The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-25

The following remarks from q well
known democrat of Ohio, who san some.
thing Of the rebellion in this State, is
worthy of perusal
In a few Introductory remarks, Colo
mel Mathews returned his grateful ac-
acknowledgements to the Uuion people of
this, his native city, for the honor con
lerred upon him at the recent election.
No one, be said, could tell the depres.
sion he felt at the state Of affairs here in
last December, when he returned home
from the field. Instead of smiling faces
and extended hands to welcome him, he
met averted faces, the fro wning and cold
c~ountenances of those who had once
called themselves his warmest and most
intimate friends. he was told by one of
them that the uniform Of a Federal SOL
der did not become him. [Cries of
"Who was he 2" "Namo him ~ "Hang
him" "a co%pperhead"l
Colonel Matte VISA copperhcad. BUTT
was not merely the exception, 10 was tie
general rule, and among the influential
men of a party with which he had acted
for years-men of high standing and
character.
And what was their programme? They
didn't conceal it, they didn't try TO hide
iG; they told IL on the streets, aud they
had no hesitation about il. They con.
sidered IL q matter FOE pride and boast
ing, that they were the men who bad de.
vised so consummate a plan Of wisdom.
And what vas this programme? They
demanded an immediate cessation Of
hostilities, an armistice for 8 definite or
indefinite period then a Convention Of
the States, loyal and d%isloyal. and the
framing or proposing of amendments Of
Constitution, giving to the Sta es in re-
hlliOn such guarantees as they might
claim. Failing in this-and they coR-
coded that il was probable the States in
rebellion would not accept their terms of
~peace-their wish was 10 recognize the.
independence of the Southern COnfede-
racy. AS a reason for this they said IL
was impossible for the National Govern
eminent 10 maintain its integrity or sup
press the rebellion.
The SPEAKER said it was a mater Of
congraiulaton TO him that he had been
a soldier Of the republic, and that he was
n citizen of it. lie congratulated them,
and all loyal people, thai a great change
had come over the public mind, at least
so far as those he met in December last
were the representatives of public senti-
ment. He now found that the uniform
ola Federal soldier wss not dishonorable.
He found hat TO have been absent from
home for two years serving in camp aud
field the cause of his country, is not for
gotten. He found that honorable service
in the army was the stepping stone to
public respect aud public confidence.
His heart went out to all men, i~rrespec-
tive OF party names and associates, who
stood shoulder to shoulder with the ar
my defending US in front to defend that
army in the rear.
We are In a state of war. lie made so
simple an assertion because those who
heard it were only beginning to realiz.
the fact. He was not surprised at this
Were q stranger, .unacqusinted with tho
facts, to suddenly fad himself in Gin
c%innati, and hear the hum Of industry.
see the rush of a multitudinous public
through its streets and avenues, its stores
filled with every fabric of human skill
and industry, and see around him all tht
evidence of peace and prosperity, BE-
would be amazed if told that this people
were engaged in the most momentou.
war known TO history.
You have only to travel a few hundred
miles South TO see the evidences OF it,
in deserted houses, railroad bridges de-
stroyed and tracks torn up, fences and
farms laid waste--every where demolition
and desolatton, and starvation sud ruiz
, on every hand. That is war there, ant
il would be war here should this become
+ the scene of actual strife. We had on,
consOlation-a consolation that had beer
with him in the camp-that, in view Of
I this war, a. God knows, neither he mol
his hearers had any hand ia bringing /
on. They never plotted it; they never
contemplated it; they never imagined
it they never provoked il; they never
, invited il and much less did they strik,
, the first blow. On the contrary, a fac,
tion, which sought, year after year, and
election after election, TO control the Ma.
tiOnal Government Tor selfish aud perso,
nal objects, finding that an ~indignan
people had driven them out of power
and were wondering why they had no
done it before, applied The torch 10 ma,
terial already provided, and thus brough
on the c%oulici.
Col. Mathews showed by historical
: reference that it had been plotted lon,
ago, and was now wagod with as mucl
atrociiy by those who bad begun it, anC
with as little regard for the rules ciyill
ged war, as ii was ctmmenced withou
1, adAuuata Cauap and carrie m vftbou
justification. He cited an i~nstanc,
which occurred IN Tennessee but twi
weeks ago, where two soldiers were cap.
tured on picket, disarmed, tied 10 a tree
( and both shot-one xiii, d on the spot
and the other barbareu ly mutilsted
and they prisoners Of Warl Now, in ID,
face OF atrocities like that, in the face Of
deeds so feiocious that the devils in bel
4 would blush, we are called upon by elo-
, Quent gentlemen 10 mourn over the grieV
: snces OF DIR. Oids--a man who never fell
: the need Of bible till he found, ia pris
on, that he had . conscience. C0ulC
they wonder that IL il with feelings o
, emotions that the soldiers il tbs felC
/, Look to their homes 70 see how thei
n~eighbors feel and act, and TO know
whether they are in sy mpaihy with
them, or are aiding thUso who are threat
ening their lives?
Col. Mathews stated, with great clear.
ness, the nature OF our war, and th,
: purpose had in view BY the Confederat,
| Government in waging It, and argued
that for the loyal States 70 yield tn,
point Of conference.-the independence,
of the COnfederaCV-WaR h WELD every.