The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-09

NEAR MURFREEsBoRo, Dec. II. 1868.
Ms,srs. OrUiHe E0iag and DeBlpSy Weaver:
GENTLEMEN-I have read 3 copy Of
Mr. Lincoln's late message and the proc
lsmation accompanying it. This copy,
though apparently imperfect and mac
curate from errors telegraphic and typo
graphical, contains perhaps substantially
what was Intended TO be communicated
by the writer. The peculiarly and OBJ
security Of Mr.. Lincoln's style, in addi-
ton, may leave soms doubts ia regard to
the meaning Of portions of the docu-
ments; YET, in .the msin, apprehend his
intentions can be ascertsined by a care
fuj reading of them. These documents
raise the question, What aSo Tenesseaas
TO do under them? Shall The propositions
bs accepted or rejected? I say Tennes-
scans, because the time Is CONF, be-
lieve, when Tennessee must look to h,r-
self and her own duties and Interests
Il ia time that she should no longer be
ground Aelplessly 10 powder between
the upper and the neither mill-ston6: du-
ty neither to the North nor to the 9TH,
in my opinion, demands that she should
remain further il her present state of
anaTchy.
Mr. Lincoln's proposition addresses it.
self both to Individuals and to States
For myself I intend to accept the par
doa Of need it), aud to take the oath
proposed, though the amnesty is not, az
I think, sufficiently extensive. As a
matter OF policy, aad with view to
suppress Immediately the Southern re-
bslliOD, it should have embraced every
BODY. This, it may be said, would be
giving up TIE right TO punish those who
are regarded as lac leaders Of the Tebsl-
lion, and therefore especially guilty; yet,
Of what comparative Importance is this
to that of restoring peace to the country,
aud thus putting = speedy end to confu-
sion and bloodshed Ia such matters,
mere vengeance should sink into insig-
Dificsnce.s This course would nave
stored clear Of all those questions that
may perplex tie minds Of many men,
especially Of those who arc IL the south
err army. The acceptors of the par
don, whether Justly or uDjustly, may be
tAunled with saving themselves ~ maxi
ing seape-go4is Of their leaders-With
an abandonment Of their comTsdeE--Wiih
loss OF military honor-all Of which could
have been avoided By extending the Oifar
Of pardon to all Ia such case, however,
it might be asked, Is nobody 10 be be-
beaded, nobody 70 be hanged? WI re
would b. the warning 20 future ambi-
tious and interruptions demagoguss2 I
answer, that il The awful deluge Of ruia
and desOlatien that has come upon the
country from this civil war should be no
warning 10 the people not again 70 fol-
low such leadess (snd without followers
they would be pOweIlsss and innocuOus.)
would the bringing to the block Of few
alas how poor human nature dace.vcs itaell ia
regard % the motives " ~ irh d g. ctlateii How
faay Iusa ficae "a fse Nertl VIII % ihirtiilE ior
ID blood n Jfl. Dsv.s aa4 his ltrret, believe
tier1se yes 10 Be etirrel only - piriai'c ilpll
% - % s-irr-crog aEziusf lc recurrence Ql IT,
fsre reBilii.a Hay We nos hep, hsuertr CASA dr.
Lincala ca rise . ihc dglity ~ tlsi "a llr 81
wien ent0hisi re mighty Jgils and wllh stamp
"a b. surecEser q henthe thagac.er of o1ari lai
beeu sunk 10 ghat OF the iastlc AuFusflsl aa al
mist the isesi u nankind3