diane
Retired User
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2010
- Location
- State of Jefferson
One does have to mention Brownlow's Tennessee when discussing what Forrest was thinking when he got involved in the klan. For example, the Democrats were in the minority in the legislature and rather than see the 14th Amendment passed by Tennessee, they decided to deny a quorum by not attending. That's fine...except Brownlow sent the sergeant-at-arms and a posse out to round them up, arrest them and sentence them to die by firing squad. He got them lined up and the squad shot into the air - but not before scaring the bejabbers out of them. Got them into the legislature by tying them up and carrying them in. They didn't have to vote just be there. Well, this is just an example of what was going on and why Forrest considered the regime of Brownlow to be illegitimate. I think he can be forgiven for thinking the inmate was running the asylum!