Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-09-10
The white Fenther in Tennssss,

AAhso u lennek6ee.
The Knoxville Wing of the Oath inst con-
tains the promised address of Hon. Thomas A -.
H. Nelson to the people Of East Tennessee. It
occupies Two columns of the Wing. After stat
ing the causes which led to his fight, the mode
Of his arrest, the reasons of his UnIonism.
with which the reader is already familiar. he
says; H-t -
While on the way to Richmond, | had some
conversation with portion Of the Tennessee
delegation to the Southern Congress, and dur
ing my stay there was visited by various mem.
bers OF Congress and other public men connect
ed with the Southern Confederacy. The intense
sollcitude which was expressed, especially by
the most prominent and dstin guished of the
original secessioniss, who, without any request
on my part, volunteered their kind Offices, with
generous lberality, In regard to the Cancellation
OF the people of East Tennessee, and the unu.
sual Kindness and consideration with which I
was treated as prisoner, convinced me that l
was in error in supposing that the military
power would be exerted for any other purpose
han that OF retaining the railroad and of faggres-
'sive acts on our part.
Acting under this changed conviction, beliey-
ing that, II i were. retained as a prisoner, or
punished with death, under any strained con =.
struction of the treason lave, my friends in
East Tennessee would In either event retaliate
by arresting public men OF opposite party here;
that this would lead to counter arrests, and that
the horrors Of civil war would Immediately ex-
ist among us, felt that it was due to you and
to myself that should obtain my release as
soon as possible, on the best terms could effect
without dishonor; and after various informal
propositions aud consultations, finally address
sed to President Davis the following letter;
f RIcHMoND Auo 10 1851
TO HE Ere,lIency Jtf. Doois, PTs,ident of the
CoRfedeyate States.
SIR; have been arrested, and, as 1 learned
since my arrival in this city, upon the charge of
treason; but whether against the State Of Tenn.
essee or the Confederate States I am not ad.
vised. am conscious of no act, either against
the State or the Confederacy, that will support
or sustain such an accusation.
am sincerely anxious to preserve the peace
and quiet Of East Tennessee, the section of the
State in which reside, as best promotive of the
peace and interest Of the entire State. ask
to be discharged from vexatious prosecution
that may return home peacefully, to follow
my private Interests and pursuits, assuring your
Excellency that will not, either directly or in.
directly, by counsel, advice or action, encourage,
aid or assist the United States Government to
invade or attain success In the present struggle
i
or advise others to thwart or cripple the Con-
federate States in the pending contest with the
United States, nor will do 30 by my own acts
In view Of the increased majority in the cleo.
tlon which has just taken place 10 Tennessee,
shall feel IL my duty, as citizen of that State,
TO submit to her late action, and shall relig-
iously abstain from any further words or acts
of condemnation or opposition to her govern.
ment. tsr
The parties arrested with me, with the excep.
tion OF my son, who acted by my command,
we're mere guides, and conductors through the
mountain passes, on my way to my place of des.
tination, and whatever view may be taken Of
my own course, they are innocent--iu no way
resp snsble, legally or morally, and have com
mitted no offense against the laws of the Con-
federacy or the State of Tennessee; and ask
that they also be discharged from custody by
your Excellency, Very respectfully, your obe-
dent servant, TH0S. A, r. NELSON. 4
To which the following answer was returned.
RIoHNoND August l3, 1861,
Sin: have received your letter of the 18th
inst, in which you aek 20 be discharged from
arrest and prosecution, and make promise that
you will, "as citizen OF Tennessee, submit to
her late action and religiously abstain from any
further words or acts OF condemnation what-
ever, or opposition to her government"
The desire Of this Government being to main
tain the independence it has asserted by the
united feeling and action Of all Its citizens, Il
has been its policy not to enter into questions
Of difference Of political opinions heretofore
existing. 4, -, +, 4 \,
Tam, therefore, pleased to be spared the ne
cessity Of inquiring whether the accusation
against you be well founded or not, yexatious or
not, and to rest content with your submission az
loyal citizen Of your State to her recent action
in adhering to this Confederacy and adopting
its permanent Constitution by an increased ma.
iori,y. have ordered your discharge and that
Of your companions from custody.
lam, sir, etc,
sA JEFFERSON DAVIS
To THOMAS AR. Nrrsor, Esq
Since my return home am thoroughly salts
fed that my friends would have risked the ac-
tion dreaded; and, upon them most mature 70.
Election, am content with my own course 10 the
premises. But whether IL was right or wrong,
wise or unwise, i feel bound as an honorable
man 10 act up to the spirit and letter Of the OBJ
| legation assumed. I shall offer no pleaof du.
ress; because neither the Southern Confedcracy
nor any other earthly power could have compell.
al n, to N, oko an aUroemant that NV ind q ~