The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-29
Leave mo Enemy in the Rear.

~ Unless our Government is blind to the
lessons of the sad experience in Tennes-
see which it has undergone since last
spring, It will not content itself with
pushing forward mighty armies, under
the lead OF able Generals, and leave the
country in their rear full Of traitors and
rebel spies. We have had ample eva
dence that zealous secessiopists are not
TO be made loyal by being let alone
With multitudes Of the rank and lille
time and reflection will do the work OF
repentance, and restore the deluded Vo-
taries Of Southern rights to sound rea-s
son. But this process of waiting is en-
tirely too slow TO be extended to "intel-
ligent and conscious traitors" Not in
the spirit Of malevOlence or revenge do
we declare our conviction that much
leniency and indulgence have, both here
and elsewhere, been not only unprofiia-
bly,, but iniuriously extended, TO men
whose souls are deeply dyed With trea-
son. There are men Of wealth, educa'
ton and social position, daily walking
our streets, and attending to their bust
ness, whose whole influence was exerted,
last winter, to destroy the Government
and bring desolation and misery upon
the land. These men do not pretend to be
friendly to the Federal Government; they
are VIGOROUSLY disloyal; they would re-
joice to see heUniOn army now here ami
hilated by the ragged troops of BREcKIN-
RIDGE, FORREST, CHEATHAM, and other reb-
ell Generals. They never hesitate to COM
municate information stealthily to their
rebel friends beyond our lines, which
may be useful to them. These persons,
who are merely slumbering volcanoes of
treason, are allowed TO transact their
business, under our flag unmolested.
Indeed, in many instances, it would APP
pear that they are really cOurted, fiat
tered, and nursed by the agents Of the
Federal Government, as if it were the in
tention of the American people to use
bullets and bayonets upon the common
rebel soldiers, but honeyed words and
buttered phrases upon traitors of upper
tendon. The plan will not succeed. 1t
is unjust, and what is unjust cannot be
polite. We have been imploring iniluen-
tial rebels for the last eight months to
be loyal, and to but little purpose
Where is the rebel of intelligence and |
social position-the influential man
who has fOrsaken his false gods and gone
to work like patriot to save his cOun
try? We know of none such in Nash |
vile, in Davidson country. Now we
think that entirely too much importance
is alta ched TO what leading politicians |
or wealthy merchants, or prominent
physicians in our country may say or do
in regard TO the restoration of the Union.
This hero worship is a curse to the coun-
try. If the Union is ever restored, and
we firmly believe it will be, it will be
saved by the people-by the masses, by
the humble W orking men of the country,
who form nine tenths of the nation. We
must trust the people. This is their Gov
eminent and they must save it. 1t does
not look like trusting the people, or repos-
ing confidence in them, to be speaking
soft words TO, and smiling sweetly upon,
naughty and self-impOrtant rebels, who
imagine they are comforting a great favor
on the Federal Government by living
under its laws and authority. We have
many such men in this city, who are
just so many obstacles to the restoration
of peace. They are the secret service
corps of treason, and are rendering Gen.
Bragg more service than if they were in
Murfreesboro, Their presence exercises
a most unwholesOme influence upon loyal
citizens, who regard their remaining here
as confession of weakness on the part |
Of our Government, There is no longer |
any room for neutral men among us
There is no sincere neutrality it is hy- |
pocrisy. 1t is utterly improbable that
any one, not an idiot, could live amid |
such scenes and events as have occurred
in this country, for two years past, and
not have preference for one side or the
other. And any man who is really in
different to the issue of this great strug-
GLE is not fit to live among loyal people. |
If he does not care for US, why ought we
TO care for him Let him be banished
from among rs, as a leper The truth
is, these neutral men are all rebels, and
cannot be allowed to remain here any
more than if they were avowed rebels, A
traitor in Sleeps clothing is most dan