The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-28
EMERSON ETHERlD6E TO PRES
IDENT JOHNSON.
An Inimitable Review of the CauS-
eS of his Arrest.

COLUMBUS, KY, July IS, 1865.
To HIS Ercellency ANDREW JOHNSON, President
oftke United States:
The Hon. Horace Greeley-the wisest
and among the best Ofyour present friends
once addressed your distinguished pre-
decessor through the columns of his news
paper. He wrote in behalf of the "colored
race" am emboldened by his example
to invoke your attention to the condition
of the unfortunate whites, Besides,
know how you are surrounded by political
and religious patriots who daily approach
the throne Of executive grace to assure
you of their love of country and detesta-
ton of place and to offer up their fervent
prayers for the restoration of your health,
and the prolongation ofyour valuable life.
Perhaps some one Of these may see this
communication and present it to the at
tsntion of your exoellenoy. In this press
upon precious time, make no estimate Of
the intervals you so cheerfully devote to
the crowds of contrabands who constitute
80 much of the elite Of the capital.
know the magnanimeus nature of your
excellency, and l fear the sad announce
ment have to make will prove injurious,
if not fatal, to the delicate sensibilities of
your noble and generous heart. / was
arrested at my home in Dresden, Tennes.
see, on Friday last, (hangmans day. by
detachment of armed soldiers, whose de-
pertinent and appearance would do honor
to any service. They are known in the
army regulations as "colored troops, but,
to their shame be it spoken, ysur old
friends still persist in calling them "nig-
gers" They were commanded and direot-
ed by four or five white men who arrested
me as Mr.. Adder-rig, from which infer
they claim a lager beer nationality. I
deem it my duty to report that your old
friends of the secesh persuasion still per-
sist in the reasonable practice of calling
the personnel of such expeditions, odd
Dutch and niggers." You will doubtless
be relieved to hear that the expedition
was success. Though l had timely
warning of the approaching raid, prefer
red surrender to hopeless resistance; and
the command reached this city without
material loss, treating me, since my arrest,
with courtesy and kindness, for which I
am grateful.
have been here five days; and though
| have not yet been able to obtain the
names of my accusers, or a copy of the
charges, if any, upon which was arrested
Ihave obtained from other sources inform
alton upon which rely of the causes and
motives of my arrest. / am charged with
using reasonable language against the
Government of the United and the Gov
ernment of Tennessee; and of speaking
disrespectfully of your excellency and Of
the Right Rev. William G.. Brownlow,
who, nnmindful that the constitution of
Tennessee excludes all ministers from civil
Office, is now claiming to have successful
ly seized the Office of Governor of said
State. Further, and truly, that / have
given a professional opinion, declaring
that the slaves in Tennessee have not been
made free by law. As / will, No doubt,
be held prisoner until after the pending
election farce in Tennessee is over, pro-
pose to indulge portion of my leisure in
giving you q concise statement Of some
tangs did say, and the circumstances un-
Ger which l have provoked the military
oispleasure OF that grand army Of which
yoo are the commander-in-chief.
a Puoilc meeting of all the citizens of
Heakiey county, the lst of July last, to
consider the best course to be adopted for
the interests of all. The meeting was va
~ large, and was addressed by william
P. Caldwell and myself. The object of
the meeting, the character of M Oald-
wells speech, and much of my own. NAV
be easily inferred from the following reso.
lutions, which were unanimously adopted
at the close of the meeting-all but the
last having boen reported from the COM
mittee on resolutions.
I'VE omit the proceedings a. oompara-
lively unimportant.-ED.]