Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-06-11
TO THE CITIZENS oF UAsHyLLLB
ARD DAVIDSON COUNTY.


feel it due to you, SO many OF whom kindly
aided ne in obtaining NY appoin ment as post
master OF Nashville, TO furnish the following
instructions from The Lincoln Government,
none af which, ss a southern man and de-
fender Of southern honor, ! can obey, ana
therefore compelled by every Instinct Of my
nature, as well as regard FOR my own feelings,
ana in accordance with my Ideas Of proprietyi
TO resign NY position as postmaster Of Nash
vile, and give my reasons for 50 doing. On
yesterday the following letter was received
Posr OrrIcr DEPARTntrST.
DEAD LErrER OFFICE, June j. is5l-
sra; The Postmaster General directs that
al letters mailed or distributed az your oihee,
directed to Southern States, which cannot be
forwarded 20 their intended destination on ae-
count Of the discontinuance of mail service, or
any o.her causes, shall be st once returned 20
he dead letter Office. You viii therefore
once a week. Cor cftener il they accumulate
rspidiv) make q separate return Of such let
tsrs-Dost mark each on the sealed side-put
domestic. foreign and registered letters IN sep
srate psrcela and mark each parcel outside,
and bills showing their number snd rates.
This return mast BE- put up in package OF
pouch senarase from any ether matter, direct
ed 20 "dsal letter Office" post marked, and
plsinly labeled outside "letters for Southern
Sistss0 Verv respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
A. n ZEVELY,
Third Assistant Postmsster-GeneraL
Postmaster, Nashville, Tenn.
And On this morning received the follow
ing dispatch;
WAsHrFGToN, June 6, 1861.
To posTMAsrER: The post Once at Mem
nhis. Tenn, is discontinued. The Postmaster
General orders postmasters TO forward to tie
dead letter ofhce at Washington all mail mat
ter which is directed to that once
JOHN A. KAss0E,
First Assistant Postmaster General.
Immediatelyon on receipt Of this dispatch sent
The following answer;
Posr OFFIcE, NASHVILLE, June @, 1861.
F1siu- astsr- General washington, p. 9.
Your letters Of instructions Of June lst, N
relation to the southern mail, also dispatch Of
June 9th In relation 90 Memphis ONCE received.
Neither can be complied with by ne. Accept
this as my resignation, which is on the road.
". D. McNIsH,
Postmaster Nashville.
Subsequently I sent the following letter By
mail:
NlsHvrLIE. Tens, June Z, 1851.
Jno A. Esss1a Tirst asssiaut Postulss;sri aeoersl;
sIE-Yoar order (psr .ele-raph) notifying
me o. the dlscont tDuznee OF The post once aL
Memphis, Tenn, and directing me not only 20
withhold southern correspondence i1t3ndel for
that point, but 70 ssnd 90 the dead letter ofh-e
at Washington. is HcF before ne. llT honor,
Interests and inclinit0ns forbid compliance
I therefore chserfllir tender you ny resigna-
tion. 70 tax place st once; and may be per-
miusd to add that 7 suppose the mails VIII I
still continue 10 be transported South without I
Y5ars -esDse.fuHy, WD. McNIsH.
it win be seen that by the instructions every l
) L. frrf "a farr
brothers, sister. wives and children OF our /
brave volunteers now iu Virginia, ard in other /
southern States, are to be handed over to the /
90 Paul Prrs" cf the dead letter once at /
Wasbingtca; and all the correspondence Of tbs /
governor OF our state, the military board, and /
erery military officer, here ana elsewhere, I
with The ma ier-general Of Memphis, and other 4
officers, sra.to BE likewise examined and read (
bv tho officials al Washington, instead OF be- |
.sz read BY our officers 10 whom they are /
addressed. Tis might be a convenience TO I
those who are preparing to assail us with fire /
and swsrd, bat I conceive that I would be /
traitor 70 my State and % the South, TO either I
directly OF indirectly, aid and assist in such l
schems-and, sa before stated, have rendered 4
nv resignation, and leave such work TO be 1
done By some one whose love of Office and the /
smelumeuts thereof, NAV induce him to sacri- 4
fee the lives and property of bis neighbors, (
.heir wives and their children, bT giving the /
aid aud comfort to the enemy, which carrying I
put the instructions would do. cannot do if I
u will not do it. and in conclusion can 1
lnly return ny grateful thanks to the many /
friends who have stood by me and supported |
ne since, as Wei as before, my entering on I
hs duties Of The office. To explain to them /
he reasons Of my Tesigl alton is the cause OF I
his card, and TO assure them that they will Z
ilwsys be kindly remembered BY their friend, \
". d. McN[SE. N