Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-14

, TENN, MONDAY, April ~, 1901.
DEAR SIR: Yours of the 22d is at hand. Gov. Har-
ris has again dailed the Legislature together. After
such demonstration as we gave him of the Union
element in this State by majority OF seventy thou
sand, refusing to call convention, he has got
the Legislature in secret session. plotting to hurry
the State cut Of the Union The crest masses of
the people in East Tennessee are burning with in
dignatiOn towards the Governor and his seces-
sion crew. We feel confident here that should
the question be again submitted to the vote
of the people, the people, The Union pdTty
loo16 oOerIohelm them. Butwe fear the Legislature
will pass the ordinance of secession without sub
hitting it to the people; also pass an army bill and
rule the people down by a military despotism
Should the Governor succeed in this plot it would
be usurpation Of power without parallel in the
history of the world.
The present Legislature does not reflect the viii
of the people. The secession party, by publishing
false reports and by sending forth sensation dis-
patches, have tried to fire up the people against
Government, and make it appear, by great oeai "
clustering, that the people were rapidly II ny
over to secession. They publish to US lns'
Tennessee and West Tennessee have Dotu rusl :.
over. The same kind Of lies they tolu 80
| the last election. We didn't believe them then
and we don't believe them now. n Tue cltles
and villages many have turned bat the country people
zoe believe are firm.
IN the 99d inst Hon. A r. Nelson, our Congress
man from the upper district, addressed the people
| of 81
con,es 20 worst and fight must, will fight for the
Constitution and the and stripes OF our Union,
ond solemny called on his Maker to witness the de-
ciaration. lie is great Union man, and of the first
talent of the State and more than this, he is de-
! voted Christian, and has the confidence OF every
man that hears him.
On Saturday, the 9th inst, Andy johnson, ou1
Senator from East Tennessee, also addressed the
/ people at Knoxville; he had large crowd to hear
| him. lie made great Union speech, and declared
that he lo0ud fight for the Stars and Stripes, and spill
his last drop of blood for the Union He is a man
of bulldog perseverance, of great energy; and viii
stick to his position, and die in the cause he has
poused
The leaders of the Union party in East Tennessee
have about to the conclusion that if the Legis
Iature votes US out in defiance of our rights EaS
Tennessee Irl rebel Secede from the State and stick Il
the Union This will only be hindered from the want
| of guns and powder.
To-day it has leaked out somehow, and reached
| Knoxville, that the Legislature has passed some
sort of ordinance, and is in quarrel about the
name whether it shall be called secession or reve
luton The Union leaders are to hold Conference a
| NdShUiHe. Several of our most talented men fron
this place are going to morrow. understand the
| object is to organize the Union party, and make
plans to canvass the state and hold up the Union sen
ment against lies and the element of rebellion.
A company of volunteers passed through thii
| place tO~day, on their way to Virginia 1t IS saic
That lley are htDluChg' II - dASO SoN eA'o
they are from Middle Tennessee, and we don't know
| which TO believe. The Secessionists are making
desperate effort to raise a regiment in East Ten
nessee to 60 to Virginia. They are succeeding
slowly and badly, They will have to scour The
| whole country, use money freely, and give away
| barrels of mean whisky to accomplish it. hearc
an officer of one of our Courts to-day make the re
mark that this raising of soldiers. under the pres
emit circumstances. in Tennessee. must be regarded
as treason agsirst the United States Government i
not treason against the State. Yet it is going on
and there is no power here to preventit.
l appreciate your kind invitation to 60 North, bu
think best to stay in my adopted State. As to the
war, / had no hand in bringing it upon the country
and intend to take no hand in carrying 1t on. My
| sympathies, and all my sympsthies are with the
| General Government, and no power on earth car
make me raise my hand against the Stars apC
Stripes of our Union. The movements of force:
now indicate that Maryland and Virginia will soor
become one dismal burying-ground. For enc weeA
after the capture of Fort Sumter by the rebels, the
| dispatches from Virginia positively asserted tina
| Gen. Scott had resigned and would hasten to Rich
mond to take command of forces against Washing
ttOn. | think it must be very bad cause, indeed
that requires so many lies 20 sustain il. The seces
sion cause founded in perjury and treason, ha;
been sustained by lies and rebellion, and must NEE
| the indignation and wrath of Heavens King, the
/ Ruler OF the Universe.
There are thousands Of men in East Tennessee
| land this know who would rally 10 fight for the
Union, even against their own statesmen, If there
was any chance for them to do so,