Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-31

within The grasp Of the Federal authorities,
aud every impulse Of justice demands that
they should be offered in exchange for those
whom they have in part deluded or forced
into the rebel army.
We hear by every channel of communioa-
ton that deser,ions are numerous every
day, and that 10 some instances whole regi.
ments are threatening to throw down their
arms and seek protection In the great Union
army. AS the prospects of the rebel cause
become more gloomy and desperate, disaf
fiction and desertion will become more gen.
eral and widespread. Already deserters
may be found 10 respectable numbers 10 eve
~ community in Middle Tennessee, and par
ents and friends are growing hourly more
anxious 10 get their sons and relatives out of
the rebel army. Let 1t be announced that
Governor JOHNSON intends to gather up all
the clamorous, misunderstanding secessionsts,
ship them to Gen. BEAUREGARD under flag
of truce, and bring back an equal number of
deluded or coerced Union men, auda thrill
OF ecstatic JOY will spread over every neigh
borhood and run through every Tennessee
regiment in the rebel army. Let fathers
and mothers, who have sons at Corinth and
would gladly welcome them home, lose no
time in making known their wish to Gov.
JOHNSON, for in so doing they may save their
sons from dishonorable graves.
Gen. BEAUREGARO cannot decline with
good grace to make the exchange. Perhaps
he may think it an unfair swap aud demand
some boot. His Tennessee troops have been
in camps sometime and have made some
advances towards discipline; the secession
recruits would be green, raw aud undrilled,
whom, it would be quite difficult to instruct
in the proper use of firearms when in front
OF the enemy. True, the former are some
what drilled and tried, but they have no
heart in the business, whilst the latter are
rampant champions of the rebel cause and
are obstinate in continuing the bloody strife
We suggest te-Gov. JOHNSON rather than
split the trade, not to be particular about
equality in numbers. Give Gen. BEAUREGARD
three for two or even two for one, and if
there is a surplus of a few thousands throw
them in, the Union cause will be promoted
thereby and the efficiency of the rebel army
not materially increased.
But Gov. JOHNSON may conclude that the
rebel General would not agree to the ex.
change whatever may be the temptation Of
fered in the way of boot. Can nothing be
| done in that event to relieve the country Of
the presence of these noxious enemies and to
secure the speedy return Of our Union friends
from the rebel army One thing may be
regarded as fixed beyond q doubt or cavil,
that the the secessionists who remains with
in the lines of the Federal Army must quit
talking and acting treason, or leave the
country. IL will not do to tolerate open aud
defiant enemies in the rear of our brave and
victorious troops, and still expect rapid de-
velopment of Union sentiment and perma-
nent restoration of loyal feeling. One such
enemy in the rear, can do mere mischief than
two in front with arms 10 their hands. They
must be made loyal and obedient citizens,
! or be sent to the rebel army, or placed I'M
der the control of the civil authorities. No
| impartial thinker will controvert the cor
rectness of this principle. We presume that
Gov. JOHNSON does not entertain for one
moment the idea Of arresting and placing in
confinement all such foes Of the Govern
ment Such indiscriminate arresting and
/ mol
icy of his administration. 1t would add ma
terialiy to the expense Of crushing out the
rebellion, and in many instances give Dig
nifty and Importance to the parties which
they would not merit. They must be re-
quired to take the oath Of allegiance and alb
stain scrupulously from their reasonable
practices, or be carried within the lines Of
the rebel army. 1t would be proper to al
low them a reasonable time to make the cleo
ton, and il they remain obstinate in their
hostility 10 the noble Old Union, the sooner
they are removed the better it will be for
the peace and prosperity of the country.
No doubt many of them would prefer being
prisoners Of state in some Northern fort or
90 some island, rather than be made CON
scripts in the rebel army This kind lndul-
gence ought not and cannot be justly exten.
ded to such bastard spirits.
The have inoited many brave, but de-
luded men to unsheathe the rusty sword OF
rebellion, aud expose their bodies to the leaden
balls Of DEATH they oppose all overtures Of
peace and reconciliation, aud would have
The rebel army Gght on to victory or the
grave; yet they have never placed them
selves within the range Of a sabre cut or
pistol shot, aud would not face, in the hour
| Of battle, the artillery and musketry OF the