Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-30
Hon. TIA. II. Nelson to tho People OF Eas,

AcuHebSces b.
Hon. I. 4. r.. Nelson, of Tennessee, who
was recently arrested in Lee county, Virginia
while endeavoring to make bis way to Wash.
ington, as a member Of the Lincoln Congress-
and who was afterwards released by order &C
President DAVIS, upon the promise that he
(Nelson) las a citizen Of Tennessee, would
submit to her late action, and religiously alb.
stain from any further words, or acts of con.
dcmnatIOn whatever, or opposition to her
Government Is out!n long letter, addressed
To the people Of East Tennessee. After piyinp
an account of his arrest, Says the I.ynchburss
Republican, the kind treatment accorded him
while a prisoner, and acknowledging the error
under wi!ic; he, together with the pcople of
East Tennessee, has ltborca relative to the nh.
iect Of the Southern Confederacy in s,ationio,
troops in East TenncsSee-bc,ns convinced
that he was in error IN supposir:: that the
military power would DC cxcrtri inr any ether
purpose Than that Of retaining The railroad and
OF aggressive acts on orr (tlriI) par:,' Nj.
Nelson concludes as follows
While | did not promise allegiance or active
support to the Southern ConieIeracy. and will
not advise you to assume any obi cations con.
trary to your convictions Of duly. | feel per
fcctly free to say that the failure %; TIE Co.
ernrnen: of the United States for ION: long
months to sustain us in our positl3n is 10.
parent inability 10 do so since the battle Of .
Manassas, within any reasonable tine; the
deliberate action OF our State in tEe AprYsr
election the ASSURANCES CT public 'nta thai;
no test oaths or drafting measure wi. he
adopted or required; the mutual hatred wAiih.
has grown np between the antagonist SC.
tons OF the Union and the recent can:isc.ioa
laws which have been either adopted or lro.
posed on both, rs well rs other causes, have
plainly impressed M o1n mini with The be
lief that, unless some wondrous and imrrnba.
bic change is effected, our beloved Union is
gone forever, and 1t IS our policy and duty 10
submit to 4 result winch, however, We NAV
deplore it, seems to be inevitable.
Aware that my advice az we'll As my ~ractive.
may he liable 10 misc0nstiuction, I woui.i
still more respectfully recommend to my fricais
the propricty Of abStaining from all further o..
position or resistance to the Conf,dcra;: All
lhorities, or the action Of our own Stale, and
should this be done, although | have ~ arihor.
ity to speak for them, ! am satisfied that no
military power will be exerted among lis, cx.
ccpt such as may be indispensably necessary
to retain military possession Of East Tennessee.
Aud to those Of onr citizens who have gone
beyond the limits Of the State, either Through
fear or the purpose IF arming themselves 10
resist Il coursc Of action which is ,~Isa"owrl IL
Gen. Folks letter, | Thick can safely say,
without arrogance, that from the course which
was adopted towards n:c, they would risk roth
ing b. returning 10 ihe State and submitting
a result which they have in vain cndea7ort'ti c
prevent. Tmos. A. Z. NELscH
Knoxville, Tenn, 18th August, lS"l.
From Western Virginia.
We copg the following special dispatch froa,
the Baltimore "E.zchange' Of the 23!i il
slant:
\ gentleman, arrived from Western 'irgi-
ria, brings the intelligence that General l.2c
was about eight miles north Of Gau'cy Bridge
with 4 force Of $1,000 men, and that men wsis
Hooking to him. lie reports General Wise a;
being about seven miles OF, with 9,010 man,
in another direction.
Mr.. Jenkins, member Of Congress, Is raising
4 brigade TO Join Gen. Lee, ant the ScutrcGa
~fceiin: Is getting daily stronger As high up Is
i'arkerSbnrg.
RoScncranlz was at CiarkSaarE Oh Sl1a'isJ
last, md was very uneasy ann;!t h.s position.
:, M4runsAar- the flr,irians wrr: c~,l!cc;-
in. al! tic ~r.,::rai material that could posi-
bIy bc iisr,! aud transporting il 10 SlraShifg.