The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-28

~ h. tGhhSVNO AWUnzk0 ~ BssD ssVs SA7 VIZ
EAsT TENNKSSER.
We find Ia Brcwnlow's Knoxville Whlg an
elaborate card to the People OF East Ten
nessee, ]" by Mr.. T. A. X. Nelson, In oompii-
ance within his promise to President Davis
The Knoxville Register says. " 1t seems to us
10 bs modelled after the style of Mark Antho-
ny's speech In Shakspeare's Play. Or, t.
quote distinguished Tennessee orator, 1t
Is sor,sr so and sorter not s0.'" We copy 1t
en- tire. and leave the reader to form his own
estimate CT Mr.. Nelson's positi
TO rHR PEOPLE or EAST TgSERssgs.
Having ascertained from reliable au' hority
that an order had been issued to take effect
on the day OF, or Immediately altar, the late
election, directing my arrest, lett nome on
the morning of the election, with the view Of
making my way to Barboursvilie, hentucHy,
where designed to remain, II / could safely
40 SO, until should receive aulhentic evi.
dence OF the ftnal result; and, II IL appeared
that had raceived a larger vote than ither
Of the candidates for the CoIf.derate Con-
gress, intended TO serve the people IN the
Congress Of the United States; but, II other
wise, to return home and decline any &C ton
against the popular will. After using every
pEecaution i'll lay power TO avoid oetecron,
4 was arrested on The night OF the Atm OF Al
gust, by the Home Guard, consisting, as I'M
dsrstood, OF thirty persons OF Lee couuty, VIZ
siuia, whose vigilance had been excited by
certain citizens OF Hancock county, Wnom !
passed ON the way, and VINO became suspi,
c.ous OF ray purpose. Having stated mat l
would make no effort to escape, was taken
win my guides and my son, by some ten
members OF the guard, 10 Cumberland Gap,
where we We're deiEered to Dol. +. III. w aiK-
er, by whose direction, after remaining there
q rev hours, we were sent to Abingdon, VIZ
ginia, from which poiat we were taken to
Richmond
Having, long since, determined to endure
CIR suffer any possible conseq uences that might
result from the course had cOnscien tlOusly
adopted in our recent troubles, indulg in
no vain mtlrmurs or rgrets, and, being in
the hands OF the military power, deemed it
useless even to inquire at cumberland Gap
pom what charge l was arrested, OK what
disposition was to be MADE OF me. hisd form
81 d determination to ask no quar- ters at the
hands OF the military or CIVIL nuthoritias, and
To make No compromise or concessio-t; but,
when l reached Abingdon, was much graft
fed 10 lad y N. ohm Baxter, at the fisk of
his own life, bad ANONYMOUSLY vo.unLeer-
ed to go to- Richmond and act as my 0unsel,
or otileru Use render any lawful ASST iance III
his power. At the same point, l { $50 met
with DIR. Jeptha Fowlkes, " no was & ting in
the character OF a Peace Commissioners to East
Tennessee, and who, although had only a
slight personal acc uaintaIce Win hihi, maui
fes led there, and Ill all sabseq uent proceedings,
u zeal and sOiicitude for the quiet of this diva
sion of the State, and tor my own discharge
upon honorable terms which regard as above
ali praise or communication. In my interview
WIGa Ur. EowiAes, at Abingdon, Ha exhibited
10 me a letter which greatly modified my
views, although old not choose, considering
The suspicion which might attach TO my mo-
tlves rs Il prisoner, TO avow either to him or
the authorities III Richmond the extent OF the
in pre- ssion which had reen made. This can
oliiy ba understood by reminding you, very
briefly, OF the position occupied by me III my
speeches., publications and privaGe co2Versa-
tICus.
