Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-24
LETTER FROM GOV. RAaBIs
IN REPLY TO COMMITTEE or CITIZENS Of
ROBERTSON COUNTY.


ROBERTSON COUNTY.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT NASHVILLE
August Y, 1861. (
! GENTLEMEN. Your note Of the 15,b instant
/ asking ''the removal Of the Yankees from the
Edgeheld and Kentucky railroad, and he stop
4 page OF the trade in Cincinnati whisky and
/ such other meTchand Sc from the North as ycu
! NCmay think proper" came to ands.th!s
morning.
/ You also inform me that ''freight trains load
/ ed with articles not needed by the South will
/ be stopped; and the removal 'Of the Yankees
will be postponed until your (ny) wishes are
known"
Fully appreciating, as dc, the loyalty, pa
t-iotsm and zeal Of the good people Of Rob
eTtson, | must be allowed to say that neither
the government, OF The people Of any county
Of the State Of Tennessee, have any power to
interdict OF prohibit trade between the States
Of the CODfedeTaCy or feTsign governments,
except upon the principle Of absolute military
necessity, and when it is done upon that pTin-
cipls the order must issue from military con-
man1efs, and not from the neOple Of the varI-
Gus counties. For the people Of the various
counties to undertake to control the matter,
would involve interninable and serious con-
dicts between the counties, one county deciding
upon free trade, and their people investing
their apital ini merchandise which another
county resolves sail not be permitted TO pass
TO the purchaser. Sch ccBfii~ts between The
people of the counties Of the State cannot be
tolerated
And as no order inteFdicfing the lmports-
ton Of merchandise 70 Tennessee has been is
saed by the commander-in-chief, or any other
military comma nder, you will allow the mer-
chaDdise heretofore stopped at Springfield, to
be forwarded to The owners and consigDees.
The proprietY Of prohibiting the importation
IF Cincinnati whisky and other articles, not
Of absolute necessity 10 the South, shall be
considered and decided by the proper authoTi-
ties in due time; but certainly the people O!
Springfield will not claim the right TO deter
mine for the people Of the whole South what
may OF what may not be necessary to their
comfort or convenience. So, until this ques-
tiOn is determined by the proper authorities,
you will not interfere With the passage Of
ghts over the Edgefeid and kentucky rail-
road.
The fact that man was born in another
State, OF is called a YanEee, is not a sufficient
reason FOR his removal from any position.
IF the employees upon the EdZeislI and
Kentucky railroad are incompetent to dis
charge the duties Of their positions, OF are in
any manner dangerous or unsafe to the ate
Of Tennessee, or the Confederate States o?
America, such emp Dyes shall be promptly re-
moved from their positions, bgC cannot con-
sent to remove a man from bis position upon
the mere charge that be is a Yankee. The
Edge6e d and Kentucky road is owned by the
stockholders, and only temporarily held BY
ne, in rust for their bensf., and the security
of the State. As to the agents that should
manage the road, l felt bound to respect the
wishes and opinions Of the stockholders (as
expressed By tue president end directors
They (the stockholders) being the real owners
Of the property, for whose benef. it was be-
ing managed, do not know personally any
officer or agent oD the road except the receiver.
But the officers and agents being satisfactory
testimonials TO the owners of the property
who have the highest interest in the proper
management of the road, | cannot entertain
proposition TO remove them unless it be based
upon facts well established, showing he in
competency Of the agent in question, OF the
fact of bis disloysity, and that his presence is
unsafe 70 the State or Confederate States.
Understanding, al YOU do, that it is ny Off
cial duty to protect the rights Of all the peO-
pie Of the State alike-thoss of the people Of
one county as well as anotheF-I know the
public spirited patriotism, and law abiding
and law loving people OF Robertson too well,
not to know that they will never drive me or
any other public officer to resort 20 harsh mea-
sures to maintain the law and preserve the
peace and good order Of the community IN the
various counties Of the State.
ISHAM C. HARRIS.