Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-09-13
From the Knoxville Wing. !
To the Public.
CITIZEN.

Having seen the false statements in the New
York Herald and New York Times, TO the effect
that have turned Secessionist and have been ma
king speeches in the camps at this place, to Volun-
teer5, proposing TO volunteer and urging them TO
fight; and having received several letters and YER
bal messages, from friends complaining of my
change, and from Secessionists congratulating
me, deem it proper to state my position, if can
in unmistakabe terms. do this, because do not
wish to pass with my old Union friends and CO.
laborers for less than am nor with the Secession
lists for more than am.
| have the same opinion now, of the heresy of
Secession and of the leading men who brought
about dissolution of the Union, and of the mo-
tives that prompted them, that have entertained
| for the last twelve months, and expressed in
thousand FORMS never can sanction the one, or
confde in the other. | have never visited any
military encampment since the war opened, nor
have made any speech, of any sort, to any COM
pany Of Volunteers.
| As ! am not acandidate for martyrdom orimpris-
onment during the war, and as ! have been over
powered FIRST by the action of the State at the
ballot-box, and next by the military power of the
State, have determined to moderate in my tone
to cease the course of warfare have waged, and
to yield to the necessity upon us-a necessity none
of us can avert have resolved to give my read
ers the news, rs I get it from the papers, and let
/ them draw their own inference ! fought eiitori-
fighting, and in my retirement to position of neu-
trality, / carry with me MY UNCHANGED PRINCIPLES,
and shall cherish them to my latest hours in lifel
East Tennessee, with her Union majority of 30,
900 voters, having failed to declare herself the
State. when she could and ought to have done so
and the Federal Government having failed to sus-
tain the Union sentiment of East Tennessee when
lit could and should have done So it is now TOO late
to attempt either So far as am individually con-
cerned, will not DE party to any mad scheme OF
Rebellion, gotten up at this late day, to any in
sane attempt 10 invade this end Of the State with
Federal troops. And any portion of the Union men
of East Tennessee, who may be crazy enough to
embark in either enterprise and suffer utter ruin,
as they are bound to do, shall not VIXEN "he times
of these calsmities be overpast" reflect on me for
having advised such a course.
u have many old friends and co-laborers in the
Union cause, dispersed throughout East Tennessee
who think that ought weekly to pitch into the
State and Confederate Governments and into every
thing, and everybody connected with Secession
regardless of consequences and the more so, as
conduct the only Union paper left in the Southern
, CoDlederacy Not being impressed with any such
sepse of duty most respectfully decline the hon.
ors aud hazards of so brave and Independent a
| course. And if there is any gentleman in the
Union ranks in this end of the State, who is desi
) rous TO try his hand in il, will cheerfully yield
him my positionl But before he embarks as a
new beginner, viii apprise him of the fact that
we are in the midst of fearful Revolution and
Rebellion-that the Civil law has given way tc
Military rule--and that if he is fool enough to at
teHpt such course, the Military authorities in the
South, are not fool enough to tolerate it l come
down from my extreme position, not of choice bu
of necessity, and frankly confess that have moi
the courage to meet, in open combat unarmed as
am eleven States in arms aud in full unii0rml
If am not now understood, am wholly incapa
BILE of expressing myself upon this question.
/ W. G. BRowELow.
Sept, 9Th, 1861.