Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-09-06
The Nelson arrest-his treat
ment by the Confederates a
letter to the President-Davis
Repiy--N elson Advises the
Union men to Submit.

The Knoxville Whig of the Oath CON
tains the promised address Of Hon. Thos
A. r. Nelson to the people of East Ton
nessee, 1t occupies two columns of the
Wing. After stating the causes which led
to his fight, the mode of his arrest, the
reasons for his Unionism, with which the
reader is already familiar, he says:
While on the way to Richmond had a
conversation with portion of the Tenn
essee delegation to the Southern Congress
and during my stay there was visited by
various members of Congress and other
public men connected with the Southern
Confederacy The intense solicitude
which was expressed, especially by the
most prominent and original secessionists,
who, without any request on my part, vol
unteered their kind Offices with generous
liberality, in regard to the conciliation of
the people of East Tennessee, and the un-
usual Kindness and consideration with
was treated as a prisoner, convinced
me that | was in error in supposing
that the military power would be ex-
erted for any other purpose than that
of retaining the railroad and of aggres-
sive acts on our part.
Acting under this changed conviction,
believing that if were retained as Il pris-
oner, or punished with death, under any
strained construction of the treason laws
my friends in East Tennessee in either
event would retaliate by arresting public
men of the opposite party here, that this
would lead to counter arrests, and that
the horrors of civil war would Immediate
ly exist among us, felt that it was due to
you and myself that | should obtain my
release as soon as possible, on the bes
terms could effect without dishonor, ant
after various informal propositions and
and consultations, | finally addressed t.
President Davis the following letter;
RICHMOND, Aug. II, 1861.
To lis E;Eceileacy jeff Ddvis, Presiden
sfthe Confederate States:
SIR: | have been arrested, and as | learu
since my arrival in this city, upon thu
charge Of treason, but. whether agains
the State of tennessee or the. .Confederat
, States, Fanf not advised. Lam consoiou
of no act, either against the State or tn
Confederacy, that Will support or sustain
Q such an acensation.' Nt
am spefely anxlops TO preserve IN
= peace and qaist of East Tennessee, tn
section Of the-State. in which | reside, a
best promotive of the peace and interes
D of the entire State. ask to be disoharg
a ed from vexatious prosecution that
: may return home peacefully, to follow m
n private interests and pursuits, assurin
/. your Excellency that | will not either di
9 rectlv or indirectly, by counsel, advice @
! action, encourage, aid, or assist the Unite
e States Government to invade or obtain SUI
l. cess in the present struggle with the Cor
federate States, nor will l counsel or aC
e wise others to thwart or cripple the Cor
d federate States in the pending contest wit
4 the United States, nor will do so by m
$, own acts.
re In view of the increased majority
= the election which has just taken place
" Tennessee, shall feel it my duty, as ci
" izen of that State, to submit to her la
at action, aud shah reiigiously abstain fro
: any further words or acts Of condemn
In ton or opposition to her government.