The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-14

The following letter from Judge LANE,
Of the United States District Court of
Alabama, will be read with interest:
Letter From Geo. w. Lane.
DANvnLE, KY, Nov. 8, 1862.
Hon. II NJ Stanton, Secretary Of Var, Wash
t,aqtol City, d. G.
Sin: The army of the Ohio, after hav-
ing once occupied and subsequently aban-
doned the Northern District of Alabama,
is again about TO repossess il in strong
force. IL returns to it under new auspi-
ces, and under new leader. It marches
to new campaign into the country south
of that district, with increased force, and
at season of the year when the elements
will prove its powerful ally. A citizen
of the district named, and the only civil
officer Of the United States Government
in the State of Alabama, l am naturally
interested in the policy to be pursued by
the Administration toward its citizens.
trust, sir, that the experiences of the
former occupation are not to be lost by
the retirement of Gen. Buell.; but that the
Administration will take care that the
General commanding shall avoid the mis-
takes made by those before in command.
This interest felt by me in the future poll
cy TO be pursued in the event of the re-
occupation of North Alabama has induced
me to take the liberty of presenting you,
in as brief manner as possible, my views
upon one or two points of Importance.
When virtue is prosecuted and vice is
rewarded, the prin ciples of Justice are
reversed, and the foundation of all wise
government is reversed 1t matters not
if virtue is prosecuted through the neg
| lect which does not take measures to
| protec ct il, and vice remains unpunishe d
through pity for the criminal, the re-
suit is the same. The criminal who is
not punished for his crime is encouraged
| in his vicious career The honest man
who is not protected and rewarded for
his virtues is encouraged to be vicious.
| The citizen who is not punished for his
| disloyalty is encouraged TO be a traitor.
| The loyal citizen who is not protected
and rewarded for his loyalty is urg ed to
be disloyal The tendency of the whole
| is to make treason respectable.
| When Gen. 0. M. Mitchell came into
power in North Alabama, care was taken
TO announce that the army of the United
States came there for the purpose of pro-
lection. AS far as it went, this was
right, but it should have been said who
was TO be protected, and it should have
told who was to be punished. Facts
which are not to be denied will show
that, during the occupancy of the dis
trict by the United States army, those
citizens who had been guilty of treason
were carefully protected, and, in many
instances of poverty, provided for
To this class of known rebels care
was taken TO show that the U. S. Gov
ernment was a human and forgiviDg Gov
ernment, and, as a consequence, it wa
made TO appear that it was not = jus
one. The guilty are ever the first TO ap
peal TO the law for mercy. Rebels wer,
the first 10 sue TO General Mitchell 70
protection. Those who were Union a
heart did not ask for that which wa
their due, and thus all the protecting
power was granted to the disloyal Thu
was instituted Military Governmen
lacking in the first great attribute of jus
tice. The result was as might haze bee
anticipated. Guards stood at the door
of traitors to protect them from In
; struggling and riOtous soldiers who fol
low every army. The petty thefts wer
committed in the unguarded houses @
Union men who had not sued for pro
lection and for guards When levie
were TO be made tor supplies, those i
charge of foraging parties found "safe
, guards" in the hands of aVowed rebels
, and, respecting them, seized the prop
erty of the Union men who had sough
} no Safeguards" Union men saw al
this daily. They saw that no effort wa
} made to detect crime and criminals
saw in fact that treason was not locke
, upon as a crime nor traitors as crimin
ais. Loyal men who had been forced I
leave their homes returned 10 them unde
the protection Of our flag TO find thos
traitorous citizens who had aided
prosecuting them also under it's protection
No disloyal citizen fled at the approac
of those whom they declared TO be thei
enemies and whom they declared the
regarded as vandals. In short, Unio
men said that il was safer TO
a traitor than loyal man, because th
D | United States Government was nOt jus
3 enough TO punish the traitor, and th
rebel authorities only prosecuted d
loyal. They saw that when tl
' United States authorities entered inl
their country no disloyal citizen wI
compelled to fly, but that when its AZ
9 thority no longer existed those citizen
o who had avowed their loyalty had TO q
from their homes for fear Of persecution
Ia this the Government was simply CT
couraging those who were loyal to