The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-04

the while an easy political conscience.
He had never joined democracy until this
foul rebellion broke out. Then in an
evil hour he got his consent to join JEFF.
Davis, Yancey & Co. He frankly and
candidly acknowledged all his faults
said he had Gcted rebel, by word, by
letter, and upon the field of battle-but
most earnestly and heartily did he now
denounce the aecursed thing. Said that
be had left the army last June was one
year ago, and although candour compel
led him TO acknowledge thathe bad acted
the rebel, in heart he nsver sOas one. Said
that the conscript act let him out. Said
that bis course had caused him many
sore trials-that once cherished friends
had turned him the cold sboulder--de-
rided him behind bis back, and pro-
nounced him a tory to his native land.
This, he said he was prepared to expect,
and had taken his position with an eye
eye single to allits hazards. HesAid that
many of his cOmpanionsin-a arms told
him when he announced his determine
ton to return home that he was . dis
graced man--but that since that time
some of these same fellows had told him
that they were disgrsced in the same
way! Near 200 of his old regiment were
now in the Federal service, and more
would be there. He asked who could
blame him. They and be had fought to
tear down their country, and it was but
just and right that they should now do
the best they could towards its recon
struciion, since all was without any just
cause. He inst&nced his own condition;
said that before the war be was what but
few men can say-both prosperous and
contente9 4; was surrounded by all the
comforts of life that he desired
his darling wife and precious
babe shared with him his happiness.
What then could have induced him, he
said, to do as be had done Echo an
swered what But Davis and his poor
deluded followers would answer South
ern rights ~ Well, be said, they have
got few in his country and named .
few, such as fencing gone; large and
beautiful farms laid waste; forage wag-
ons at almost every corn-pen and fodder
stack; murderers, thieves, and robbers
terrors to both men and women, seces-
sionists as well as Unionistg--snd even,
be said, that they had coal black Cuffee
and SambO sometimes doing military
service In getting their rights he
said they had set every negro in the
land free. And upon the negro ques-
ton he almost was afraid to express his
sentiments, lest it might offend the good
taste Of some of his Southern brethren,
but he INDUCED The hope they would
pardon him for telling them that they
he'd brought all these calamities on them
selves; if, indeed, they were calamities
For, said he, after all, when this mighty
magazine has been blown up, if it does
iniure o few for . while, will we not have
got clear of its dangers in ell time to
come? Will not our children who are to
come after us, be more self-reliant, more
manly? Will not our country be more
prosperous He thought the future
would answer in the affirmative, es-
pecially if judged by the past. He in
stanced some of the Northern States,
where the "pecuiisr institution" had |
once existed, but long since abolished, to
bear him out; said we must look at
things as they are, and deal with them,
IS the genius of Andrew johnson would /
say, " practically" We must do the best
we can,
"For he who does the best circumstances viii allow
Does well, acts nobly-angsls can do no more"
lie said that he had been . Shareholder;
was for it whilst it was in the books;
Che meant the Constitution, but often
had his doubts IS TO whether its origin
was & part of divinity. He had several
likely negro fellows now as Chattanooga,
as also . girl, splendid cook, which he
missed much; that he was poorly able
TO lose them, but much more able to do
this, than 20 lose his protection under
he Stars and Stripes He was will
ing TO give up the balance he had
rather than surrender AimssTto slavery.
lie said that some secession sympathizers
argued that this was unconstitutional
He asked them if they
wanted the Constitution administered.
II they did they sosrc fools, for Il sOo,sH hang
hem and all their friends no,o IN the rebel
ranks, If caught, for the penalty Of treason as
leath. They say great deal upon the
subject of arming men of Africsn de-
lcent and be had TO confess that it did
lot suit his taste much 1T first. Bat,
upon reflection, be had concluded that as
negro was not worth much more than
/ white man now, that be had just as
loon see q negro killed as one of his own
ace. Southern logic said they were
,hattles; SO are horses. The one is used
o build breastWorks, drive teams loaded
With quArtermaster and commissary
torres, and to make meat and bread
which, rumOr says, are much needed in
he suffering Confedsracy; if the one be-
onging to q rebel is captured, no one
uestions the right to use him; why not
be other, since both are chAttles. This
dea, he said, be founded on Southern
rgument and gave it for what it was
rorth. He said be occasionally met
nth men who charged him with illiber-
lity-that he seemed to go upon the
des that the North had done no wrong.
70 them he would say, Was not the halls
+ Congress the place to have fought the
irst battle--then the courts? Mr.. Lin
oln did not intend to do wrong st first,