The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-06
A Growing Evi,.
There is much truth in the following
structures:
Iron THE NAsHv1ftr UN1ov.l

what is manifesily q sro,Ving sviL l al
Iude to the constantly increasing influx
OF fugitive soldiers, from the Southern
army to this country. Never did any
deliberative body of men err more eyre
giously, in matter Of policy, than did
the Union Convention which assembled
at the Capitol, on the 18th Of May last,
in inviting back TO the State the class of
persons alluded TO. 1t was mistaken
leniency, only calculated TO defeat the
end had in view. II was thought, then,
that it would have tendency to make
them loyal. Has it had any such efTectP
In very large majority of cases it has
not.
Instead Of returning, with their feel
ings eonciliated, they are the same obdu-
rate, malignant rebels that they were
when they entered the Southern army.
AT the time the Convention sat, il was
thought that there would be great po-
tency in administering the oath 10 re-
turned rebels. But, alas how ignorant
were our rulers of both the nature and
extent Of the disease that they were
trying to grapple with--and consequently
of the remedies necessary to apply to it.
Did such policy have any tendency to
cure them ? venture the assertion, that
in nine CAGES out of ten it did not.
1t is true that some who have taken
the oath have become loyal and they
would have become SO if they had not
taken it at all. Those who become loyal
do not need itand those who need il are
not benefited by il, so far as any moral
change in them is concerned; it only
adds perjury to treason in the general
ity Of cases The disease has its seat in
the moral affections, and unless it can
be removed, no improvement can be eff
fected. And a radical cure of confirm
ed rebel is impossible.
For what purpose have these refugees
returned to this country? Their con-
duct must give the answer.
They are exceedingly bitter in their
feelings and conversation are quite
averse TO the company of Union men, and
are extremely reluctant to giving them
selves up to the Federal authorities. In
deed they only go before the authorities
by actual arrest, or from fear of certain
arrest
They generally elude arrests as long
as they can. Whenever the Federal cav
airy goes about where they are, they are
generally informed of it in time to dodge
out, like mice into their holes when the
cat is about, and then when the cavalry
leaves to dodge back again. The remedy
in all such cases is to send force and
scour all the surrounding country, and
either take them or run them out of the
country entirely, and should they fail in
doing one or the other, let there be placed
guards in all the houses that the rebel
soldiers have usually occupied, whether
their own or somebody else.
What, then, | repeat, have these rebel
refugees returned for? The answer is
obvious: it is to be ready whenever OPP
portunity offers to enlist in marauding
bands, to murder Union men or drag
them into the rebel army; to steal horses;
to robgenerally and TO oyerrun the coun-
try We are not left TO vague conjecture
or circumstantial evidence in the matter.
Some are already known to have engaged
in such expeditions. How much longer,
then, will our authorities continue the
farce of administering the oath TO such
characters ? 1t makes no real change in
them for the better, but places them in
condition efIectually to do harm. II
gives them immunity from arrest, and
causes tho Government to cease watching
them.
1t also makes them more defiant and
overbearing towards Union men. What,
then, should be done with them ? Let
us learn lesson from our enemies. They
are enforcing the CONSUMPTION law in
every section whore they have military
possession. Union men are torn from
their homes and sent into the rebel army.
And why should rebel soldiers be pro-
tccted at home, within the Federal lines
to hiss at loyal men? Why is such a
difference made between the two classes
The penitentiary expedient is very poor
onc-not much better than the oath TAX
ing one. 1t is sheer mockery to place
rebels in that institution and there LET
them remain in comfortable quarters to
be feasted and lionized by sympathizing |
rebels outside Of the institution They |
glory in such Imprisonment. II invests
them with a kind Of martyrdom The |
State Prison has no terrors for them I'M
less they were placed at hard labor in
it, It is not a suitable place in any re-
spect for such purpose. 1t is too in
adequate in capacity. Indeed, no build
ing or Enclosure could be made sufficient
to hold one half that ought to 90 iuto it,
What then, should be done with them
The answer is obvious Garry them
within the Southern military lines, and
compel them to stay there npon the PEN
atty of being treated as spies if they re-