The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-21
Assessments and Conascations.


and confiscating the property of the loyal
citizens Of East Tennessee, for the bene-
fit Of the members Of the rebel dynasty
at Richmond, Governor Johnson and
General BUTLER, like administering spir-
it's Of heaven are relieving the suilerings
OF the poor, by imposing assessments
upon wealthy rebels. We are told that
some of these secessionists feel exceed
ingly aggrieyed, and complain that they
are treated with tyranny in being forced
to give bread and clothing to the widows
and orphans of Confederate soldiers,
whose murderers they are in the sight OF
God. Doubtless it is painful for some OF
these assessed individuals TO be reminded
nv the charity tax-gatherer, that they
ara the authors of the distress and
wretchedness which now afflict so many
of our unhappy fellow-ctizens but
then they should reflect that this assess
ment which is levied upon their property,
is but triAe, when compared with the
coniiscation practised in East Tennessee,
which is daily sweeping into the rebel
Treasury the entire estates of loyal men,
The men who have been called on by
Governor JOHNSON within the last week.
TO relieve the wants of our poor people,
who are starving for food and shivering
in their rags, are responsible in a large
measure for the confiscaiion of loyal
property, now going on in East Tennessee.
JOIN OvERToN, the richest man in Tennes-
see, probably, gave his estate, valued at
100000 to the cause of rebellion.
Who can estimate, then, the amount OF
mischief that man has wrought in so do
ing? Is $4,000 heavy penalty for him
to pay? Ought he not rather TO be de-
prived of every dollar of his property,
and let its proceeds be devoted to pay
ing the war tax? Other persons assessed
equipped rebel companies; others gave
sums of $4,000, $4,000, $4,000, and
$4,000, to the cause of bloodshed and
rebellion. What is the pittance which
thew are asked to contribute to the
holy cause of charity, compared to
these large sums? 1t is an easy thing
TO nav $500 for war-horse to present
70 rebel officer, but grievous burden to
nav 1.-THE of that sum, TO comfort and
solace the family, which has been be-
reaved by the act of that officer. Then
again IL is possible that when some Of
these merchant princes were ostenta-
tiously paying over little fortunes TO JEFF.
DAVIS and IsHAM HARRIS, visions Of Cab
met Offices, and Foreign Embassies, and
fat contracts might have danced before
their eyes; while, on the other hand, it
il almost certain that contributions to
charitable objects never bring in pecu-
mary reward 10 the giver, who must look
for his recompense in a better world-a
place where few friends of the Southern
Confederacy ever expect to arrive.
1t appears then most unreasonable,
that any one who has helped to stir up
and promote the rebellion, should COM
plain of this assessment. Thousands OF
loyal men in this State are being stripped
of all they possess by the rebel courts
and why should our secessiOnists com
plain, if some of them are asked to con-
sribute to the support OF the poor-to SIP
a mouthful as IL were from a bowl which
they have forced others 10 drain to the
very bottomP Whenever one OF these
agVrieved devotees Of rebellion begin to
sroak over the little pittance for which
thev have been assessed, let the reply be-
"Re,aepsber the onfeatiOns in The KnoTV'Hs
Copfederale Court"
Since writing the preceding article we
have learned from Judge WENTWORTH, OF
the County Court, that there are now IN
this county 500 families Of soldiers in
abe Confederate army, who are depend
snt on. charity for support; and 400 other
Dersons, most Of them representing fami-
lies, who are also destitute and must be
fed and clothed by some public provis'
ion; end that this latter class is continu-
ally increasing. These facts fully es-
tabish the ,OisdOpl, humanity and necessity
Of the assessment levied by Governor
JoHEsoN.
Nearly one thousand unhappy families ieit'
Sn conqusnce Of this ,oictea REBELLION, an mid
,Ointsr, WITHOUT fire, food, or clothing, I'LL our
vained ears night and day, Nth piteoas sup
plioations for relief Shall these poor peo-
pie perish, while those who have plunged
them in the depts of affection, reyel in
che enjoyment of every luxury when