Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-30

y .
at Richmond the extent Of the impression which
had been made. This can only be understood by
reminding you, very briefly, Of the position Occu-
piedby me in my speeches publications and private
conversations.
You will rem enlber that Immediately sitter the
bombsrdment Of Fort Sumter and the issuance of
the Presidents first proc amatien took the ground
that il was our duty in Last Tennessee to be neu-
trail if possible, rus If forced to take sides to sus
tain the Government, although We condemned the
policy Of the President in net surrendering the for
tress was also in favor Of submitting to the will
of majority of the people Of our State should it
be contrary TO my own views, rather than engage
IN civil var among ourselves. The formation Of
the military League and the passage Of the military
bill, in the circumstances under which those acts
were done, impressed me with strong conviction
that it the intention of our State authorities by
the creation of Home Guards and otherwise, 10
oTerawe the people Of East Tennessee, to prevent
fair election ON the 9Th of June, and 20 compel us
to submit to what regarded as the unconstiLutiOn-
al acts Of our Legislature. | advised the people
everywhere, publicly and privately, to arm them
selves as they best could and to cali on the Govern
ment OF the United States TO sustain them with men,
money and arms. The reasons why | thought il
our duty not to submit to the result of the election
of the Sth of June were fully stated in the Dscara
ton of Grievances adopted by the Greepville Con-
VentiOn, which was prepared by me- although the
resolutions were wholly different from those which
submitted. My resolutions, while distinctly de-
action of unconstitutional majority. eontempla>
ted no division of the State but SIMPLY asserted
that the Union counties of East Tennessee, and ell
other Union counties in the StateWhi saw proper
to cooperate with them, would, in this period of
revolution be the legal State, and should proceed
at once to exercise all the powers of government
1t was also proposed, in one Of my resolutions for
the sake of peace, that we would maintain posi-
ton Of neutrality in every respect except that sit
uated as we were, we would not oppose the forming
of volunteer companies in midst, or endeayor
to prevent the transportation Of men and munitions
of war along orr railroad, unless our rights were
actually invaded or dhiturbed
Although these and other resolutions which had
prepared were not adopted, aequiesced in those
which were passed, and urged upon the people the
propriety Of military organization for defensive
purposes. Notwithstanding the refusal Of our Leg
islature at its last called session to pass various
obnoxious measures which had been proposed, l
inferred from the general tone of the public press,
that fixed purpose existed to introduce the troops
into East Tennessee not only to hold the railroad,
but to compel our people to submit to a course of
action which we regarded as unconstitutional. To
prevent our own subjugation, I advocated the pro-
priety of seiziDg the road at all hazards before
military possession of it should be taken by troops
from distance and urged that we should earnestly
invoke the immediate and effective co operation of
the Government. Ny advice was not followed, as
the course indicated regarded as too hazardous
and uncertain, and when the troops were stationed
course to be pursued, uniformly advised the peO-
pie to abstein from any acts Of resistance unless
they were positively assured of undoubted aid from
the Government of the United States. Had
reached Washington, would have urged such re-
lief but the statement that had maps AMI diagrams
of the passes in the Cumberland Mountains is ut
tery destitute of truth
The conviction that it was the determined pur-
pose Of our State authorities to use military force
against US, was, already stated greatly modified
-, Eol1, 49,
has the chief command Of the military forces of
Tennessee, and which was first shown to me- as al
ready stated, at Abingdon:
HEADQUAKTERs, DEPARTMENT No 81
Memphis, Tenn, July 20, 1861.
To- Colonel Robertson Top, Jidgs J. CarlaEsrs, Or.
JepLhd Fos0kIes Col D. N. LdthermaH:
GENTLEMEN: an satisfied that many of our fell
low-countrymen in East Tennessee have by the
course of events, been forced into taking position
in regard to the questions pending between the
North and the South, which is hardly in keeping
with their natural relations, and from which it is
our duty in a spirit Of magnanmity, to do what we
can TO relieve them. Without entering into the
questions at issue feel confident that if they are
assured by their Southern fellOW-countrymen of
their disposition to treat them with kindness, and
to respect their many feelings while they are max
ing provision for the protection of our own Ten
nessee soil against invasion from the North) they
will have reason to be aggrisFed by the presence
of troops in their midst
They aust see that the policy of the C. s. Gov
ervment, or rather Mr. LineOln's Government IS to
overruu and subJugate US, and they also know that
it threatening TO do this through the passes Of the
mountains.
What are we to do then? But one thing is left US
and that Is to place troops at all o. these points at
which we are most exposed.
This assuredy in The face of the facts alluded to,
should form no just ground of complaint on the
part of any candid man of sense.
1t is upon every account desirable that no irTitR
ing language, or any offensive bearing should be
manifested by the troops towards citizens in East
Tennessee or elsewhere, and the commands will
doubtless see that this is not done. Your well known
character and position in relation to the public
questions which have agitated us make it in my
opinion very proper office for you to perform to
go to fellow citizens of East Tennessee and with
fraternal words, and unfegned kindness to endea-
to induce them to waive their opposition to the
decision of the majority of the voters of the State
and TO become hereafter, as heretofore, united
band Of brothers.
The State of Tennessee in the history of the past
has fame which among ether States has been
among the most enViable. For craftsmanship and
military distinction she has been excelled by
In the name of all that Is hallowed and precious,
let TO it that wetransmit TO our children
eutcheon unstained by the demoralzng and desola-
ting influences of social distractions and conflicts
in a word like this is inevitable. To bow
before the decision Of majorties is the highest of
the duties of American citizenship.
May we not hope, then, gentlemen, that yours
will be mission of peace, and that shall soon
have but one party in the Eastern end Of our be-
loved Tennessee as there is but one in the Western
Ind Central districts; and like the true patriots of
1ur good old Mother the North State. we shall be
one and indivisible With my best wishes for your
success, remain respectfully your felow-co1ntry-
man, LEONIDAs Polk
Maj Gen Commanding % Department, c. S. A. !
While on the way to Richmond had some con- |
gersation with portion of the Tennessee delegs-
ton to the Southern Congress- and during my stay
there was visited By various members Of Congress
and other public men connected with the Southern
Confederacy. The intense solicitude which was /
expressed especially by the most prominent and dis
nguished Of original secessiOnists, who without |
any request my part. volunteered their kind Off
ees with generous berAlity in regard to the con-
citation of the people of East Tennessee and the
lnsual kindness and consideration with which Twas
treated as prisoner, convinced me that | was in |
error in supposing that the military power would !
be exerted for any other purpose than that of re-
aiming the railroad and Of preventing aggressive |
acts our part. Acting under this changed con- |
Yiction believing that. If / were retained 8 pris
oner, or punished with death, under-any strained |
construction of the treason laws, my friends in l
East Tennessee would, in either event. retshste by
lrresting public men of the opposite party here;
hat this would lead to counter arrests and that the
horrors Of civil war would Immediately exist among
u.s. felt that it due to you and to myself thatl
hould obtain my release as soon as possible on the
,est terms could effect without dishOnor; and after
-arious Informal propositions and consultations, f.
laly addressed TO President Davis the following |
etter:
RICHMOND Va, Aug. r. 1861 |