The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-22

placeu Wy inc military autnofltles upon
visiting rebel prisoners Of war. They
appear TO think that they should be al
lowed 10 converse with, and carry delica-
cies TO these men who have been captur-
ed while waging war against their coun-
try, whenever they see proper to do so.
They arrogate it as a right, and not
privilege to visit the penitentiary, and
encourage its inmates to persist in a
wicked and murderous rebellion---a rebel
lion which is atrocious abominable, and
detestable in all its aspects. When these
prisoners were brought here the Cover
nor's Office, the Headquarters of the
commander of the Post, and the Office
of the Provost Marshal, were crowded
with secession ladies, eager TO administer
encourag cement TO the consolation and
rebel prisoners. Every one else had to
give way to these importunate visitors,
who took possession for while Of every
Office where pass could be granted, or
a recommendation given. Ifthis state of
affairs had been tolerated the civil and
military officers of this place would have
had TO conGne their attention exclusively
to granting permission TO these ladies to
visit rebel prisoners.
Now we are for treating the
sex with due gallantry and atten-
ton upon all occasions, but GER
tainly courtesy does not require that a
woman's unreasonable demands should
be granted and experience and obser-
walton have convinced us that there are
some very unreasonable women.
These female visitors, or nineteen
twentieihs of them, have heavy load of
responsibility resting upon their heads,
for the existence of the present civil war.
ThOughtless and giddy women, whose
ideas of war had been gathered from
books of poetry, and monthly magazines,
persuaded, coaxed, entreated, nay, even
compelled their sons, brothers and
friends, into the rebel army All the
nameless, and to young men, irresis tible
articles and Establishments of female
society were exercised in the fendish
work of beguiling the flower and hope of
the Southern States into the dark den of
treason, robbery and murder, Ladies Of
high position cast aside their proper gsrb
and became the raving priestesses of civil
war, brandishing in their hands the torch
of destruction, and thoughtlessly invoking
on the heads of their kindred and friends,
and of themselves. tempest Of mingled
fire and blood We could mention in
stances of their monstroUs and unna-
tural work which occurred in this very
city where noble young men were wooed
by the songs of these syrens, into the
rebellion, against their own convictions
ofright, and their avowed protestations-
but we forbear
On this most painful theme we have
only to say, may God have mercy npon
the dead, and pity upon their living
destroyers All, little did these
women then realize the horrors Of
actual warfare the unutterable suilerings
and agonies of a civil war, where brother
is arrayed against brother and where
father and son are mortal enemies. Woe
to the State oonvulsed by so dire a con-
fict! And a double woe to all its guilty |
The Government should |
Danish all such visitors from every place
where rebel prisoners are confined
These women who are so clamOrous to be |
permitted to preach treason to their un
happy victims, would do great deal
better by going into their solitary cham
bers and asking God to forgive their most
grievous sin. Instead of besieging the
rooms of the authorities for the priv
lege of feeding the dying lamp Of rebel
lion, let them hide their faces for very
shame at The work which they have
aided in dOing-at the thought of the
widows they have made broken hearted;
of the orphans they have turned loose
upon The streets of Nashville; of the
young men, who have either persisted
in battle, or live to drag out
burdensome existence in bodily disease
and suffering.