The New York herald., 1864-11-09
The American QUESTION.


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Mr. John Tovell, who be has ust arrived in Eng.
and homo in Tennessee sends The following statement
or his case to the Liverpool Mercury
10 the autumn Of 1862 perfect reign Of terror prevailed
in and around the CITY Of Nashville where then
The massacre Of peaceful citizens by the federal sodey
was then thing OF daily occurrence and for several
horities 10 restrain the awessness Of these ruians
Among the victims OF their violence was old man OF
upwards OF seventy years OF age John Corbt by name
whom three of them murdered, almost his thresh.
DID, ip the middle oftbe night while defending bis proper
against their hevsh intentions At the request his
family consented 10 deliver Grafton the grave
ut his interment The circumstance OF the old mans
DEATH together with his social position-for had
Justice Of the peace for nearly thirty yearsa,tracted
large concourse OF people to witness the obsequies,
among whom were nearly one hundred federal soldiers
including several officers and two re,menta chap
lsns was not at all careful 70 repress the sentiment OF
INDIGNATION which such spectacle could not fail to en-
kindle in ones breast And further made illusions 10
the procamatiens OF the generals and the Tr0nncid
mis',os Of the "mitary governor and other officials,
issued by them when taking possession OF Nashville in
which expression given She most pacific senti-
mcnts and all kinds Of protection promised TO the per-
property OF the citizens only they should
main peaceful and obedent TO the laws assuming in my
simplicity that all this was done 10 good faith and sim
cerity For thus endeavoring TO restrain the violence
OF these men Of blood was arrested BY band OF
soldiers before could reacn my house. and, without any
preliminary examination whatever, sent to the State
prison. where was kept 10 close cRnhnement Tor seven
months.
immediately applied Lord Lyons, hoping that his
Iordshp would as the representative OF her Majesty
mand that be immediately released from Imprisonment
otherwise thai be tried and cted OF offence
70 Justify my further detention Friends here in Eng
land made like appeal my behalf Earl Rasse but
still allowed 10 remain IN confinement. This IS the
more puz,sg, nasmuGn as ~ PAPER suom',ec 70
that tho 10th Of Jaouary, 1858, dispatches wero
cent out to Lord Lyons ipstructug him TO demand my
release or trial. But for five months after this con
tnued prisoner and then neither released tried
bat banished into the Confederate states This Danish
ment. moreover should suppose. must have been with
the ana sanction OF his lordshIp other
wIse the United states government cannot have kept
faith with the British Minister, for hts ordshp distinctly
states in letter received from him some three or four
months before ths took place, that the government Of
the United etates bad promised hm that he should be
duly notified OF their decision respecting my Yet
giving bis sanction 70 such measure, he clearly
running counter 10 the Instructions of her Maesty's
government, parliamentary paper Ia OF any authority
sucn a question. The order to leave had not been
given than twenty minutes before escort cf
soldiers were hand demanding my attendance to be
marched through the lines. begged permission OF the
officer ia command to lie allowed to 90 home under
guard to take leave OF my wife and family and to pro
cure what necessary for enabling 70 prosecute
my tourney with measure OF comfort. Bot this
sterniy denied me. My long confinement in prison
rendered pestenta BY filth and overcrowdng together
with the coarse unw holcsome fare which II had been
forced subsist bad enfecbcd my health that
unable 10 proceed many yards foot without being com
peled to lie down in the road fiat my avoid
attack of syncope But, notwithstanding this. was COM
PEELED TO make nearly the entits Journey 90 ioo. ana n
and then marched under dag OF truce from the ouposts
OF army 70 those OF the other. was compelled TO
make detour OF about eighty miles through what s ap
propratey enough called the "BarrcnB Of Tennessee
desoale region, which sometimes neither water
human hsbitaton 10 TO be met with in a distance u
nueen miles. For three nights | had 20 camp
out u the woods and sleep under wagon, with
only q tarpauling for covering. Having reached
Pusski, however, my pedestrian tolls at an end
and soon landed 10 Georgia, where southern gene.
rosity and hospitality tnan suiced TO supply all
my needs. After spending eight or nine months n the
Confederate States, succeeded in running the blockade
t Wilmington In February last, tho good ship Alice,
belonging TO W. c. Bee Co, OF Charleston, C., who
with Characteristic lbcrslity gave free passage 10
Nassau, IN tho bahsmas. After months sojourn
among those beautiful islands, wis enabled to make my
TO Bermuda and, with only one days delay, thence
to Halifax n. s.
From Canada again ventured into the territory Of the
United States, and proceeded AZ far Washington IN
order 10 communicable persondy NTH Lord Lyons not
wbstandpg that had received the pleasant intmation
from the federal authorities when banshod that
appeared within their 'siinesr during the continuance
OF the war should be hung or shot.