The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-27
Popular Sentiment in Middle Ten
nessee.

or growing weaker, or is IL stationary?
These questions are doubtless asked dali
ly, by the friends Of the Union In the loyal
States, and we will endeavor to answer
them, and give our opinion Of the present
state Of the public feeling in thissection Of
the State, and prospect Of the Union cause
so far. as our opportunities have enabled
us TO make up an opinion, and in doing
so, we will endeavor to be candid, allow
ing our words to be colored neither by
extravagant hopes On the one hand, nor
by dependency on the other. We
say then first Of ALL that very de-
cided subsiding Of the troubled waters
of rebellion has taken place in this
division Of the State, within the last two
months. # does not deserve the name
ofloyalty; it is far below that noble and
elevated sentiment, but 1t is something very
different from the fiery and determined
zeal which the rebellous manifested
during the dark days" oflast summer
and fall. To resume our figure, the waters
of the deluge are not yet clear but they
have ceased to rage and swell, as for
merly. The men who sympathized with
and.upheld the rebellion, have awakened
at last TO realization of the fact that
the civil war is involving them in ruin
which if prolonged few months, will
be remediless, so far as they are person
ally concerned, while a future Of un-
known horrors will await their Innocent
children. To use the words Of the arch
traitor DAVIS, the war has assumed a
magnitude more gigantic than they had
ever anticipated" and they are grow
ing sick at heart in contemplating the
prospect. This feeling we do not call
loyaly; it is not love for the Union at
least not get But it is an utterable wea-
riness of the conyulsive and carnage de-
ISOLATION which reigns around them. Their
zeal for that hooking phantom misnamed
"Southern Rights" has died away.
They feel no enthusiasm for the so-caIled
| Southern Confedrescy. They only know
that the rebellion has swept their homes
with famine, fire and sword, already,
and will certainly continue to do so for
years to come, unless Tennessee returns
to the Federal Union. We said these
men were not loyal, They have sons,
brothers, and other kindred ia the rebel
army. IL that army could sweep the
Federal force out of the State, and the
Conlederacy could re estBblish its power
over it, perhaps they would be well
pleased, but they will do little or moth
ing themselves to bring about result so
little TO be hoped for. One thing which
exerts disheartening influence over the
disloyaists in this State, is that they hare
no leader belonging TO this State. Gov
eraor HARRIS is regarded as incompetent,
and coward; BELL has fed beyond the
limits Of Tennes see; Pillow is in dis
grace; EWING is a cipher; HENRY and
FooTE are as loquacious as brace of
Cabling ganders, aud about as respecta-
Bile: Elk. Postmaster ANDERSON lies like a
terrapin on his back, while the remem-
brance of Lavergne burns his belly like a
live coal, and assists his wiggling won
dcrfully; FoRREsT is detested as thor
ough- bred brute, and DICK MoCANN, the
most respectable of the whole catalogue,
has done nothing except parole the SOL
diers in a few ambulances, rob three
or four stages OF their teams, and pick
the pockets of few jews of their gold
and greenbacks. It's not little remark
able that the rebel chiefs Of this State
have shown SO little brains aud capacity
for leadership. Except HARRTs's exploit
of stealing the $4,000 900 School Fund
and Dick MoCANN'S feats on the high
way, we recollect nothing of importance
which they have done. There is more
! over great WEAKNESS, sullenness and dis
affection in the Tennessee soldiers in the
rebel army. Very few Of them have any
personal interest in slave property, and
yet thousands Of them have been seized
as conscripts, while large slave. owners
are allowed to stay al home unmolested
The men who own no slaves, are dra-
gooned into service, to fight for slav-
cry, and Shareholders are exempted
by law. This has excited a feel
ing OF deep indignation among the COM
mon soldiers, and nothing but force
keeps them in the Confederate service.
| Pride will make the most of them fight
if they get into battle, but scores Of them
are deserving whenever they get an OPP
portunity. The main and grand requisite
now for ms 10 attain is the defeat
and rout of BHAaa's army. his
iOW certainly be done. The sword Of
the Lord and of ROsECRASs will accom-
plish IT, A tremendous responsibility
rests upon our army, but we feel assured
that both our men and officers will be
equal to il, A great battle is probably
| impending in front II is either fight or
flight with BRAGG. If he fights, he will
be whipped, If he files, himself and the
rebel cause are both damned. la either