Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-30
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Ranosn, August 15.h 1851
sIk:-I have received your letter Ct 18th inst, in
which you ask to be discharged from arrest and
prosecution. and msze promise that you viii "as
citizen Of Tennesses submit her late aetien and
rellgeusly abstain from any further words or acts
ernment."
The desire OF this Government being 70 maintain
the Independence 1t has asserted by the united feel
ing and action of all its citizens il has been s pocv
not to enter into questions of difference OF political
| opinions heretofore existing.
am therefore pleased to be spared the necessity
Of inquirng whether the accusation against vol he
well founded or not, vexatiOus or not and to rest
content with your submission loyal citizen OF
your State to her recent action in adhering to this
Oonfederscy and adopting its permanent Constitu.
ton by an increased majority. have ordered your
discharge and that Of your companions from Gus
! tody. l am, &c, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
To THos. A. R. NELSON, ESQ.
Since my return home, am thoroughly satisfied
that my friends would have risked the action
dreaded, and, upon mature reflection, am content
with my own course in the premises. But, whether
it was right or wrong wise unwIse, feel bound,
as an honorable man, to set up to the spirit and
letter Of the obligation ] assumed. shall offer no
plea of duress; because neither the Southern Con-
federaey, nor any osher earthly power, could have
compelled me to make an agreement which my
Judgment and conscience did not approve in the
situation in which was placed
No terms or conditions, express or implied, public
or private, attended my release other than those
plainly expressed in the two above quoted letters,
but have thought it due to our past relations and
the painful solcitade many of you have felt in my
behalf, that should thus briefly address you.
While did not promise ailegisnse or active sup
port to the Southern COnfederacy and will not ad-
wise you to assume any obligations contrary to
your convictions Of duty | feel perfectly free to
say that the failure of the Government of the Uni
It'd States for four long months to sustain in
position its apparent inability to do So since the
battle Of Manassas within any reasonable time the
deliberate action Of our State in the August cleo
tiOn the assurance of public men that test
Oaths or drafting measures viii be adopted or re-
CURED, the mutual hatred which has grown up be-
tween the sntagonistc sections Of the Union and the
recent confscation laws which have been either
adopted or proposed on both Sides as well as other
causes have painfully impressed my own mind
with the belief that, unless some wondrous and i'm
probable change Is effected, our beloved Union is
gone forever, and it Is our policy and duty TO sub
nit to g result which. however We may deplore il,
seems to be inevitable
Aware that my advice as we'll as my motives may
be liable to misconstruction, viii still most Ie.
specially recommend to my friends the propriety
of abstalning from all further opposition or resist
anee to the Confederate authorities or the action
of our own State and should this be done although
have no authority to speak for them, l am salis-
fed that no military power will be exerted among
US, except such as may be indispensahly Fecesssry
to retain military possession Of East Tennesse And
to those of our citizens who have gone beyond the
limits of the State either through fear or for the
purpose of arming themselves TO resist course of
action which is disaYoWed in Gen. Folks letter,
think can s-fzy say, with )ut arroyanes. THAT
from the eeurse which was adopted towards me,
they would risk nothing by returning to the State
and submitting to q result which they have in vain
endeaTor to prevent. -as. asa---
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