The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-08
Commissioner Campbell.

Il was stated in some Of the city pa
pers on yesterday that Dir E. r Camp
bell, one Of the United States Commits
sioners al this place, had been removed
By order Of the Secretary Of War. The
cause Of removal was stated 10 be that
Mr. Campbell bad improperly admins
tered the oath of amnesty.
The announcement had, perhaps,
hardly been read by our citizens before
Judge Trigg, from the Bench Of the
Federal Court, directed Mr Campbell
70 resume his functions az Commission
er, and to pay no regard to the orders
of the War Secretary Ii is refreshing
TO find the civil courts firmly maintain
ing the law and their own dignity Pres.
The Press in endeavoring to magnify
molehin into mountain. Dir. Camp
bell was not removed as United States
Commissioner, by the Secretary Of War,
as alledged. The facts of the case are
these: In addition to the Office Of Com
missioner, under the law creating that
Office, he held, by military appointment
of Gov. johnson, the position Of special
agent to administer the amnesty oath
under the Presidents proclamation; ;
and when it become known that he had
administered the oath to notorious
guerrilla pending his trial, Secretary
Stanton telegraphed to this city, TO as
certain If bo was a military agent, ap-
pointed 10y Gov Johnson; and on
learning that he was, dismissed him
from that position which he had the
power to do at any time but this did,
not affect him as Commissioner of the
United States Court
That he was removed through n mis-
understanding of the facts, on the part
of the Secretary of War, we have not
the slightest doubt We are convers-
ant with the circumstances connected
with the administering of the oath in
question, and know that Mr. Camp |
bells act was not the result of desire !
to shield a guilty man; for Mr. Camp |
bell IS not that kind of person. No
one who knows him but is aware that
he stands as high in point of patriotism
and integrity, as any citizen Of Nash
Vile, and would scorn to do an act in
aid Of the rebellion
The guerrilla in question was being
tried before the Military Commission, in
session here, on several charges, and the
evidence against him was positive, and
a conviction was certain His attorney
was Judge Jno. S. Brien, who had &C
companied him.. with guard, to the
ofHoe OF Mr. Campbell, who administered |
the oath but without knowledge, on
thespart ofthe latter, but ifthat charges
were pending against the applicant;
much less that he was on trial for his
offences. Mr.. c. supposed that the in
diyidual was some citizen who had been
arrested and the fact that he was
accompanied by Judge Brien, was
regarded as a sufficient guarantee that
the transaction was legitimate.
Judge Brien states that the part he
played was in accordance with an
agreement with the military commits
sion but this assertion the president
of that board denies, This however, is
a question Of veracity with which we
have nothing to do; nor could it affect
l.. - 80 NJ Nov,,bolI
Such ia the whole affair; and the
Efforts Of our neighbor to create the
impression that a serious collision be,
tween the civil and military authorities
had taken place, VIII fall 20 the
grounds