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

T.
/ end of our beloved Tennessee, ~ thsrs IL bat
one In the Western and Central districts; and
| like the true patriots Of our good old mother,
| the Old North State. we shall b one and in
| with my best wishes for your success, 10.
main respsc fully your ow-countryman,
| LsoErDAs PoLH,
| Msj Gen. CONG ID Deparme q s. A.
| While on the way to Richmond, I had some
con versation with q ortion Of the Tennessee
delegation to the Southern Congress-, and
during my stay there was visited by various
mem bers Of Congress and other public men
cnnnec. ted with the Southern Confederacy -
| The intense soicitude which was expressed,
| especially by the most prominent and dis
| tingnished of the original Secessionists, who.
without any req nest on my part, volunteered
| their kind offices, with generous lberality. in
| regard to the Cancellation OF the people OF
East Tenne sses and the unusual kindness and
consideration with which was treated ~ a
| prisoner, con WINGED me that was In error in
supposing that the military power would be
| exerted for any other purpose than That OF re-
| tanning the Railroad and Of aggressive acts
| on our part. Ac ting under this changed con-
viction, believing that, If were retained as
| a prisoner, or punished with death, under
any ST. aimed cons trr ton Of the treason laws,
my friends in z sst Tennessee would in either
| event retalia!e by arresting public men OF the
| opposite party here; that this would lead to
| counter arrests, and that the herrors Of civil
| war would immediately exist among us, [
| felt that it was due to You and TO myself that
l L
BITE, on the best terms could effect without
| dishouor; and, after variou Informal propo-
| siiions and cons citations, finally addressed
to President Davis the following letter:
| To His Excsllency JKFF. DAVIS, President Of
| the Confederate States
| SIR have been arrested, and, as learned
| since my arriv al In this city, upon the charge
| OF treason; but whether against the State Of
| Tennessee or the Confederate States, am not
| advised. l am conscious of no act, either
| against the State or the Confederacy, that
| will support or sustain such an accusation
| 1 am sincerely anxious to preserve the peace
| aud quiet of East Tennessee, the section OF
| ths State in which reside, IS best promotive
| or the peace and interest Of the entire s tate.
| ask 10 be discharged from yexaiious prose-
| cutlon, that may return home peacefully TO
| follow my privaGe il teIesEs aud pursuits,
| assuring your Exceliency that 1 will not,
| either directly OK indirectly, by counsel ad-
| vice or action, encourage, aid or assist the
l United States Government TO invade or at
tain success in the present struggle with the
Confederate 5 ties, nor will Counsel or ad
| wise others TO Ia Wart or cripple the Confede-
| rate S states in the pending contest with the
United States, nor will do so by my own
| ac4s.
In view Of the increased majority in the
| election which has jas5 taken place in Ten
/ nessea, shall feel IL my duty, as q citizen OF
that State, to submit TO her late action, and
/ shall reiigiously aostain IrCm any further
words or It's of condemnation, or oppOsiti ton
10 her Government.
rne parties arrested with me, with the ex-
ceptlol OF my son, who ctsd by MY COM
| mand, were meIe gnides and conductors
| through the mountain passes, on my way to
my place OF des IinaL Ion, and whatever view
| may De taken OF my Own course, they are in
| nOceEi; in no way responsible legally, or NOR
| ally, and have committed no cff.nce against
1 the laws or the Confederacy or the state OF
Tennessee; and l ask that they also be dis
charged from custody by your Exoeiiency.
Very respectfully,
Your o5edieGt servant,
THos. A. X. NELSON.
To which the following answer was re-
! turned:
RIcHMoED, Aug. 18Th, 1861.
SIR have received your letter OF Eth in
| slant, III which you ask TO pe discharged from
arrest and prosec a ton land make promise that
| you will, AS citizen OF Tennessee, submit
| 70 her late action and religiousiy abstain from
| any further words, OF acts OF CONDEMNATION
/ whatever or opposition to hec Government "
The desire ot tnAs Government being to
| maintain the liz dependence 1t has assert eu, by
| the united feeling and action OF all its citl-
| zens, it has been its policy not TO Oh ter into
| quest ions of differences OF political opinions
Lere tcfore exlsLing.
| am therefore pleased to be spared the ne
| cessity OF inquiring whether the accusation
| against you be Well founded or not, Vexa tio as
on not, and TO rt ST content with your submits
sion Us d loyal citizen OF your State 10 her re-
| cent action in adhering I'D this Con federacy
and adopting its permanent Consultation by
! an Increased majority. have ordered your
| discharge and that of your com panions from
| custody. am, &C., JLFF. DAVIS.
To Thos. Il. 4. Nelson, Esq.
Since my return home, am thoroughly sat
| / Fl I'd that my friends would have Iisked the
action dreaded and, upon the most mature
reflection, an content with my own coarse in
the premises. But whether it was right or
wrong, wise or uuwise, fesI bound, as an
honorable man, TO act up to the spirit and let
ter of the obligation assumed. L shall Offer
10 plea of duTess; because neither the South
ern Con federacy noc any other earthly pow
ey could have compelled me 10 make an agree
rIent which my judgment and conscience did
not approve III tae situation in which was
placed
No terms Of conditions, express or implied
public or private, attended by release other
Lna1 those plainly expressed 10 the two above
q noted; but have thought IL due to our past
relations and the painful solicitude many Of
you have felt in my behalf. that should tnus
briefly address you.
While did not promise allegiance or active
support to the Southern Oonfederacy, and
will not advise you TO assume any obligations
con trary to your convictions of duty, feel
per fec tly free to say that the failure Of the
Covers rnent of the United States for four
long months to sustain us in our position |;
its apparent inability to Go SO, since the battle
OF Manassas, within eny reasonable tina the
deliberate action Of our State 10 the August
election the assurances of public men that
nc test oaths CT drafting measures will be
adopted or required the mutual hatred
which has grown up between the antagonist
sections of tie Union,5and the recent confis-
cation laws which have beeR either adopted
or proposed on both sides, well as other
causes haze painfully impressed my own
mind with the belief that unless some WOE
drous and i'm probable change is effected, our
beloved Union is gone forever, and 1t is our
policy and duty 70 submit to result which,
however we may depiore it, seems to be in
evitable.
Aware that my advice, as well as my mo-
tiyes, may ba liable to r1isconstruction,
would still most respectfully recommend to
my friends the propriety OF abstaining from
all further opposition resistance to the
Confederate authorities, or the action of our
own State; and should this be done, although
have no an thority to speak for them, l am
satisfied that military power will be ex-
erted among US, except such as may be iE-
dispensanly necessary 20 retain military pos
session of East Tennessee. And To those Of
our citizsns who have gone beyond the limits
Of the State, either through fear or the pur-
| pose OF alming them selves TO resist course
of action which is disavowed in Gen. Polk s
letter, think 1 can safely say, without ar
rogance, that from tho course which was
adopted towards me, they would risk nothing
| by returning to the State and submitting TO
result which they have in vain endeavored
to prevent. THos. A. X. NELSON.
Knoxville Tenn, nth Aug, 1901.
HsENAx AGAIN IN THE RIxs.-The Benicia
Boy has again challenged all England for a