The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-11-29

known code called martial law. Upon
no charge preferred which they dared 70
present before the Court Of Inquiry, they
had him arrested in bis bed and hurried
to filtsy negro jail, where be was kept
in solitary confinement for eight weeks,
when, with all the vigilance and use and
research of their numerous detectives
they could find nothing upon which to
bring a charge, and now comes second
arrest without a charge, whilst the army
itself has been turned loose upon him, TO
destroy bis property by design and by
i the orders of officers in high command,
and but for squad from the headquarters
of General Lee, none can tell 10 what con-
dition be would have been reduced"
Mr. Bolts saye, "Havs l, then, Mr.. Edi-
tor, had much reason for attachment or
devotion TO a Government by which
have been thus treated.
You complain Of the treatment Mr..
Vallandigham has received at the hands
of his Government. lie made many Vio-
lent speeches, in which he took active
and strong grounds against his Govern
ment; for this be was sent amongst his
friends, as they supposed. Bat l have
done nothing, taken no part, but main
tanned firmly and consistently, as /
shall continue 20 do, my own private
opinions, and the conviction of my best
judgment which has not been controlled
by any considerations of g. lfshness, am
bitiOn or fear.
want no better vindication for hav
ing withheld my approval of this war
than is 10 be found in the fact that there
is not one of those who aided in bring
ing it on that would do it IT, with their
present experience, it had 90 be gone
over again, or if they could have foreseen
what has followed, all of which I did
see and foretell.
Mr.. Bolts denies that General Meade
took dinner at his table, yet makes
known that he invited MIN 70 do so, and
regretted that his engagements proven
ted his acceptance, and should be re-
turn 10 the vicinity the Offense would
be repeated. The truth is he has nter-
taibed freely and Hospitality the fiic RS
and gentlemen of both armies whose
acquaintance he has erj)yed, and shall
continue TO do so SO long as he is master |
of his own lands.
Hitherto | have been silent says Mr.. |
Bolts, as 10 The wrongs, injuries and /
indignIties that have been heaped upon |
me, but am not q spaniel, TO lie down
and crouch at the bidding of any mon
ster, nor 10 lick the hand that smites me
and if / am thus to be selected as
particular object of persecution, and /
can fad no protection from the law, then /
| viii protect myself. This cannot do
againt the Government or against an
army, but can and will do it when the
law, military and civil both fail me,
against any one man that this Confede-
racY can boast.
/, cannot be induced to swerve one
hairs breadth from the line of conduct
which my own judgement and conscience
may dictate, which is to takeno lot, part
or share in the responsibility that rests
upon those who have brought this whirl-
pool of desolaiion and ruin upon my I'M
fortunate country, but it is to adhere
firmly and consistently to the opinions
and principles that l have maintained
for thirty years, and If to prefer living
as l did before the war, TO living as |
have done since the war makes ne
traitor, then traitors life let me live, or
o traitors death let me die.