The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-09
LIE, TENNESSEE. SATURDAY.. JANUARY g. 1864.

anything but disposition TO adhere to
her through evil as through good report
But even If The Gulf States would re-
fuse such : peace, what good would it
do Us? Their claim 70 retain Us would
De but piece Of empty gsscOnsde.
At last however, what choice have we?
This amnesty viii be accepted doubt
less, By 8 sufficient number Of Tennes-
scans TO make what the Federal Con-
gCess Wll call the Slate, and by this
number the rest viii be governed, and
governed too as = degraded class. Must
not this be at all events prevented! VIII
not every Tennssssan come forward and
have something to do in forming the gov
eminent under which he AID his children
must live? There is no ehsice, IS I be-
IeYe, between acceptance OF the amnesty
and expiration. This may look, how
ever, as if regarded the acceptance as
0Dpulsory in legal sense and, there
fore, IS not binding. Such is not my
msaniDg; on the contrary, think that
every one who accepts should do SO in
good faith and regard himself as in all
respects thereafter bound by his oath and
bis obligation Of allegiance TO the United
States. Such shall be the meaning of
nv acceptance.
You viii perceive that have said
nothing of those Tennessesus who are
IN The Southern armies. So far IS l an
concerned, they viii be left TO them
selves. / will not even suggest the rea-
sons thst create q difficulty in regard to
giving them advice; but viii say this
that they will be in no manner injured
By cur establishing civil government
here, 10 which, at some time, should they
be hereafter pardoaed, they may fad it
convenient to return. Sill, some per-
sons may think this would look like the
deseFtiOn Of a son or brother, and that
sons or brothers in the South would be
consOled By their standing of in sullen
Dissatisfaction rather than making sub
mis- zion. Well, if a son or brother
should expect one, staying at home, to
incur all the penalties of treason, to lose
his property, 70 be denied all civil and !
political privileges, 90 see his State and
feli6W-ciizans going 10 destruction, 10
order that he might derive consolation
or be more confirmed IN his course,
should deem him not . little unressona-
bic.
Nov, 1 would not do anything thai l
deemed mean or degrading TO save my
own life (fJr life l consider Of no great
consequence, anyhow nor do 1 wish to
address to yOu or others degrading mo-
tives Of action; yet, ct last, it is some
thing to be freed from suspense in regard
f. trial for treason, TO be restored 10 all
civil rights and privileges and rights Of
property, and TO be once more a citizen
of s0msthing or somewhere. I have felt
ike vagabond for sons time pas, and
I begin 70 Vish for rest.
have written thus much in q desul-
tory sort Of fashion, but have not as yet
stated distinctly what / understand Mr..
Lincoln's proposition to be, Well, this
seems TO be his meaning he proposes
Gst) SO far IS individual rebels are con-
cerned, if they do not come within one
or other Of his exceptions, that be will
grant them full pardon for their often
ces aud restoration to all their civil and
political personal rights, together with 3
restoration of their rights Of property.
with the exception $50 far as Tennessee
is cOnceTned) Of the right 70 such slaves
as may have obtained their freedom by
enlistment, or by some one Of the modes
pointed out in the 9th section Of the
general confscatiOn act, OF by having
been actually in use for the purposes Of
the rebelliOa, as under the aFst confsca
ton act and with the farther exception
Of such property as may have been taken
aud in which third parties have acquired
rishts; aud possibly such property as
may have been taken and used al
ready By the Government (uOthiDg beirg
said about damages in such easel
provided an oath shall be taken, let, Of
allegiance, and 2d, TO support the laws Of
Congress and the proclamatiOns of the
President in regard TO slaves, 80 far IS
tho same may be declared constitutional
by the Supreme Court Of the United
States, and until they shall be declared
otherwise. Such is his proposition to
individual rebels. With the emanciDa-
ton proclamation VIC have nothing 10 do
it not being applied 70 Tennessee. If the |
enlistment and conf5caiion acts are de-
cisred constitutional, these slaves would
BE- lost under tie following circumstance: |
Is, when enlisted; p, when used foT /
the purposes Of rebellion-auch as SER
vauts' Of officers, those employed in
in working on ratification, etc, with !
tie assent Of their owners 81, all who
have escaped from their msstess, and
taken refuge in army lines 4lh, al |
captured from rebels OF deserted By !
them and coming under control Of the |
United States oh, all found on or being /
within any place occupied By the rebels /
and Afterwards By the forces Of the L. |
s. (oiac3 here msaniBg, probably, town !
or station, as Nashville, MurfreesbOro,
LaFergne, etc. Who have been rebels !
remains 10 be determined. Now, 70 al /
who have taken or are wiling % take |
tbs general oath OF allegiance, this oztd !
need be no bugbear. i have seen many
Of the oaths prop0uaded dun0g this re
bellion, and many ia which there was
much complicated Vorbisge, bus none Of /
them, at last, amounted 10 more than the |
ordinary oath Of loyalty. I will not spend |
time 10 show that bis oath amounts 20 /
no more either practical = or in legal &C
ceptsnce, than tao general oath Of allegi- /
snce. Practically, II amOunis 10 10 more; 4
for while the Northern armies remaiD \
with us, taese laws and proclamsti0ns /
will be upheld withou. Cur aid or against /
our resistsnce. Theoretically, IL q
mouats q no more; because, every man
under allegiance ID bound 10 regard Laws
made By Congress, and, as / apprehend
military procl&matiOns bT tie President
il war time, as prfala taeis tie lag Of the
land. and good ualil declared void By
proper authority, that is the authority Of
TIE courts. p. he proposes, in regard
70 States, their reconstruction By conVen-
tiOns, the members 70 which shall b. /
elected by all such (inciuding pardsned
persoDs) as were entitled 10 v0io bsi0re
TIC rebellion, and 40 ether No check .
placed Oh Tennessee 10 regard 10 slavery, I
though he seems to suppose Shat in Ten
nessee, Missouri and Maryland there viii
b. Sufficient anti slavery agitation 70 ex-
cluds t. OF course the question Of &c
ceptinee OK rejection Of q constitution
vi have to Be submitted % Congress, e.
. SO the zdmission Of members Of Con-
CESS elected FROM Tennessee. If TenEes-
ses is 10 Be regarded as a new Sizte.-
How'll may be IN regard TO this and OH
er questions Of cognafs character, time
H.s.-r-ssr Ne Fer~rn. af-ff