Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-06
Am AutoblsEraphiceI sketch of Union
Politician.


We are enabled, this morning, to publish sketch
of his own career, for the last six months, written
by JAMES Barron, Jr, Representative from Greene,
&c, which was prepared in explanation of his let
ter to one Mr.. HEADRIcK, from his place in the
House of Representatives. Tne letter to Mr. HEAD
RICK we have published, and Mr.. BRrTToE, as an act
of justice to him, requests that find place for
his explanation in the columns of the Union and
American. We very cheerfully comply with the
request and congratulate Mr.. Barron upon the
sound conclusion at which he arrives after having
beat about in the thiekets and morasses of false
Unionism for so long time. 1t viii be seen, by
reading his very interesting and curious letter,
that several quite knotty questions came in
his path in consequence of the undesirable and pc
ouliar state of thingsp by which he has been sur
rounded. All these he was, however, enabled to
solve with safety to himself by some very close
hair-spltting and nice distinctions, which are re-
ferred to with much quaintness by Mr.. BRrrroS. So
nice were some of these dis tinctens, and go awk-
ward the position in which he found himself in
consequence thereof, that be clearly saw he ought
not to have attempted the impossibility of repre-
senting Union district, without getting himself
into great difficulties, either with his constituents
or with the Government of the Confederate States
By one bold and dashing movement, Mr.. BKrroN
has thrown off all these tr ammels and taken the
position which he ought to have done long ago. but
which, failing to take at the proper time, he does
not regard as too late to assume now, the prin>
ciple that it is never too late to do good
The following index of Mr.. BRIrToN's letter, pre-
sents q brief and convenient summary Of its con-
tents
Autobiographical Sketch of the varied and extern.
sive career of Union member of The Legislature.
His triumphant election to a seat in the General
Assembly. His candid confession of hiz inability
to take the oath. His reputation Of rebellion in
East Tennessee. He denounces the Greenville Con-
vsntion, and seldom " appears in that learned
body. After the ratification of the permanent Con-
stitution he scquiesces." He nevertheless attends
the Legislature, with pledge not to take the oath
thus bringing about su undesirable and peculiar
state of things" his belief that members were not
bound to take the oath. HIS consultation with
friends, when he finds that the members were call
ed up to be sworn and his final determination to
take the oath" His estimate Of the oath as an
tS oficio obligation y and extrajudiciGl in its
character Notwithstanding this very suspicious
Espect presented by the oath, he determines never
70 WHICH ue AYERS nc l6S never
done. His determination to regard this IS 5 Gov
eminent de facl0, If not Government de jare-His
exposition of an oath required By Law and one not
so required-How he come to write the HEADETCK
lettsr-The consequences of csrelessness and a
want of thoughs-Msplsced conh1enee-He &C
quits Mr.. HEADEICk of improperly in publishing
it-His anAthemas upon himself, if be has ever vic.
lated the oath-In that case he inyokes shower
of fire and brimstone-His explanation Of where
his error wss-He ought not to have represented 3
Union constituency, under the circumstances
is now for the South against Lincoln-His appeal
TO the Union men Of East Tennessee against neu-
trality-How he felt the foundation giving way,
and subsequently discovered it was all fancy
lie finally determines to go with the South, let the
consequences be what they msy.
1t is also due" to Mr.. BRIrTON TO state that he
is now under arrest for reasonable conduct against
the Confederate States, and is bound over under
heavy bail, to appear at the next term of the Con-
federste Court for trial Mr. BEIrToS has probably
mislead many good, honest people, during his
career and we fear that his late conversion to the
true faith under the undesirable" circumstances
surrounding him, will not gain him credit for much
sincerity.