The national Republican., 1861-05-23
THE LIBERATION OF THE SOUTH.

THE LIBERATION OF THE SOUTH.
1t should constantly be remembered that this
is war, not for the subjugation of the South,
but for the liberation Of the South from the
tyranny of an armed and desperate minority. To
assent to dissolution of the Union, is to aban-
don the loyal citizens of that section, to this
tyranny unchecked, which the nation can never
do, without violation both of its duty and Of
its most sacred pledges.
The Louisville Journal gives the following
account of the reign of terror in Tennessee,
having chief reference, we presume, to Western
\ and Middle Tennessee, and not to Eastern Ten
nessee, where the Union men are strong enough
to protect their personal liberty, until relief
reaches the whole State:
GAS illustrative Of the character of the
tyranny established over Tennessee, we may
mention one circumstance out of the thousands
which the Tennessee papers would not dare TO
mention. One of the first gentlemen in our
city, u substantial man, whose word none would
question, was recently in that State on business
He repeated to US, yesterday, conversation
that he held with q native Tennessean, Union
man, who deprecated secession as deplorable
blunder and terrible crime. The two gentle.
men were alone in large room, no other per.
son being probably within half a mile Of them,
yet the Tenuessean lowered his voice almost to
a whisper, as if he fanced the very walls had
ears to hear, and tongue to repeat. Lately
said he, | thought ! was worth eight or ten
thousand dollars; now am worth nothing !
owe a sum of money, and | carefully laid by
every dollar in my power for the purpose Of
meeting my obligations and saving my proper.
ty; but all that laid by has been taken from
me. They have raised military companies in
nv neighborhood, and, although my opinions
we're known, they levied upon me, as they did
upon Others whatever they pleased, and | had
to furnish the required amount, or be spotted
aud persecuted-p probably driven out of the
State as an abolitionist.'
"Any dozen, or even half dozen, secession,
lists, in any part Of Tennessee, can band them.
selves together at pleasure, as thousands OF
dozens and half dozens are doing, and levy the
most oppressive and enormous black mail for
secession purposes upon secesslonlsts ana
Union men alike, marking each mans tax oppo'
site his name upon piece of paper, and then
presenting the paper with the foot.pad COM
mand of stand and deliver! And from the author
= ity of the relentless and remorseless robbery
there is no appeal no power exists to which
the sufferers can successfully turn for protec.
ton or redress. A giant d-spotism, subdivided
into countless petty despotisms, covers the land
with shadow deadlier to life than the shadow
of Java's poison tree.
ave sincerely mourn for Tennessee She
has fallen from the shining orbit in which she
so gloriusly moved She has myriads of good
men and patriots within her borders, but their
voices are hushed as with the sitting air of a
tomb Let us Of Kentucky take solemn warn
| ing from her most unhappy example. Agen
cies precisely similar TO those that have
wrought such a fearful and disastrous work in
Tennessee are busy day and night in Kentucky
A conspiracy here to establish such reign ol
terror as prevails there is on foot. The con-
spirators are moving steathily in all directions
holding secret and midnight consultations, d