Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-03-16

MITCHELLyIILE, Tenn,
March 18th, 1861.
Eprroks PATRIOT Gentlemen we notice
in your issue of Tuesday last, an article clip
ped from the Atlanta (Ga.) Latelhgencer of the
sth inst, which contained some severe strict.
ures on the course pursued by that worthy
and heightened gentleman, J. a. Stewart,
Esq, who is native of this vicinity, and
till a recent date was citizen of this place.
Therefore, when we assert that he is a whole
souied, clever gentleman, true patriot and
lsw-abiding citizen, we only assert what we
believe to be true, from our long and init
mate acquaintance with him. He is life
long democrat, having voted for every demo-
cratic candidate, we believe, from Jackson
down to Douglas. He is not only pro-
slavery man, but directly interested in the
protection of slavery. being STAKEHOLDER
while In our midst
Now, what has rendered him so odious in
the sight of the Editors of the Atlanta Latellt-
generS Simply because he is too patriotic to
forswear his native State-because he wrote
letter back to Tennessee, which was pub
lished in the Nashville Democrat, opposing
secession, and stating that he did not owe al
legiance to the Confederate States, but to the
stars and stripes. This is the reason he is
stigmatised as a traitor and incendiary, and
ordered to leave the country, by the Atlanta
Latelli9eacT.
What if Mr. Stewart does profess to owe
allegiance to the stars and stripes2 Is it not
his privilege if he chooses to do SO; or is lib
erty being crushed, and the fierce spirit of
secession so intolerant that be is denounced
as q traitor and incendiary, and threatened
with mob violence for intimating his loyalty
to that flag under which he was born and
has lived securely and happily for more than
half century, and under the ample and pa
cifc folds of which bis children and grand
children now claim protection?
Do not editors of the Late2igeHcer know that
there are thousands of Europeans in Ameri-
ca who have been sojsurning here for years,
and still claim allegiance to their respective
governments in Europe? What American
was ever so white-livered as to insult one of
them, or threaten them with mob violence
because they preferred the flag of their ma
tivity!
Mr.. Stewart, like ourselves, believes that
the Institution of slavery will be more Sc
cure and consequently more valuable under
the Federal Government than under any
other. He announced his intention long ago
to leave the South in the event she seeded.
Since we have seen his property advertised
for sale. Now the editors of the Ltel;o.ucsr
hold up his (Stewart's) late letter to the
Nashville Democrat wherein he declares IN
the world his allegiance to the stars and
strips, aad his refusal to recognize the Con-
federate States as bis government; therefore
he il branded as traitor, and threatened
with mob violence. Now, Messrs. Editors of
the hntellsgener, LET us tell you that Mr..
Stewart is "a Tennessean, be has violated none
of your laws; and should you be the foul in
stigators of his death, you not only insult
the proud State Of Tennessee, but viii call
down upon yourselves the wrath of her va
liant sons, whose revenge will not be satis-
fed till ample redress is obtained.
Yours, respectfully,