Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-10
Confederate states Court at Knoxville
q. LE-n--iIIa R.rt-..- a.rt

\ from the knoxville Register sept
( The first session of the Confederate Court for the
! District Of Tennessee was opened yesterday morn.
! ing, in the Supreme Court Room n this city, by
! his honor Judge W. II. Humphreys. W. G. Kahn,
| Esq was appointed Clerk pro ten, and toek the
oSth to support the Government Of the Confederate
| States.
| Judge Humphreys stated that he was only occu-
| plying the Supreme Court Room by courtesy, no
contract for its use having been made with the au-
| thOrities Of Knox county. Directed the Marshal,
| Gen. Clements, to procure room for holding the
Court in, and stated that Until room WAS procured
| be should not proceed with the business Of the
| Court.
He stated, in substance, that he had come here to
hold court he is empowered to DO az his discre-
ton by the statutes Of the Confederate Government
and although this not the regular term, he was
/ here for the purpose of organizing the Court 1t
also the earnest desire Of the gallant officer
commanding the forces Of East Tennessee, that the
persons arrested by HIM should be delivered over
10 the Judicial tribunal at the earliest practicable
moment for trial.
| No mans rights of person or property was to be
lswlessly interfered with, is the case ex-
tensYely the North referring especially to Ere
mont's proclamation in Missouri. The law Is SUI
| pTeme and must be maintained. All persons ar
rested should have trial by jury beIeit of counsel
and the full benefit of impartial and constitution
al trIRl The Government Of the Confederate States
had superseded the Government of the United
States by the voice of eight millions Of people, and
as the representative of those eight millions of peo-
pie in the judicial District of Tennessee he should
attempt to maintain the supremacy of law and
order. All who held positions of public trust
under the Confederate States would be required to
take an oath to support the Government of the
Confederate States. Attorneys practiciug in the
Courts, POstmasters and others, exercising func-
tons under the Confederate Government, would be
required to take the oath. He did not come here
to get up prosecutions; he hoped there would be no
evidence to sustain prosecutions: but if there
any men who were crazy enough to attempt to
bring civil war within our borders, the authors of
it would be brought to justice; for the supremacy
Of this government would be sustained.
When suitable room should be obtained by the
Marshal for holding the court, he would comment
upon the Law of treason the alien law, and the cou
fscatiOn law.
The court was therefore adjourned until this
morning at 10 o'clock.
We learn that the Marshal has made arrangements
with the proper authorities for tne holding of the
court in the same place for the present term. We
also learn that the prisOners-eight or ten in num-
ber-arrested by Gen. ZollicCffer. will be handed
over to Marshal Clements to-day, and will be
brought into court for hearing in their cases.
From the Knoxville Register, Sept
The proceedings of the District Court of the Con-
federate States for the Eastern District Of Te1nes
see, yesterday, were not devoid of interest. His
Honor, JUICE Humphreys continued his remarks
upon the powers Of the judiciary, to which we re-
ferred in our last issue. His address was for the
NEST part especially dignifed and the learned jurist
diseoursed most eloquently upon the position and
duties of the patriot lawyer in times of revolution
and civil comnoton, and referred most happily to
the bright example of the hOnored Sir Mathew Hale
in the days of English Revolution.
By far the larger portion of the Knoxville bar
came forward and took the cath to support the
Constitution and Government of the Confederate
States of America, as well as the usual cath of
fsithfulness administered in our Courts to all prac
tielng attorneys. Among the gentlemen thus sworn
wa Mr. I0lu RQYtpP vho has keen ponaidnrpd bv
the late Unian.party of East Tennessee 90 q promi