Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-21
From the Knoxville Register of the 18th inst ]
Confederate Court.

1Hc vi LIE COHl6Q0ralo
upon yesterday were of very considera bic
interest. Mr. Perez Dickinson, a prominent
Wholesale merchant of this city. generally
known from his extensive commercial trans
actions throughout this division of the State,
Was arrested in the morning, on a warrant
issued by his Honor, Judge Humphreys,
based upon an affidavit filed by the District
Attorney, stating that MIR. Dickinson was, as
be was informed aud believed, a native born
citizen of the State of Massachusetts, and
that he had recently been on a visit to the
North, and had held intercourse with the en-
emies of the Confederate States. and was
dangerous person to reside in the Conf de e
States.
The arrest of Mr.. Dickinson becoming
generally known, the court room was, on th.
opening of Court, filed with spectators.
The case was called up, and his Honor took
occasion to refer in the most feeling manner
to his Individual acquaintance with the de-
PENDANT, to the fact of his having experienced
his elegant hospitality, and received from
him many of the courtesies of social life; he
spoke also of Mr.. Dickinson's extended and
general acquaintance and influence among
the commercial classes of the State, and re-
GREETED that he now met him in the attitude
of defendant. Yet, said he, this regret
may be changed by the defendant into some
thing like gratlfic alton, since the Court felt
=
to the government, and to the public. by off
ering to the defendant the opportunity to re-
flute every suspicion that might be excited
against him, aud the Court would therefore
respectfully request that he should at once,
and without any investigation, voluntarily
come forward and take the oath OF allegi-
ance and fidelity to the Confederate States.
His Honor proceeded to explain to Mr.. Dick
inson that the oath required the performance
pf mr. Hntv nat which rpSfad
cry good and true man resident in the South;
that every person within the limits of the
Southern Con tederacy was protected in the
enjoyment of all his civil rights, and that
protection and allegiance were reciprocal.
His Honor rem lrked that he did not hest
tate to Say that he would be rejoiced to feel,
as he should do 10 case Mr.. Dickinson took
the oath, that he had in his efforts to harmon
ize the jarring political elements of this sec
lion, the CO operation and support of a gen.
tleman of Mr.. Dickinson's Influence; keen
discernment and familiar knowledge of the
springs OF human action. He took occasion
also to say that in taking the oath at the
present time no compromise of past pOliti
cal principle was involved; that the Ameri-
can Union, in so far as its supremacy over
Tennessee was concerned, was thing of the
past; that the voice of the people, the source
of all power, had dissipated that supremacy,
ernmental right over our people that was
once yes ed in and exercised by the authori
ties of the United States; that a new govern
ment had been created, formed and establish
ed by the people themselves, and fully placed
in operation in every department, executive,
judicial and legislative, and that the new
ton thus organized and established had been
itself on every battle field able to assert its
sovereignty by force of arms, and to main
tain its authority over every foot of its soil.
AT the conclusion of Judge Humphreys
remarks, which were listened to with pro-
found attention, by large and eager array
of spectators, Mr.. Dickinson arose and re-
sponded in a brief address to his Honor.
His voice was tremulous with emotion, and
his eyes mristened with tears as he referred
to his advent into this State, a stripping of
sixteen, he commence ment of his Career here
as a teacher and his connection with his
present firm merchant, to which he had
given his best energies. He then referred to
his recent visit to the North, and denied EN-
phatically that he had held any intercourse
with the people OF the North which could be
considered improper or reasonable. and ex
pressed his surprise that he should have been
arrested 50 soon after his arrival at the home
of his adoption, and the residence he had
provided not SO much for himself as for his
friends. Under The circumstances of this
arrest he declined to take the oath of allie
glance.
His Honor regretted Mr. Dickinson's de-
cision, as he again repeated. that he had
hoped to have the benefit OF his example.
The fact of his having declined to take the
oath of allegiance, justified him in requiring
bond to the amount OF ten Thousand dollars
for his demeaning himself. while he remained
here. in obedience to the laws of the State of
Tennessee and the Confederate States.
Mr.. Dickinson gave the required bond, and
was discharged.
Mr.. Baxter, when Mr.. Dickinson retired,
explained to his Honor that, from confiden-
tial conversations with Mr.. Dickinson, he
knew that the latter did not wish to be con-
sidered as an alien to the Confederate Gov
eminent. His declining to take the oath
was simply because be thought this prosecu-
ton was groundless, and he did not feel dis
posed to take the oath under arrest and IN
der compulsion. He (Mr. BAKERY had taken
the oath voluntarily, because he could not
be admitted to practice in court without doing
SO but if he had been arrested as Mr. Dick
inson, had, he would not have taken the oath
on compulson.