Ynu will remain her that Immediately nfter
The commandment OF Fort Sumter and The is
suance OF the Presidents first prociama ton,
i took the ground that IL was our duty In
East Tennessee 10 be neutral if possible; but,
II forced 20 take sides, - sustain the Govern
ment, although we Condemned the policy Of
The President in not surreldering the fort
ress. j was also in favor of submitting to
1ne will of q majority Of the people OF our
State, should i: De contrary to my own views,
"a Their than engage III civil war among our
selves The formation of the MI! tary League
and TIE passage OF the military bill, IN Inc
cream stances under which those ACTS wee
due Impressed me With strong conviction
that il was the intention OF our State au th0ri-
ties by the creation OF home Guards and
otherwise, to Cyerawe the people OF East
Cenness ee, TO prevent 8. fair eleclloA on the
Sth OF June, and to compel US 10 submit to
what regarded as the uncoas THU tional acts
of Gus Legislature l advised the people
everywhere, publicly and privately, 10 arm
themselves as they best could, and 70 cali on
the Government or the United States TO sUs-
tain them with men, money and arms. The
reasons why thong ht il cur DUTY not to sub
nit to the res ult OF the election Of the S.h of
Juns were fully stated in The Declaration OF
(,:.ievaaces adopted by the GfeeGsviile Con-
v.ntior which Was prepared by rae, although
The resoiu lions Were wholly d-Herent IRON
those which l submitted. My resolutions,
while distinctly declaring an Elal terable pur
nose net TO submit 10 the action CT an u1con-
stitu tional NE jorIty, contemplated no diyis
ia 20 hnf Il nj =
irn,n,i counties OF East tennessee and all
0,be- Union counties n the STATE which saw
ii. to cooperate with them, Wonid IL any
such conv eutton, be the legal state ILne
copv is here ;llegioie, and Nc are Obliged 70
omit the rem ainder OF thu seatenoe.j also
uroposed in oEe OF my resolutions, Tor Inc
sake OF peace, tha. we would main Tan posi-
ton OF neu .rality In every respect, except
that, situated as we Were, we would not OPP
pose the formation CT volunteer com panies In
our midst or endeayor 10 prevent the trans
portation of men and munitions Of W2r along
our railroad, unless our rights were actually
invaded or disturbed
Although these and other utions which
| had prepared were not adopted, l acqui.
esced in those which were passed, and urged
upon the people the propTiety OF a Inisi tary
organization Tor defensive purposes. Not
wi n standing the refusal OF our Legislature
at lis last call ID session to pass various CO.
uogOus measures which had been proposed
l Inferred from the geneIal tone OF me public
press LD2t u nAsO PURPOSE t@iet sl Id
duce troops into East Tennessee. not onl ~ to
hold the sailroad. but TO compel our people to
submit to q course OF action which we re-
gardsd as uEc9nsntE tionel. t. prevent our
own subjagation, l advocated the propris
OF Selling the road at all hazards before
military possession OF IL should o6 taken by
troops f ON distance, ana urged tina. we
should earnestly invoke the immediate and
effective co operation Of tbs government
Ny advice was not followed, as the course in
dicated was regarded as too hazardous and
uncertain and " hen the troops were station
ed among us and l was Fl qnenG,y consulted
as TO the course to be pursued, uniformly
advised the people to abstain from any acts
Of resistance, unless they were positively
assured of undoubted aid from the Govern.
raent of the United States. Had reached
Washington, would have urged such re-
lief; but the statement that had maps and
diagrams of the passes III the Cumberland
Mountain is utterly Gestitut e of truth.
Tbs con viction that Ii was tha determined
purpose of our Stale author. c,s 10 use mil
Lary force against us WAS, as already stated,
greatly modified by the following letter from
Major General Polk, who has the chief COM
mand of the military forces Of Tennessee, and
which was first shown 10 re, as already
stated, at Abingdon;
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT No.
Memphis. Tenn, July 70. 1851.
TO Col. Robertson Topp, Judge J. Oaruthers,
DIR. Japtha FoWlks, Col. ID. III. Lather-
man.
GENTLEMAN l am satisfied that MANY of
our fellow-countrymen in East Tennessee
have by the course of events, been forced in to
taking u posi- ton In regard to the questions
pending between the North and the Soush