Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-31
L.l.er frem We. Eawards.

We have been favored with copy of q letter
addressed by Mr. EDWARDS, the Representative from
Bradley county to the editor of the Cleveland
Banner for publication, giving his views touching
the issues Of the day, to his constituents. The
Banner not having come to this office of late Mr.
EDWARDS, who il detained here on private business,
has no means of knowing whether the original
manuscript ever reached its destination, and there
fore requests a publication of a copy here and
also if the original did not come to hand that the
C4s4eland Banner and Chattsnooga AdreTtiseT viii
peaAe copy. The following is the letter
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. l6, 1861.
RonERT AICSE11Y-Dear Sir: The discharge Of
publc dutieAs prevents me from being at home to
consult with my constituents, and thoee who by
their votes conferred upon me the seatI now oecu
py IN the Legislagnye This Is an important crisl
N our polncai troubles ia the South. Therefore
ask the privilege Of Milking known to my friend
and constituents, my sentiments and views touch>
ing the war and its CONSEQUENCES, with the lights
before me as 1 understand them
When the question Of secession was first agitAted.
| opposed it. and voted against separation; not be-
cause had any respect for Lincoln or his section
81 party, nor for the sentiments OF tho North Il
4 <aisIence TO the slavery question, but because
oeie'slit was the intention of Lincoln aEd his sd
~ - sSdlmnster the Government as i
was tgn sHd ~ that IS that he woud
nj a AZ
North under the laws and Constlt1trs-- ,i;5 No,
believe that ne would attempt to abolish slz7----
or In the least sbrdge the rights OF slave owner
in the South / believed that the institutions Of th
south. particularly THAI Of slavery, would be mOr
: secure in toe Enion under Constitutional guaran
ties, than oui 0s the Union in sePrrste Govern
ment
A large ms ority Of the Shareholders in Brsdle.
supported me in my election in August last, not be
cause they or had any abolition tendencies or ab
hut hlp wa
heyed that the best way to protect all the institu
tons of che South both social and commercial, ant
particularly that of African slavery, was TO pre-
: | serve the Government and the Union made for u
by the ssges OF the Revolution, such IS Washing
ton j fersOn and Madison We feared the conss
dueuces of another revolution, snd feared that
long protrscted and desolatIng war would endan
D ger the institution Of slavery.
But told my people ca the stump and elseWheT
: publicly and privately, that when should beeom
satisfied that Lincoln intended TO wage this war fc
the purpose Of emsneipating slavery 10 the slsv
States then would 40 as far as any man TO dsfen'
the south from such Unconstitutional expressions W
. on her rightS / have seen Lincoln 5 Message 20 th
Federzl O0Deress lately assembled as we'll as som
resolutions onered In that body, and candor cCn
pes me TO confess that it Is the inseutisl of th,
{ Federal Government to prosecute this war for th
subjugatOn of the South snd emancipation OF slaY
: cry No other far construction can be put u2o'
= Lincoln's Message if | correctly interpret /
This being the case. l say to all my Uno
I friends 10 Bradley, or who may have bee
Q for the Union and the preservation of the GOV
9 erpuent that think we all ought to be uniteC
= henceforth, for the Southern Confederaey, es on
= man, to resist Lincoln and the North, and aid tn
} South with arms in hand to achieve our lndepeI
u dence. If the North succeeds, as contemplated !
= Lincoln message, we of the South are doome
y people The negroes will be set free, the Soui
= sesolated and property cOnfscated to pay the wa
y debEs and feel confident my friends and constitJ
- ents do nuJ wish that. 1t is libel upon the Unto
= ntn of East TenneRsee, when il ia SAID they arr q
= olitionistar rhRt they sympathzs with abolition
" ism The Union men Of fAast Tennessee now ar
= and always have been, pro slavery, and were on
~ Union men because they believed it the best al
safest way of perpetustIng the ms alton. IL Iii
~ coin intended, when he assumed the reIns of go
"A ernment, to make war to externinate slavery,
~ deceived us, and cruelty deceived US It is. how
ever, apparent to my mind that he so intends no1
OF and that is sufeien; for to take my stand
"a yeringly and indlsputably for the South and
hsve but little doubt but this is the feeling and
Il termination of most If not ali my old Union frien
70 in East Tennessee. And as for MY self, go soon
al other duties will p,rmit intend 70 show my TAI
IL by my works on the field of battle, in the dsfen
d Of the South and hope that many Of my old frien
will be with me, where we can DO something +
l., cur country, institutions and fresides, more Il
e, Gent and enduring than street babbings
., chickering's. Your obedient servant,
F. MP