The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-12-04


andI would rather he would In the years
to come, If Freedom and Truth want them,
there will he two sons of John Plummcr,
who win leap as exultantly to their call, and
die as gladly at their bidding, as did their
father, thanks to their mothers teachings.
BrOwmlOw's Farewell---Closing g
Ont Of the Knoxville Wing.
From the Knoxville whig. Oct. 2sth.l
This issue of the Wing must necessarily
be the last for some time to come-I am un-
able to say how long. The Confederate au-
thorities have. determined upon my arrest,
and am to be indicted before the Grand
Jury of the Confederate Court, which COM
mcnced its session in Nashville on Monday
last. would have awaited the indictment
and arrest, before announcing the remarka-
bic event to the world, but as only publish
weekly paper, my hurried removal to Nash
vile would deprive me of the privilege Of
saying to my subscribers, what is alike due
to myself and them. I have the fact Of my
indictment and consequent arrest, having
been agreed upon, for this week, from dis
tinguished citizens, legislators, and lawyers,
at Nashville Of both parties. Gentlemen Of
high positions, and members Of the Seces-
sion party say that the indictment will be
made because of s'some reasonable articles
IN late numbers of the Whig." l have re-
produced those two Unreasonable articles"
on tho first page Of this issue, that the un-
biased people Of this country may ''read,
mark, learn, and inwardly digest the trea-
son. They relate to the culpable remissness
of these Knoxville leaders, in failing to vol
untcer in the cause Of the Confederacy.
According to the usages of the Court, as
heretofore established, I presume | could go
free, by taking the oath these authorities are
administering to other Union men, but by
settled purpose is not to do any such thing.
I can doubtless be allowed my personal lib
erty, by entering into bonds to keep the
peace, and to demean myself towards the
leaders of Secession in Knoxville, who have
been seeking to have me assassinated all
summer and fall, as they desire me to do, for
this is really the import of the thing, and
one Of the leading objects sought to be at
tanned. Although I could give bond for
my good behavior, for one hundred thousand
dollars, signed by fifty as good men as the
county affords, / shall obstinately refuse to
do even that; and if such bond is drawn
up and signed by others, I will render null
and void by refusing to sign it. In default
of both, expect to go to Jail, and | am ready
to start upon one moments warning. Not
only so, but there am prepared to lie, in
solitary confinement, until / waste away be-
cause of Imprisonment, or die from old age.
Stimulated by consciousness Of innocent
nprightness, will submit to imprisonment
for life, or die at the end of rope, before 1
will make any humiliating concession, to
any power on earth
I have committed no offense Il have not
shouldered arms against the Confederate
Government, or the State, or encouraged
others to do SOL have discouraged rebel
lian, publicly and privately have not as
sumed hostile attitude toward the civil or
military authorities of this new Government.
But have committed grave, and I really
fear objectionable offenses. | have refused
to make war upon the government of the
United States; have refused to publish to
the world false and exaggerated accounts Of
the several engagements had between the
contending armies I; I have refused to write
out and publish false versions Of the origin
of this war, and the breaking up Of the best
Government the world ever knew and all
this win continue to do, if it cost me my
life. Nay, when agree to do such things
may righteous God palsy my right arm,
and may the earth open and close in upon
me forever. as
The real object Of my arrest, and contem-
plated imprisonment, is, to dry up, break
down, silence and destroy, the last and only
Union paper left in the eleven seeded States.
and thereby to keep from the people Of East
Tennessee the facts which are daily trans
piring in the country. After the Hon. JEFF
Davis had stated in Richmond, in conver.
sation relative to my paper, that he would
not live in . Government that did not toler-
ate freedom Of the Press; after the judges,
attorneys, jurors. and AL others filing posi-
tions Of honor and trust, under the "Perma
nent Constitution" which guarantees FREE
DON OF TIE Pass and after the entire press
of the South had come down in their thur
der tones upon the Federal Government for
suppressing the Louisville Courier, and the
New York Day Book, and other secession
journals did expect the utmost liberty to
be allowed TO one small sheet whose errors
could be combatted by the entire Southern
press! It's not enough that my paper has
been denied circulation through the ordin-
ary channels Of conveyance in the country,
but It must be discontinued altogether, or its
editor must write and select only such arti.
cles Is meet the approval Of pack of scoun-
drels in Knoxville, when their superiors in
all the qualities that adorn human nature
are in the Penitentiary Of our State And
this is the boosted liberty Of the press in the
Southern Confederacy. se, ,
| shall in no degree feel humbled BY being
cast into prison, whenever it is the win and
Measure of this august Government to pu,