The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-31

previous letter I stated that the Rebels
are making preparations to remove their
capital from Richmond to Columbia, s.
c., and that they are constructing rail-
road whereby the latter place and Mill
edgeville, the capital of Georgia, will be
by rail only about one hundred and fifty
miles apart.
By this arrangement communication
for travellers and freight between South
ern Georgia and Alabama and Columbia
and points further north will be short
ended in that neighborhood of two hun
dred miles, the present rail route being
a very cireuifous one. A branch road is
also being constructed between Mont
gOmery and Selma. Alabama, 3 distance
Of about sixty miles, so that nOtwith-
standing General Grant may break up
the roads in Northern Georgia, convenient
communication can be kept up between
the new capital and Central and Western
Alabama and Eastern Mississippi.
The Rebel President, in his late annual
Message, boasts Of the unanimity of the
Southern people, declaring that they are
united as people never were before.
What an unblushing falsehood. JEFF
Davis was always noted for his impu-
dence, bat in telling the Southern people
to their teeth that they are united, and
all traitors to their country, he was guilty
Of greater effrontery than be was even
supposed capable Of know, and every
man who hiss been much in the South
since this Rebellion knows that Mr..
Davis utters an untruth. he might have
expected the assertion to find credit in
in the North and in Europe, but he GER
.tainly could not have expected it to be
believed at the South, when its falsity is
so well known.
An event took place in Richmond on
the let of July last from which the sen
timents Of some of the Southern people
may beinferred. For several days pre-
vious General Dix had been threatening
the city by the way Of the Peninsula,
and as General Lee had his entire army
with him in Maryland and Pennsylvania,
leaving jeff. Davis and his Capital entirs-
ly unprotected, the greatest excitement,
and among the traitors the greatest con-
attenuation prevailed. Business was en-
tirely suspended, and the citizens were
ordered by the authorities to form them
selves into compaAies and regiments to
brighten the invaders of, and, if necessa-
~, resist, as far as possible, their adj
vance on the city. Children not over if
teen years Of age, and aged men in their
second childhood, invalids, cripples, law
yers, doctors and divines, were alike
forced into these organizations. A signal
was fixed upon. and they were ordered,
upon hearing it's0undeo, to rush fmme
diately to the Capitol Park, and get ready
for action.
In this Park, not far from the State
House, stands an elegant marble statue of
Henry Clay, in the majestic attitude he
was wont to assume in addressing the
United States Senate or any other public
assemblies.
At daYbreak. on the morning Of the
first of July, the Yankees were reported
st TunstslPs Station, only q few miles
below the city, and the signal was sound
ed. Not only the citizen militia, but
nearly the whole populace, rushed to the
rendezvous in the Park to learn what was
to be done. There stood Henry Clay,
with placard about yard square sus-
pended 20 his extended hand, with the
words, in red letters, 81 will never con-
sent to 3 dissolution of the Union, never,
neUer, NEVER
But this was not all, for on the South
side Of the canopy hung large and well
executed painting on canvas represent
ing the seal of the State of Virginia
The prominent features of this seal IS
many of your readers are aware, are 3
man lying fat upon his back, while an
other, with = ibsrty-cap on his head,
and q sword in one hand and 5 spear in
tho other, stands over him with one foot
upon his neck. Just beneath this pic
ture, as in the seal, in bold letters, was
the famous motto of the State, Sic seaper
tyrGrugis, which I may interpret for the
few who do not understand it-"SO be it
ever TO tyrants." No spectator failed to
discern in the fallen figure a portrait Of
the tyrant JEFF. Davis, and none could
fail to recognize in the gigantic form
and unhandsome face standing over him
Abraham Lincoln, President Of the United
States.
duced by this display have not sufi-
cient power of language to describe. A
few cursed and denounced the authors
Of the traitorous deed; some put on
gloomy and Woeful expressions Of c0un-
tenace; more, afraid to utter what they
felt, vainly endeavored TO suppress joy
Gus smile, and with their elbows hunch-
ed friends with evident satisfaction; al
appeared to regard the exhibition as an
augury of the fast dissolution of the
Confederacy; but none seemed inclined
to pull it down, and there it hung for
nearly an hour in face Of the gaping
crowd.
At length Benjaman franklin Bsalb
Long franklin Beall, as ne is commonly
called, formerly editor Ofihe Spirit Of JEFF
ferson q weekly journal published in
Chsrlestown, Va, the place Of John
Browns mzrtYrdoD, but since the Rebel
lion associate editor Of the Richmond
Dispatch, and at the time Of this occur
renee Commissioner elect Of Public
Works for the State appeared upon the
scene and with the assistance Of two
others proceeded to remove the aseditious
and insulting spectacle" As he was
pulling the placard from Henry Clay, an
Irisbman in the crowd shouted out Sab, Z
be jabers. the spirit ofould Harry 3 about
yet.D @Yis" cried another, with q STEM
torian voice, sand so is the spirit Of JEFF
ferson." "Yis." shouted third, eand
there's BeDjsmin Franklin himself"
@Yis," screamed a woman Of uDquestion-
able nativity, as the large painting fell 10
the ground, sand down goes Abe Lincoln
an cid JEFF"
fiat this moment General Dix had I'D
vanced on the city, he would have met
with little or no opposition, and in the
vast assemblage on the Capitol grounds,
among the people Of whose unanimitv
JEFF. Davis had boosted, be would have
found five friends to one enemy.
The fighting men were 81 length mus
tered and led TO the front. Daring the
day, General Winder gave orders to the
papers to publish no reference to the dis
graceful scenes in the park. The notice
was scSrcely necessary, for next day on
" the Enquirer was issued, the compos-
itoFs and employers Of The other pspers
having all been forced 70 shoulder mus
kets for defense oftbe city.
Unfortunately, = day OF two later the
Uaion forces retired. Then commenced
efforts t. ferret out the authogs OF the
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