The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-30
Upton County, Good Example.

The answering loyalty of the peO-
pie of Upton county has been, time
and again, the subject of approving
comment in the columns of the Bulle-
tin They deserve credit for having
been the first TO unite together for their
own defense against marauding combi-
nations Small bodies of rebels have
often made incursions into various por-
tons of that county, to steal horses,
conscript citizens, and such other de
predations as they usually commitupon
unoilending citizens. But rs often as
they ventured into that county, Just as
certainly have they been doomed TO
disappointment The people, having
| been prompt to see that their true hope
of security was by concert and co-ope-
ration, early organized companies Of
home guards for their own defense, and
! Immediately, on the appearance of the
enemy at any point, the signal is given,
and every man rallies to the point Of
danger Several engagements have re
suited, but in every case the home
guards of Upton have triumphed over
every foe that has met them The re
suit is, that while the people OF the
surrounding counties have been de
stroyed by rebels, the people Of Upton
have escaped comparatively unscathed
the ravages of war.
Lately, however, they have gone a
step farther They found that they
were annoyed by marauders claiming
not TO belong to any army, but simply
/ Independent highwaymen. Some Of
these they have captured, tried and
hung. Finding that they were abund-
antly able to deal eifectually with all
who molested them, they made appli-
cation to the Commanding General to
give them permission to enforce law
and order in their own county against
all armies. After mature deliberation,
this privilege has been accorded them,
as viii be found by perusing Special
Order No 90, from Gen. Hurlbuts head
quarters, which will be found elsewhere
in our columns 1t will there be seen
that the people of Upton, by a large
majority. have pledged themselves III
writing to preserve law and order against
all except the armies of the United
States and rebels, and that in conse-
quence they have been guaranteed
against further loss and oppression, as
is manifest by the order, which provi-
des that no property of any kind shall
be taken by military seizure within
said county" This prompt and decis-
i've movement of the people of Upton
has thus eventuated in the most de
cided advantages to that county.
We commend the example of the
Of 10 ~, 81 81 al
by county. In Memphis we have a no
ble militia organization to defend the
city against any attack which the enc
my can make but in order that the
people Of the county may procure like
exemption from depredations, it will
be necessary for them to follow the ex-
ample which has been set in Upton,
by organizing military companies for
their own defence against the rebels
Gen Hurlbut's order is full of encour-
agement in this direction, for it ex-
presSly orders that the same privileges
will be extended to other counties
which shall in good faith adopt and car
ry out the same course" We cordial
ly commend the course of the Upton
people, and hope our Shelby county
people viii take immediate steps to fol-
low their example. Indeed, We should
be pleased to see the example gener-
ally followed throughout our entire
State Order and law will never have
permanent abode in Tennessee until
the'people in the several counties be-
come duly impressed with the impor-
lance of maintaining ii, and shall or
ganize themselves for that purpose.
There ought to be some sort of military
organization to protect, in case Of emer-
gency, the civil authorities in every
county, and this can never be obtained
until the people are tired of rebel guer-
rilla depredations, and resolve to put
an end to them. Until they do act,
they must continue TO experience all
the inconvenience and loss resulting
from their present defenceless and in
secure condition.-MeRphjs Bulletin.