constant fire from sharp-shooters secreted in the mountains around them.
Io. The entire National Guard of the State was or- dered to take the field and go to the relief of Fort Anderson, and 110 time was lost in responding to the call. General Carnes, commanding the brigade, quickly reached the scene of strife and drove off the insurgents, but before this was done four soldiers had been killed and several wounded. For three months a regi- ment was encamped at Coal Creek, about one mile from Fort Anderson.
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