The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-22

tAo toHns ana taFEn houses ana improve
ments; in fact, leave the whole country
barren waste, and then, 60 use his
classic language "if the rebels want the
damned country, zst them take itP' After
al, then, is our country TO be given
up the rebals? Certainly such can
not be the intention of the Government.
But for . Major General in the
army to use such language; and,
not only that, but to instruct his
soldiers on the march to pillage and
rsnsack every house along the road, it is
high time we began to inquire, what is
to become Of us. The worst, however, 10
yet to be told. This same General used
language that must and shall be remem-
bered by every loyal East Tennessean as
long as life lasts. They can forgive him
for laying waste their houses, and leav-
ing their women and children in mid
winter at starVstiOn's door. But after
thousands Of her loyal men have had 10
leave their houses and all they held ss-
cred, and swim rivers, and toll hundreds
of miles through rugged mountains to
join our army, to engage in what might
ct one time have been regarded as
doubtful issue; after near two years Of alb
sence, and many much longer than that,
to return to their houses and find them
laid waste By our own army, and then
be denounced publicly by = MajOr-Gen-
eral in Che army as CowARDs, and their
families pronounced disloyal is more
than every loyal East Tennesaean can
bear without complaint. Speaking for
the East Tennessee soldiers in our army,
take pleasure in prOnOuneing the state
ment as to our dislOyalIy or eOwardice,
base SANDER, and challenge test Of the
matter in any way desired by those
maintaining the opposite opinion. But
there is = point, to which would call
the attention Of both the authorities,
military and civil, as well as the truly
loyal people Of the nation. That is, the
threat ito burn the towns, lay waste the
farms, and make the country uninhabit-
able, and then if the Rebels want if, lei
them take tie damned country"
We have been fighting to restore East
Tennessee to the Federal Union, and
now after we have buried hundreds of
our companions in Kentucky and Mid
die Tennessee, have suffered all the ca
lamities and misfortnes incident to
camp life and the Vicissitudes Of war,
for two, snd many Of US for near three
years, now to be told that our damned
country" is to be given up to the rebels, is
enough to arouse an enquiry as to what
is to become Of US. Whatever may be
the opinion Of strangers as 70 the merits
or dement's Of our country, yet TO IA, it
is the one dearest spot Of earth--it is our
home. 1t is to restore this, our home. to
the Federal Union, the Government Of
our choice, that we have engaged in tie
cause Of the Union; and he who denies
US the privilege of living in the Union,
or who would agree to our abandonment
to the secessionists, is himself a ssces-
sioDist, and 3 traitor TO the cause
of the Union, and il, in suthori-
ty, should be dismissed the service.
There is but little difference in my !
judgment between the red-mOuthed, fire.
eating secessionists Of the South, who !
advocate secession for protection to the
nefariOus slavery traffic, and the equally |
disgusting and red. mouthed abolitionist, |
who either advocates or agrees to "let
the South Slide" in order to get rid of
slavery. Each doctrine leads to the same
end-disunion and The advocates Of
disunion or secession were pronounced |
by General Jackson to be traitors to the
country, and the law Of the land pro-
nouncss against such the penalty Of
death.
We East Tennesseans sssimilale the
unity Of the States to the lions den
ell tracks go inward, but none out
ward all States can come into our
Union, but none can go out This is the
doctrine held by loyal East Tennessee
ans, and we a6judge no man truly loyal
who believes or advocates the doctrine
that any power under the sun can re-
lieve the people Of q State Of their fealty
to the Union. Suppose, however, after
all our troubles and difficulties, after
being robbed by the rebels, our women
and children insulted and treated IS me-
NAL slaves, BY the lOrdly Georgia and
Alabama slaye-dealer, and the product
Of their summer work snatched from
them at harvest time, and then our army
comes along and takes not only what
was bid away for the winters support,
but also the household furniture in many
cases, snd then when the country is
laid waste they and their section Of
country Is to be abandoned 10 the South
ern COnfederacy, in what light viii we
be held up 10 the world in the history Of
this new Government Do you not al
remember the story Of the traitor Ar
mold? II this accuTsed Southern treason
is to be allowed TO establish itself and
write its history, i. viii set rs down in
the same light. He then who advocates
the sbandonment Of this or any other
part Of the United States to The Rebels
advocates secession, and is q eO-worker
70 that extent with Rebels and traitors,
and should be treated accordingly.
Then, East Tennesseans, let rs stand
By cur cOlors Independent Of the jsers OF
Southern or Northern sscessionisis, and
still show 10 the world an example
Of heroic devotion to the cause Of the Z
Union thai should challenge the ad-
mirasion Of our Southern enemies,
and heap shame sad confusion upon 1