The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-02
Allegiance and Protection.

Sometimes public gratitude demand
unmistakably, that the press should
give it utterance In such cases, the
commentator Of public servants
whether civil or military, rises to the
dignity Of duty, and may DO pronounced
by those who scorn the ordinary task Of
great mems eulogy. When we say that
the commander Of this military district
has won such gratitude from our people
many thousands of bona tide citizens
viii heartily attest the truth Of ou
declaration. He is teaching successful
", how much protection may facilitate q
return to allegiance And if he be sus
tanned by the Government, as we trust
he is by Gen. Grant, ia his statesman
like course, it is safe to promise the true
friends Of national unity. an achieve
ment within a few months, Of more
towards the restoration Of practical 10y
atty, in this portion Of our State than
has been accomplished in well nigh two
years
We meet with farmers from neigh
boring counties, who have taken the
oath Of amnesty, and have aseertained
that il means indeed protection as well
as allegiance; and it is most gratifying
to witness the pride and pleasure with
which they speak of getting once again
safely aunder the old flag" Some of
them have been assailed ruthlessly by
disorderly detachment5 Of our army,
since they sought shelter under the am
nesty; and when they have resorted to
the district commander, they have found
prompt redress, without quibbling or
evasion on his part They have met
with practical assurance Of that right
which, above all Others, free-born Amer
leans esteem their MISUNDERSTANDING
of selfdefense. Some who have no
conception Of any obedience to law
save that which arises from abject
fear, have thought it utterly unsafe to
allow our citizens private arms, with
which 70 protect their houses, and
ti1sir persons on the the highway. Rob-
bers and assassins, feeling assured
that few persons have weapons Of de-
tense, have grown recklessly bold; and
they expect the croaking censors ofour
erring people TO insist that they remain
disarmed, thus prolonging the jubilee
Of there's. Under tho present manage
ment Of the district, we arc glad TO
learn, disappointment is being pre-
pared for them. And we believe they
will reslize'that disappointment Just as
promptly and as fatally, if they come
in the guise Of rebel gurrillas as in that
of private robbers, or in that of strag-
glers from our own army. In very
many cases, they will receive a buck
shot welcome all the quicker from their
Confederate pretensions
Sometimes, when our attention is
called by citizens to the real protection
afforded within the District of Nash
Vile, we feel a momentary apprehen-
sion, that it cannot last long that rant
ing observation-disclosures viii raise howl
against " the protection Of rebels and
manage by their usual means of mis-
representation and unblushing calum-
ny, to have the author of 50 much good
removed If his loyalty had not been
established beyond their reach, when
he stood up Internationally for the
Government even against the neutral
position of leaders in his own State, and
If his valor had not been demonstrated
on SO many bloody battle-felds, doubt
less the keynote would have been
struck for howl before this We think
il likely the unterrified, unconditional
observation-disclosures would hold hearty
jubilation, If he were even sent to
Congress,-just to get him out Of their
wsy-or 10 the front We trust father
Abraham and Cen. Grant viii not graft
fly such desires by any military change
In saying this, we express the wishes of
the real citizens Of this portion of Ten
nessee.
Some persons hereahouts and else
whore, themselves predisposed TO opti-
cal and nasal moisture, perhaps,) speak
and act as if man could not return in
good faith to his allegiance, unless he
manifests contrition Of heart by
watery food from the eyes and nose; but
g careful observation of human beings,
variously tempered, has satisfied US, that
many who seldom weep, by reason of
repentance or any other grief feel just
as keen G consciousness of error. and
turn as earnestly therefrom, as those
whose grief exudes in teara It is
therefore wise, in political dealing, un-
der proposition Of amnesty from the
Government, that mems declaration Of
a purpose TO renounce hostility, and re-
turn to practical allegiance, should be
taken, TIL denied by their conduct
Nor IS il incumbent en- US to inquire
into their motives, as though il were
essential they should embrace the am
nesty out Of pure love for the Govern
ment, and for those who administer il /
Perhaps il is in the mind of one who |
takes the oath, that by doing so, he will |
save his farm fences and his timber from /
wanton Extraordinarily he win get
protection against irregular pillage, and |
that officers viii be punished If they
take his property, under any circum-
stances without giving proper vouchers, |
with q fair estimate as to quantity /
And you think such motive selfish and /
unworthy. You say the man is a sordid /
wretch, incapable Of patriotic impulses
Well with due difference to your SEN
timentality, we differ. Allow us 10 saw /
frankly, that we would not give three
straws FOR all the patriotism in the world
which has not its origin in some such /
motive Why would we give so little