The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-02-17
From the Knoxville Register
AN UNPURCHAsABLE PATRIOT.

In recent issue, we called for the name of the
honest patriot who captured the renegade Tenne
sseean, spy and Federal recruiting officer Captain
Harris, and who refused tempting bribe to
connive at his escape. In response to our inquiry,
we have received communication from the party
himself. Mr. James p. Clark, of Boon's Greek,
near Jonesboro', giving circumstantal account
of the capture. Mr. Clark's statement does not
differ materially from the facts we have already
given. He carried his prisoner to Greenville, and
there delivered him to the commandant of the
Post "On the road" says Mr Clark, "he made
me various offers to give him chance to get
away. | replied to him that there was not money
enough in the Southern Confederacy to bribe me
to let bridge-burner go!' All honor to Mr.
Clark; his sterling fidelity to his Government will
be admired ty every patriotic Southern man.
From the Greenvie Banner we learn that there
is also another whose honor stood the test of the
tempter, Harris seductive offers. Phillip Warlick,
private in Captain Henson's Company, 63rd
North Carolina Regiment, was the guard detailed
to deliver the prisoner to the authorities at Knox
vile. We quote the Banner:
"Captain Harris offered bribe of ten thousand
dollars to Mr. Warlick to let him make his escape,
to which the guard replied, "Sir, / am a poor
man, and have got wife and six children to
support, but you have not money enough to hire
me to let you escape. Your Government has not
money enough to hire me to disgrace myself and
family in any such manner. Sir, said Warlick, 81
have set out to serve my country honerably, and
repeat, your government has not money enough
to brbe me to so dshonorable act"
sMr Warlick is a poor but very intelligent
and clever gentleman, and bribe of ten thousand
dollars was no temptation to him. The name of
such true soldiers and patriots Mr. Warlick,
will adorn the historical pages of the present
barbarous and inhuman war upon the South"
''The offer of Captain Harris, was to pay one
thousand dollars in hand, and to secure to Mr.
Warlick the payment of nine thousand dollars
more, and the plan suggested TOR bis escape was
to let him start to run, and for the guard to fire
his gun as though he was trying to shoot him." =
We are happy to believe with our contemporary
that Mr. Warlick in this, is true type Of our
Southern soldiery We think, also, that such
instances of heroic sef-deDial and answering
devotion to duty and loyalty are as deserving of
public record as deeds of vaor on the battlefield.
We have the highest authority for saying that he
who governs himself--restrains his desires and
passions, aud ressts temptation-is mghtier than
he who ruleth kingdom. Let the names of
Clark and Warlick, then, be handed down to
honorable fame in the history Of the heroes of this
revolution.
Before dismissing this subject, VIC would advert
to a single passage in James p Clark's statement.
When Harris was questioning bim, IN order to
ascertain whether he was Union man not, he
several times made peculiar sign by raising his
hand Men suspected of being traitors and spies,
have frequently been noticed in making this sign
to Union men throughout the country Have we,
then, tory organization in our midst with secret
grips, signs and pass-w words, by which the members
recognize each other ? This is worthy some
viglant investigation on the part Of our military
authorities.
A fund is being raised in Knoxville, for
a testimonial TO Warlick, in appreciation of bis
fidelity and patriotism, in refusing bribe.