The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-16
uitt,nr the NnlI on the Head.

Gen. Carter has issued an order insur-
ing to all who take the Presidents Am
nesty Proclamation, the right to vote I;
but as many loyal men objected TO
being placed beside repentsnt rebels, be
publishes the following letter, which is
one of the most sensible documents We
have yes seen:
OFFICE PROv. MAR. GEN. OF E. TENN
Knoxville, Term, Jan. Fl, 1864.
Col. r Il Byrd, CON- Post, Kingston, 1c. /:
CoLoNEL-Your favor of the 4th inst.
has been received, and, in conformity
with your request, laid before MEjor
General Foster.
Iagree with you that it is the duty Of
our citizens to prepare the way for re-
organization of the State Government as
speedily as possible. Tho work could
have been done in September of last year,
when nearly every county in the State
was free from organized bodies of the
rebels. If active measures had been
taken for the accomplishment of that end,
our citizens would have been saved many
losses and much suffering. From the
want of courts and county officers, there
are no sufficient means for enforcing the
laws, and, as q consequence, bad men
are without restraint, and the guilty es-
cape punishment. I trust that the loyal
people of the various counties will lose
no time in tskiDg the matter il hand,
and asserting their right to self-goVern-
ment.
The right is guaranteed to the people
By the Constitution of the United States
to assemble together in an orderly man
ner, and never since the close of the War
of the Revolution, has q greater necessi-
~ existed for the people to meet for con-
sultation than now. I am glad TO end
that the county of Rosne, so noted for
the memorable and heroic devotion of its
people to the cause of the Union in its
darkest hour-the county from which so
many brave volunteers rallied around the
country's hsg, when the peril was great
er--noW stands ready to take the initia
tive in this needful movement for the
civil regeneration of our State.
You are authorized to call the people
together for the purpose of adopting such
measures as may be necessary for their
common happiness and for the welfare
of our State, and which shall at the same
time best conserve the interests of the
General Government. While Isincerelv
believe that the institu'i ion of slav' ~ is, if
not actually dead, at least undergoing sure
s. 4
able consequence of protracted civil war,
vet. az an officer of the army, 1 refrain
from gratuitous suggestions as 10 the
most advisable wav of dealing with it,
having ample confidence in the prudence
and sagacity Of the people, and doubling
not that they, through such political
leaders as may be chosen and instructed
by them, will determine upon the wisest
and safest policy to secure, as far IS
may be, the temporary interests of indi-
viduals, and, at the same time guarantee
the permanent prosperity of the State
Nv impression is thatit is necessary
for all TO subscribe to the oath of sllegi-
snce, as set forth in the Presidents Proc
lamation, in order that they may be re-
stored fully TO the rights of citizenship,
and especially TO the exercise of the
elective franchise. In this, however, /
may be mistaken, IS nothing explsnsto-
~ on the subject has been off cially COM
municated 70 this office; yet, if my sup
position is correct, the taking of the oath,
so far as loyal men is concerned, can only
be required for the reason that the State
has been declared to be in instruction
against the General Government, and not
on the ground that thew, IS individuals,
stand in need of pardon, inssmueh as
they have not been guilty of violating
in word, or in act, the laws of our cOun-
try. But if l am correct In the view l
have taken, it will be necessary TO have
two separate records kept in each county
for the subscribers to the oath the one
for those who have been known IS truly
loyal men, TO be called the Loyal Mems
Record" and the other for such as have
been guilty of aiding the rebellion and
who accept the pardon offered by the
President. and which should be known
as the "DislOyal Mems Record"
I am, Colonel, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
s. P. CARTER.