Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-01
SUNDAY MORNING, DEC. 1, 1861.

H
for thirty thousand volunteers from che
a. State of Tennessee for service in the provis-
ional army of the Confederate States. Gen.
JOHNSON, as the commander of the Coincide
80 rate forces in this Departments, was author
esay lied to make the requisition, and 1t was the
, duty of Gov. HARRIS to use his authority to
Gil 1t. This duty was imposed upon him by
the constitution of the Confederate States,
go and had he failed to discharge it, he would
have been justly censurable. Tt was no part
OF his business to inquire whether that num-
Der of men were needed or not the proper
:. authorities required them, and he was, as q
law abiding and loyal executive, bound to
l.saa obey the mandate of bis superiors.l The
troops were Jailed out, and large numbers of
them went into camp. There they remain
asg ed, awaiting arms, and at last were surprised
.gIs by an order for their disbandnIent. This or
der ernanated iEom Gen. JOHNSON and it
would be unjust to suppose that be gave it
without Instructions from those having COM
mand over him.
The volunteers who responded to the call
Of Gov. HARRIS, made at thu instance of
sf Gen. JOHNSON, were twelve months men,
- From the letter of the Secretary of War, Mr.
srs BENJAMIN, TO gentleman 10 Arkansas, pub
lished by us a few days ago, the reader has
already learned that the Confederate Gov
eminent gives preference to volunteers for
So three years, or the war. Accordingly in the
States, where the latter class of volunteers
have offered, they have been invariably re-
ceived and armed. In other instances, as in
that of Judge HUNPHREYs, of Alabama,
-, whole brigades of tw elve months men have,
e been disbanded, because they did not furnish
8 their OVID arms, the Government being un
aaIi willing to arm them, so long as three years
- men presented themselves and required guns.
When Gen. JOHNSON made the requisition on
Gov. HARRIS for thirty thousand men, he
doubtless believed the Government would
arm them, but he was mistaken, and when
= he received an order to disband them, he
> obeyed it, but subsequently,, on the sugges-
ton, believe. of Gov. HARRIS, agreed to with
draw the order of disbandment until Reason
J ~ able time was given for our citizens to give
up the private arms in their possession for
- their use. ~. T.. 5ss,-s- p
tNE So far, neither Gov. HARRIS nor Gen. JOIN
SON was to blame for the disappointment of
- our volunteers. Gov. HARRIS obeyed the re-
Qul9ltiOH Vi Otu- SOnSeOSr auu Sosucfcu ucu
sd inlcamp-Gen. JOHNSON obeyed the order of
: Il the Confederate Government, and ordered |
their disbandment. Gen. JOHNSON manifest. |
=. ed disposition to accommodate by suspend |
ing the order. 'sEa1,tt ifIs.J 44i |
Bot before the time of suspension expired, |
great emergency arose for additional troops |
The enemy threatened to fall upon Colum. |
bus In Overwhelming numbers, and it was |
:. regarded as necessary by those in command,
Il that ourseolumns should be strengthened by
81 large accessions The Legislature having 1
q authorized the Executive to press into ser
vice the private arms to be found in the
State, and Gen. JOHNSON having called upon
him for all the men in the State that could
q be armed, he promptly ordered out the Mill
II ia 10 the number of thirty thousand, leaving
90 room for and giving a preference to ,volun-
teers; ordering at the same time steps to be
taken to secure private arms for the use of
the men, volunteers or militia. who might
20 into service. .Eg
Inthe whole matter Gov. HARRIS did nomore
:, than disobey the duty devolved upon him
= by the laws and the constitution. He was
The agent OF those in authority above him.
Had ne REUSED 70 ODey TUG reQuisftlOn OF 4
Gen. JOHNSON, the President could and
!, would, no doubt, have ordered out the mill
tia without his Intervention. The apparent
Inconsistency of disbandiDg volunteers fer
want of arms, and Immediately calling out
the militia,) who it is supposed could not be
armed any more than the dismissed volun-
-lteers. )has caused considerable feeling in GER
tain quarters, and much evaporation is be I
ueved to exist. There lie no good founda- L
lien for this. When the Volunteers were
disbanded, the Governor had no right, to inn
pfess the priv ate arms of citizens, numerous
= they were. When the militia were called
ont he had such right; and it was believed
sby well informed parties that the. number of
militia men called out might be armed by
simpressment. It remains yet to be seen
sxhssher this belief is we'll founderd or not.
= But It is eraveIy in,imated that the draft /.
Ing Of The militia, which must be resorted to
In case The number of volunteers 10 not suf1
feient to make up the complement OF men
called for, is calculated TO bring discredit Fl
supoushe State, hitherto renowned for the
sIscrity with which her sons have volunteer :