Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-28
Gen. PILLoYs LErIRR

Several of the Know Nothing papers in differen;
portions Of the State have made the discovery that
pamphlet copies of Gen. Pillows letter are being
eirculatedin their nijst and feeling the effect OF
its exposure Of their political idol. Mr.. Bell. have
attempted to break the force Of it by following the
lead Of the Nashville Banner in puerile effort at
ridieule.. This is Know sNOlbingism. What they
esBRcteentrovert they seek to aviod by personal de-
traction We very much mistake the peOple'Of Ten
nesseef device so shallow and asneering allusion
untrue, viii turn their eyes from the naked de-
formity of Mr. Bells political character exhibited
by Gen Pillow.
That the Banner and its echoes should attempt no
defence of Mr.. Bell gives US no surprise, for the
simple reason that defence can successfully be
made. The charges which Gen. Pillow has preferred
are but the facts Of history as cbronicled nv the
official records of the country But that they should
evinee, towards Gen Pillow, at this day, the same
illiberal and unpatrOGc spirit which SO dsgraced
large portion of the opposition journals during the
Mexican war-that spirit which denounced it as an
"uniust war;" and which would have had our
soldiers welcome with bloody hands to hospitable
graVez''-that spirit which poured unmeasured abuse
and calumny upon gallantofieer who was periling
his life and pouring out his blood in defence of the
honor and rights Of his country, in foreign land
we did not expect
Seen Pillow, late Of Camargo" says the Banner
in spirit of irony. That phrase will cOnjure up
very different thoughts from those intended by our
neighbor. 1t will recall to the memory of many now
living in Tennessee the unceasing kindness and at
tentiOn of Gen. Pillow to them when Frustrated by
the deadly diseases of that pestilenal place: ave,
and many who have to mourn the loss of father.
brother and who fill unmarked but not forgotten
graves, at that unhealthy place. Late Of Camar-
gO"-and the Banner might have continued, later of
Vera Cruz-later of Cerro Gordo-of Contreras-of
the bloody field of Cherubusco-of the fatal plain
of Moline Del Rey-and that browning and most
brilliant feat of the war, the storming of Chapul
tepee; where, according to Gen. Scott being I'D
with the front rank, he received an aagonizing |
wound" in the heroic discharge of his duty"-
The Banner, by pursuing its investigations would |
have found this same hero of Csmargo spoken of by
Gen Scott, in his official capacity, as having had |
full and most distinguished participation in all the
glorious operations in the valley of Mexico"
And yet, this is the man that the Know Nothing
press would rob of the fair and fame which is
the soldiers best guerdon, because forsooth he is
Democrat and has had the temerity to hold Mr. Bell
TO strict account for his wanton disregard of the
rights and interests of his constituents Is it to
tie old companions in arms of Gen. jackson and
Clrroll and Coffee and their soDs-to the men who
b I'VE hOnOred a Campbell and a Trousdae-that
these papers look for approval? How little they
must know Of the chivalre honor of Tennesseans if
they expect them to join in thus undertaking. the
HriOtic services of Oneof their own fellow citizens
and that, too, because he choose to express his
views of the public policy and public men of the
country! JOHN Bell, the Southern man with North
ern principles, has been held up in his true character
10 his constituents by Gen Pillow, and this is the
head and front Of his offending.