Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-07
BApSrm's HOTEL, st. Louis, Feb. 10.

~ fDJtOt ~. hfQJtbt, <lHOH Jtt'
DR. SoLoB Yours Of the 9th of Feb
ruary was handed me this evening upon
my arrival here. had heard with deep
regret that you were prisoner, taken in
arms against the best Government on
earth.
regret to say, after reading your note
| cannot see any signs Of repentance on
your part The crime that you have
committed is the highest known to the
law. The coldest blooded assassination
the law regards as of less turpitude than
treason, and Justly so, too. In the one
case, only q single victim suffers, in the
other whole communities, States, and
Nation is filled with assassinations, and
all the crimes of lesser grade.
Society is destroyed law disregarded,
the torch Of the incendiary, the knife of
the assassin, with every other crime,
reigns supreme throughout the land
Had you said in your note that you had
been duped, deceived, betrayed into this
rebellion, and that you repented, heartily
repented, of the course you had taken,
and that now you were ready TO peril
/ life, fortune, and your sacred honor in
defense of the Government your grand
fathers tOiled through eight long and
bloody years Of privation and suffering
to establish, then / would have labored
for your release, and doubt not could
have accomplished it. This you have
not done, and it is now too late; you
can never have my aid. This to you,
may seem harsh, cruel-be it so. If you
were my son, instead of my nephew,
would never suffer you to darken my
door until you could do so as patriot
and as a loyal citizen Of your Govern
ment.
Have you ever thought Of the conse-
quences Of your course upon me? The
party with which you are associated are
my bitter enemies, and seek my life.
have already had TO fly from my home,
and my house surrOunned by an armed
band of cut-throats the night | left
What was my crime? Loyalty to my
Government patriotism, your grand
fathers would in their day have called it,
For this, you and the party to which you
have joined your fortunes, think men
ought to suffer death. What is the his
tory Of the leaders in this rebellion II
is written in one word Infamy. They
first began by committing peuiury-base
black-hearted perjury-in the sight OF
God and man. They have now added
10 their blackened souls (f, indeed, they
can be blackened) the crime Of murder
Think Of the thirty thousand widows
the cries of the orphan for bread, the HR'
ayailing regrets OF more than one hun
dred thousand friends and relatives, and
then tell me if you are guiltless. Have
you not contributed, so far as your infu.
ence goes, TO bring this wall Of woe, that
now goes up from this whole country
sSnppose you could succeed, and yOul
independence be established, who do you
suppose would be the leaders and promi-
nent men Of your Government? ThOst
who now are at the head Of this rebel
lion-men who for years were plotting
treason against the very Government tina
they were sworn TO support with perjury
upon their souls.{ know your surround
ings. This, 10 some extent, owing t.
your age, may excuse or palliate YOU
crime.
You have committed crime that for
feits your life; the leniency Of your cap
tors or those in power, may let you g
free This, however, does not change th,
turpitude Of your crime. You will b.
spared, if spared at all, because the gov
erument is disposed 10 be merciful an'
forgiving have written, ! fear you vii
think, harshly and unfeelingly 60 you.
doubt not 10 will appear so. ! was earl
taught by an old revolutionary father, 4
love my country. From him | leaTne
the first lessons of patriotism; from hin
l learned to detest an Arnold and Hnl
lie was your grandfather. Would tha
you had inherited more Of his teaching
you would not now be where you are
You might be confined i'll prison in Dix
is, but never by federal authority. Wha
can YOU hope 10 accomplish Your part