These minutes from the Democratic and Conservative Meeting held at the Fentress County Courthouse on September 7, 1874 discuss the meeting purpose which was to select delegates to represent them at the Congressional Convention (to be held in Carthage on October 1, 1874), at the Senatorial Convention (to be held in Crossville on September 18, 1874), and at the convention to nominate a candidate to the Legislature (if one should be held). The group argues that it is of the most vital importance ... that there should be no division among those who are opposed to Radical Rule (and the Civil Rights Bill) and selects J. C. Wright, A. M Garrett, S. H. Pile, B. F. Stephens, G. W. Beaty, L. F. Smith, J. C. Taylor, Marvin Johnson, Jefferson McGee, and S. V. Bowden to represent their views.