The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-09

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And first Of perjury, [4793, ] which /
defined by our statute to be, ANY per
son who wilfully and eorruplly swears
or ai1Fms falsely in any material matter
upon any oath or affirmation required o
a,.'iorise4 by llig, is guilty Of perjury
[Sec 4793
Then the oath of loyalty, before refer.
red to, was an oath required by law; 4
is lawful cath, and II violated, il /.
perjury.
Il is not enough formally to take this
cath, and nominsily aequiesee, and stoE
committing open and notorious sets O.
Treason, in order TO save our persons o.
property while inside the Federal lines
and surrounded by those who intend 3,
enforce the laws, as no doubt some hav,
done. But they are hound 70 bear trgl,
tsith, aHegiapcs and lovaiv. That ia th,
oath. That is what they pledged tiIen-
selves in the most solemn manner, in TIE
presence Of high Heaven to do.
Have they done itP Do you know ol
any one who has not? If so, it is ps,ja
~. Do you know Of any one who Ia.
not truly respected this Obligation? bul
have peijured themselves by not keeping
the faith strictly? knowingly disregard
ed their oath, and from the 'time Of ta-
king the same you discover no change
either in their manner or conversation
have never been heard, to utter a word ia
communication Of the Government or the
Union cause, Cr the Pr sidsnt or tho wal
measures; bus on the contrary som,
speak Of the oath and the Govern nent
in deTision-,hat the oath was forced
upon item, aud that they are still for ths
SJuth and the Southern OonfederIcy il
fact, all their acts and conversation q
TO show they are rebels still They Dc
not associate with true loyal mer, srssD
tohsn they ,oisb some faUOr from he Govern
nisHt-a ht.ls saR, for instance. You see
them group aud collect together, hold se-
cret disloyal conversation, sometim 8
contrive nswS TO and from the rebel ar
my, aud always fnd fault Of the admin
istration and the war measures, but nev
er utter a word against the rebels or their
cause. Even SOM, after taking this oath
have gone back into the rebel lines, and
are in their army. Some, If they do no,
speak out, are in heart still for the rebel
lion sll such have committed perjury
although we may not be able TO reach
them IN consequences Of their csution and
secrecy.
To put down this rebellion and restore
the government, and preserve the oath ia
ken inviOlate, we must act in good faith;
in 4 word do what we swear TO DO, bear
true faith, allegiance and igyGly aid the
Government, not strive TO hide our 10y
atty, or keep the fact that we have taken
the cath q secret As before remarked.
the oath means just what il says, and
there is no excuse for even remaining neu-
trail. That is not bearing true faith and
allegiance that is not supporting the
Government in good faith. There are
but two sides; We are on one or the other
we are loyal Union men or we are re-
bells. If We maintain our obligation in
good faith, we are not perjursd; this re-
belliOn cannot bocaTried on.
But for Union loyal men TO murmur and
ind fault Of the Government, denounee
the war policy, divide and split up about
measures or The way to put down the re-
belliOn, all only seems 80 aid the rebel
cluse
We can never have peace until we
unite and crush out the rebsllioD, and
that is what we have sworn ID do, in
sfact.
The punishment for perjury is confine-
ment In the penitentiary, at hard labor,
not less than three nor more than fifteen
years
Treason against the State is intimately
connected with the crime of perjury, as
just defined See Code, sec. 4742 B.
This statute should be enforced as rig
idly as the law against q man for an as
sauit upon his wife. No man is allowed
to assault aud beat his wife for any cause
whatever, (like the sale Of liquor Of San
day. She is a contraband article. Code,
sec. 1920
Neither is it lawful to commit Treason
against the State Tor any cause.
Treason against the State. (Sec. 4742-
8 Il committed by taking a commission
from or under the authorities Of an enemy
Of the State or of the United States.
Levying war against the State, or the
government thereof or knowingly and
willingly aiding or assisting any enemy
in open war against the State Of the
United States. This may be done in
various ways; by joining their armies,
by enlisting or persuading others to en-
list, by furnishing such enemies with
arms, amunitioRs, provisions or any other
articles for their aid and comfort.
Then it is known g. you, that there
was, and still is, = war levied - ainst the
State Of Tennessee and the Government
thereof By the enemies of the Uaitsd
States, and carried on openly against the
United Slater.
Then DO you know Of any person or
persons who joined such armies, Gin this
county, or any person engaged IN re-
cruiting or snlisling, or persuadiDg
others TO enlis', such IS by making pub
lie speeches for that psrpose, or ia any
other way By which persons were pro-
cured 10 enlist in such armies? Or was
such aid given the enemy, BY an armoiy
kept here, aTms, ammuni' ions, recruiting.
cODmissaFy or qaarteTmastETs Offices
kept herr, or was there persons recruited
and drilled in this county for the rebel
army?
Ali such acts are treason against tbs
State, and 90 declared by the statute, and
all such persons, their aiders and sbst-
tors are liable - be presented, yes, they
are liable 70 be presented by you, and
you are sworn to do 90 If you know Of
any one thus engoged.
Again, les before alluded TO- II there
was q body Of men assembled in our
capitol, as legislators for the SO o-stylsd
Southern COnfedsFsey, sworn 70 snppoFs
the Southern rebellion, providing ways
and means, men and money, arms, am
munition, provisions, etc, etc or in any
other way assisting 70 and encouraging
those engaged In open war ~ before de-
fnsd, il Is treason saainst the State, and
each member .hersof, their aiders snd
sbetters, are liable 10 be presented,
Jointly, - body, or individually.
Yet, Gentlenen, while ] have thus
charged the law against treason, as IL Is
my duty 70 do, in many instances yea
should not present, at least 10 would not
be wise or polite 70 do so--in other
words, not practicable. SuOh, f5r instances,
who wer5 deceived snd uawiiling, nighI
say almost forced 10 commit treas n.
The Gov rnment knowing those facts. a q
being a hamane Government, the people .
Government Notwithstanding their great