Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-09-07
Knoxville, Wednesday, Sept 2, 1854.
The Army and the Northern Traitors

Colonel A. d. Streight, of the Fifty-irst Indiana
Volunteers, has addressed letter from Chattanooga
TO Joseph +. Mcdonald, copperhead candidate for
Governor of Indiana, in relation TO his position on
political subjects He cites conversation of Mr.
Mcdonald, in which that gentleman maintained
that State had constitutional right to sccedc from
me Unloni ulat tine scnvln government lad no
right to coercc State; and that war waged by
the general government against the csovcrcign States
of the South would be unconstitutional and without
authority. Since that time Vallandishsm had Ia
ken precisely the same ground As Mr.. Mcdonald
subsequent position may have been modified, and at
any rate is not strictly definite, Colonel Srcight
addresses him the following pertinent inquiries;
~ Is it your present opinion that the general gov
cmmcnt has the constitutional right to cOercc State,
or any number OF States, that have or may seccicl
"ll Is it your present opinion that the general gov
cmmcnt has the constitutional right to State
that secodcs Please inform to what evidence has
changed your opinion since February, 1861.
III. In you have not changed your opinions on
this sub cc since 1861 please inform as to whether
you would not in the event of your election feel yourself
bound to oppose by every possible means the prosecution
Of that you then declared would be unconstitutional,
unnecessary and wrong?
"lV. What do you and your party mean by declaring
as the Sh Of January, to which you rrtor in favor
of war for the maintenance Of the constitution, and the
Union under the constitution Do they believe, you
did in 1851 that the States sovereign, and that
to them is unconstitutional thus declaring in eff
feet that the seeded States only lighting for their
constitutional rights and il So is the to which they
refer the they will support in maintenance Of the
constitution to be war against our government and our
army? The importance OF answering this question is
plain to every one from the fac, that you and large
and influential portion OF your party have repeatedly de-
cared that the States sovereign, and such had
right TO Secede, and that to them is
sarily unconstitutional Now, is plain that if you and
your party in favor of to maintain the conStitu
lion in this crisis in national affairs you must array
yourselves against the government and the army that
prosecuting unconstitutional war, which you and your
party have often declared to be our government and
our army.
~ You and your party declared that you are utterly
opposed to the it is now prosecuted; now, in
OF your election and the present policy of conducting
the war should not be changed would you exert yourself
with zeal and energy to furnish the government with the
necessary to fill all calls that may be made by the
President from time to time irrespective of your opinion
of the constitutiOnaity Of the of the wisdom of
the policy with which it may be conducted?
These grave questions, and vital ones to us in the
army desrous to know whether there is really
danger of revolution and boOdShed in beloved State
We fear that to elect governor who is opposed to the
will bring the State and National authorities in coli
lsion hence apprehension of civil war in that event
There today not less than fifty thousand voters from
Indiana in the army all of whom determined to fight
this reasonable rebellion to its utter destruction. We
may need more assistance from homo: hence would
like to know whether your election would be likely to
tard short such assistance. The uncertain patriot
ism of many of people and the excited and perOus
condition of country will, | trust be sufficient
apology for addressing you this letter, and feel
ranted in saying that full frank and comprehensive
answer of the questions herein asked would relieve the
soldiers whom you say have your sympathy from much
anxiety in relation TO the coming election.
II have the honor. sir to be your most obcdcnt ser
want, A. ID. STREIGHT.