Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-12-25
From the Knoxville Register, Dec. Is.
.eaSOn las East Tennessec-DuItes G

Crime and Treason las East Observation-Disclosures OF
tic Co feaerate Court.
The mountain Businesses which encompass EA t Ten
nessee, which shall be held the last stronghold OF
freedom should the declared policy of exerminang the
whole population of the South ever approach its
summation are now filed with brigands, who have fed
thther to escape CONSUMPTION 10 the South and at the
North. The and cliffs and sequesered glens the
deep and narrow valleys and rugged mountain sides are
retreats for those whO acuated by OF the
emotions of patr otism prefer life of ideness and crime
to participation in struggle whose results effect for
ever the destinies of mankind.
Deserters from the army Of Rosencranz and fug
times from the despotism of Lincoln, in Kentucky, and
these who would evade service in Southern armies have
found inaccessible retreats in the mountains of East
Tennessee.
The investigation being made by the Grand
Jury of the Confederate Court will soon direct the at
tenlon of the whole country 10 the dangers not only to
East Tennessee, but to the whole South, which
cumulatUg in the mountain districts that environ US.
Not only is the manufac ure of saltpetre, which is
found everywhere through the mountains in exhausess
quantities. attended with great and increasing Dangers
not only the operatives ia the lead mines deferred
from the prosecution OF their labors not only are the
ntighborhaods Of exhausess coal deposits the
treats OF mountain bandits but have been advised
that through the facilities for concealment Whch there
exist the counties North of us, and this city to
SONS extent, flooded with counterfeit Conf tolerate
notes.
With the progress of the winter these evils will be
rapidly augmented. Hunger and cold will render DIES.
perate, both the deIuded victims of Unionsm and the
towards who skulk from the duties of patriotism in the
inaccessible retreas of the Allegheny and Cumberland
mountains Counterteitng will not be the only insult
ferable crime perperated. The suspension Of opera
lions in the ntre caves, and lead, iron and coal mines
will be the least OF the losses which this people must en-
dure unless every agency at the disposal of the Govern
ment be called into requson to suppress if it be i'm
possible to eradicate evils which have already assumed
threatening, hideous proportions.
Not only must activity and energy be Infused into
the military authorities not only must the mountain
passes be secured by cavalry under trustworthy
officers whose object net TO rob- punder and destroy
not only must the officers whose duty it is to enforc
the Conscrpt Act exercise renewed skill and energy
but the Confederate Court 10 session in this city
must not adjourn, till justice is dore some of thu
many confessed traitors countereiters and criminals
all grades whose name already adorn the calendar o
crime.
Crime stalks abroad ia. the mountains and valleys
Each fugitive from Conscriptio is deserter' ant
by the military code is punishable with DEATH and a
one be becomes outlaw, ard soon criminal in th
eyes of the commoa law.
Let not the Confederate Court ourn till is who'll
duty to East Tennessee and the South has been dis
charged.