Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-10

most earnestly desire to maintain our posi-
lion of neutrality during this wicked war.
- l have the honor to be,
. Very respectfully, yours, DC.
b. MAGOFFIN.
The St,zveef the Steamers Terry and Orr,
REPORT OF DR.. JOHN N. JOHNSON.
PADUCAH, KY, August 9th. 1861.
To His E1ceUe.cy, b. MAGuFFIN, Gouernor of
Kentucky:
SIR In obedience to your request, COM
municated TO me by telegraph, bearing date
the 22nd of August, instant, visited Cairo
for the purpose of inquiring of the Federal
authorities there their reasons for arresting
Messrs. Watson, Stoveall and Carter, citizens
of Ballard county, KY, and the seizure of the
steamer w. B. Terry at the wharf of the city
of Paducah.
Owing TO various cluses l did not reach
Cairo until the 18th inst. Thinking it best
to 90 by land and See the people, especially
the parties that had been arrested, and thus
gather from both sides the real facts of the
case, it heightened the trip, and very greatly
increased the labor. l was received with
marked respect by Colonel 7. j. Oglesby,
commanding, who declined, however, to re-
gard my visit as official in its character; but
entered freely into conversation. and with the
most manly frankness, explained the motives
that had prompted his action in the matter
complained of. He said that on the morning
of the arrest of Messrs Watson and Stoveall,
he saw an unusual number of persons on the
Kentucky shore, opposite to Cairo, and he
supposed them to be Confederate troops or a
party of engineers from their camp at Union
City, Tennessee, or elsewhere, who, under
their authority. were engaged in sketching
profile of the grounds, with the view of its
occupation for military purposes. Under
this superstition, be ordered a company, or
squad, of men to cross over and drive them
off, or to arrest and detain them for examine
ton. Upon the landing of the troops, the
other party (who were citizens from the sur
rounding counties attracted by an unusual
amount of heavy firing of cannon, and which
they concluded was a battle then in progress)
fed, being wholly unarmed, and not meditat-
ing hostiiities, leaving only the two gentle
men above named, who refused to retreat.
They were arrested and taken to Cairo, aad
detained forty-four hours, which long deten-
ton, learn from all the parties, was owing
to.the absence of the commanding officer. He
required them to bring proof that they were
good, Isw-abidng citizens; and Mr.. Charles
s. Marshall was sent for. who, upon his ar
riraiy, gave the necessary assurances, and
both we're released.
II is proper 20 remark that Col. Oglesby
asked them if they were Secessionists, and
they promptly said they were. He told
them. lad also told me, that that was not the
cause of their arrest and detention-that they
had right to their opinions, and this be
would under no circumstances, take from
any man-but he would arrest spies or per-
sons unlawfuily giving aid and comfort to
those with whom they were at war.
For further particulars in reference to the
arrest of these two gentlemen, refer you to
their report of the transaction, herewith in
closed, from the parties themselves.
The man Carter was citizen OF Ballard
county, but was arrested at Norfolk. Mis-
souri,, opposite Island No. l. His arrest was
thought to be malicious. and he was discharg-
ed, after a short detention, without the inter-
vention of any one in his behalf
The practice OF administering an oath to
support the Constitution, with other condi-
tions, generally called an oath of allegiance.
to suspected persons, has not been practiced
by Col. Oglesby, and he declared to me that
he would arrest no man on account of his
opinions.
In regard to the question of arresiing per-
sons in Kentucky, Col. Oglesby said that he
had scrupulously observed our neutrality,
except in the case referred to, and that the
step taken was only precautionary to the end
of preventing those he was at war with from
occupying position that would be danger
GUS to him. He said, however, that he was
acting under Instructions and he could not
tell how long the present policy would re-
main unchanged.
The facts in regard to the seizure of the
steamer Terry are already known. Commo-
dore Rogers, of the United States Navy, is
in command of the feet of gun-bOats (three
in number) at and about Cairo. He regards
the Terry as Il lawful prize, and any negotia-
tiOns in regard to her must be had with the
Government at Washington. She was reg
ular packet trading between Paducah and
Eastport, ON the Tennessee river, where for
four years she had run regularly as mail
boat twice week, and the officers were not
aware that the trade was unlawful. Three
of the owners of the Terry are citizens of
Kentucky, and one q citizen of Mississippi,
and the loss of the boat sweeps away the
last dollar that one at least of the owners is
worth.
The seizure of the w. B. Terry was follow
ed on the same day by that of the steamer
Samuel Orr, the United States mail packet
between Paducah and Evansville. This was
done by the officers and crew Of the w. B.
Terry, with the assistance of three other per-
sons, one or two of whom only were citizens
of Paducah-the others are citizens of Ten
nessee. She was heavily freighted, and the
cargo was owned by citizens Of Paducah.-
The boat, with the cargo, was taken up the
Tennessee river, into the State of Tennessee,
where she now lies, awaiting the action of
the authorities of that State. By the seiz-
ure of the Orr, Paducah has lost its entire
up-TiYer trade, which is seriously felt by
all classes of citizens, and universally re-
GREETED.
Permit me to call your attention to the
substance of q conversation had with Com
modore Rogers of the United States Navy.
He complained of bad treatment at the hands
of our citizens as the gun-boats were passing
on their first trip down to Cairo, and that If
it was repeated he would lombard the city.
The bad treatment complained OF was from
number of boys who waved q small Southern
flag, threw up their hats, and one of them
threw stone, a. he alleges. Not one adult
took part in the demonstration. 1 was not
present, but learn from some of the best men
of Paducah. that none but children were en-
gagged in it.
He also said that be had made a contract
for some timber up the Tennessee river, and
if the timber was interfered with, and not
allowed to pass the city, that he would not
leave house standing.
0Tbere is great uneasiness felt throughout
the border counties. Many persons have
removed their families; and many gentlemen
who have been threatened by General Prem
tiss, while In command, have no regular place
to sleep. All this feeling of insecurity indu-
ces tie practice of wearing arms, and will
lead to violence towards those Of opposite
opinions, u better state Of things cannot be
brought about.