The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-11-20

Conversation Between Gov. Johnson,
Of Tennessee, aud n Rebel Pris
oner.
Among tho prisoners recently taken near
Nashville Was Capt. j. Il. Harris. OF Nor
CANS light artillery. A correspondent OF
the N. Y. Times says:
As the prisoner was brought into tho Pro
vost Marshai's sffice. at the Capitol. the Gov
ernor CHANGED to be in the room. and some
conversation took place between him and
the prisoner. Harris Is the son Of George
sarls, : former prominent politician t es.r,
who once edited paper Ia Nashville. anu
who has been. for some years. IN tho United
States service a. Purser ia tho Navy, and Is
now acting In that capacity on board tho
frigate Sabine. j. +. Harris. his son, IL a
fine looking young man, some sir feet tall,
with q complexion bronxed by exposure. clad
In the favorite dirt-color adopted by the
rebels, with any quantity OF filagres gilt
stripes on his sleeves. The follow ing dia-
logue took place between them:
o. Iahnsnn--Wall Mr. H.r,ia I'm ssrrv
to:ssee you in this company. knew your
father many years. aud always knew him TO
be sincere and true Union man.
Harris-Im just whore l want 70 oe. Sir
Gov.-Let me, Mr.. Harris, not for the sake
Of argument. but 10 friendly manner, ask
you what right you have ever lost under the
Constitution
Harris-Wcli, | will mention the right TO
recover slave property from the tree States
Gov. Can you mention an instance whore
property Of that description Was not recover
cd when identifedf You know, Sir, NO can
not always recover what We have lost. be
the property horses. cattle or negroes. uoiess
we fret discover their whereabouts.
Harris-We are not fighting so much for
what wc haze lost rs fer what NO might haue
lost usder the present Administration.
An audible smile was here INDUCED in by
the by-standcrs,. In which the Governor
joined.
Gov.-we won't speak Of things which
might have occurred Yon can sec az we'll
as ] what has happened, from the attempt
made by designing men TO overthrow the
best and wisest Government the sun ever
shone upon. and tell you. Sir. that the laws
DO executed aud this unhoIy rebellion put
down.
Hauis-This war was forced upon us.
GovEkson. Forced upon usl" We have
q Constitution which says that the Govern
ment has Tower To put down issurrectiou
and suppress rebellion. Nov. Who com
mcnced this rebellonl Did not the South
frat fire upon Fort sumter. seize our forts,
arsenals. and property. belonging 20 the
Government. on every portion Of Southern
territory tell you. sir, that this ID a war
for slave sristocracy. and was brought
about by few designing. disappointed poll
ticisns. 10 obtain power aud place. More
over, they are the men for whom you and
these prisoners are fghtiDg--for whom
thousands Of deluded mon now sleep 10 un-
known graves. and languish Ia prisons. -
And Tor whaif Why, that this aristocracy
you are seeking to elevate may remain al
home secure from intsrruption-so long az
their wealth can procure them twenty mig
| gers-and you. who never owned q negro
and never expect To. fight and perish for suci
= cause as that. Gentlemen. assure you
at whatever cost. the Government will pul
down this rebellion. and that this country
will be one country and one Gov eminent
now. and forever more.
Harris evidently wilted under the admon-
itions Of the Governor. and he answered
him not again
During the Governors remarks, the mosl
profound stiffness prevailed. and hls word.
seemed to deeply impress the multitads
Who. ia anticipation Of seeing the "sseesA, =
had thronged the room.