Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-01
From the Knoxville Register.
Jane. Rr1tton. Jr.

This gentleman a representative In our
Legislature from Greene county, was
brought before the Confederate Court yestei-
day, and bonds required by the Disirict At
torney and Clerk, in the sum of twenty
thousand dollars, fer his appearance to an
swer at the term of the Court, on the Sd
Monday in December. OF the specific charge
against him we are not cognizant; but the
following letter, which we are permitted to
copy, may throw some light ppon it. Mr..
Britton, like most OF the Greene county pol
iticians, brought up in the Andy johnson
school, seems TO believe in the efficacy eff
praying on both sides of crying, GOOD Lord
good devil.' Mr.. Britton is fair type of
very mischieyous class of leaders in East
Tennessee. who are very good Southern men
when the prospect of having their bread but
tered on the other side looks dubious. The
sturdy, and, at heart, patriotic yeomanry of
the country are finding them out
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
-. Nashville, Oct 18th, 1861.
L. B. HEADRIcK, Esq, ga
|! Dear Sir: Your letter of the 1lth inst,
came to hand this morning, and as i guess
this to be the Sabbath-day, from the calcula-
tion of time brought with me, the ringin &
of the bells, and the adjournment of the Lee
gislature, (there being no other evidences
here,) have concluded to occupy portion
of the day in writing to you, and give you a
few of the more important items that have
occurred since my arrival here, (Which the
newspapers failed to notice.)
We East Tennessee boys just concluded on
arriving here, after some little consultation,
just to put on the harness, crack our whips
and 60 ahead for the Southern Confederacy.
We could in fact 20 other way. took the
| oath with great deal of reIuctances; not
L. r Iol for
do not think it binding in Lac or Morals,
but my objection originated in disposition
TO obey the will of my constituents when l
knew what that will was. / do not believe,
however. that there is man in the four
counties that | represent, that would not
have done Just as / haYe-in this, however,
may be mistaken.
l suppose by this time you have heard all
abe Ut the organization of both Houses. We
have most excellent officers in our house. and
in voting upon every proposition they have
got your humble servant In the lead as L
head the list. | do not care though, for God
being willing, intend to vote my sentiments.
uninhuenced, upon every proposition that
comes up. Up to this time, hare fortunat-
ely led ont in way that the East Tennessee
members generally voted. We have quite a
number of gassy members in the House, and
this may protract the session-God alone
knows how. this will be. l hope we will get
away from here as soon as possible. for any
man that would aspire to seat in the Legis-
lature in such times as we have fallen upon.
ought really to be bored for the snplss, and graft
ed scuh calf s BRAINS I think in times of peace
and quiet should not have go much ohjec-
tione, but even then there would be neither
money nor honor in the position. do not
expect TO spout much am afraid TO do so,
for could not well talk without expressing
Union sentiments; and the papers here say
that "fhe tongue of treason should not Be heard
in The Legislature" Exactly what they mean
do not know, but suppose they refer to
Unionism can only say: God save the coun-
try outside of the city of Nashville-it will
require man of stronger and holder faith
than me to pray for this city. Write to me
give all the news. Yours, dc,
JAMES BRITTON, il.