The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-16
Letter From Decatur.

DEolTvS, Ala, June II, 1865.
host Loyal onion:
Since mylast epistle, of June I'd, in
which l gave you an account Of the
Poo a0Oans, q Athens and otaer places,
l have been rushing about promisou-
ously through the hills and hollows of
Northern Alabama, hunting for a avs
secessionist and l am happy to say that
l have found but one, but he is a bona
tide one of the largest caliber, who,
strange to say, does not deny the fact
on the contrary he humbly and can
didly acknowledges that he has greatly
sinned, that he las been the cause of
much mischief, and that he does not
deserve pardon as a right, but asks it as
q most gracious favor. he told me
that, if permitted to remain at home
unmolested, he would try by every a
Hesitation Of a heartfelt repentance, by
the example Of a pure and uncondi-
honal loyalty, and by an active employ
ment of his talents and influence. to
repair ss much as possible the great and
grievous errors he has committed.
Many Of his former political friends
snd abettors show him no mercy now,
all the big and little rebels are outupon
him, and particularly the Pharisees Of
the New Jerusalem, who cry out man
fully, Cruelty him cruelty himl It
is rather q strange fact that the original
and uadOubted Union men of North
Alabama have addressed a petition to
the President, asking that q pardon
may he granted him. They have not
forgotten that two years ago through
him several Of them were saved from
a merciless co~nscription, and one of
them perhaps from a Confederate halter.
This one, my dear Editor, is the only
secessionist I have been enabled to find
in all my travels and I cannot imagine
whstcan have become Of all the others,
and who has done all the mischief
Ihsve taken pains to select some Of
what / used to think the most violent
and blood drinking specimens of the
~hre-eating fraternity, and most frankly
admit that after 8 most careful analy-
sis, / find that they we're really patriots
in disguise.
Specimen 10. l. Judge A. tells me
that he has always been an unfinchfng
Union man, but accepted Office and
took the rebel oath with the mental re-
servation that his decisions should be
favorable to the Union csuse, and That
even by his unjust and arbitrary ones
people would soonest become disguised
with rebel rule and try to shake it off
No. 2 Hon. B. assured me upon hon
or that he went to the Confederate
Congress merely to branbeat old JEFF,
to propose peace resolutions, and TO
bring the Confederacy back into the
Union. Nobody can accuse him of hsvs
ing been g secessionists.
No. A. Maj. Gen. c., C. S. A., tells me
candidly that he never did much fight
ing, but a vast amount of running.
He kept his boys out Of harms way,
and has had the patriotic satisfaction
Of bringing them back safe and sound
into the arms of their delighted moth
ers, wives and sWeathearts. He thus
greatly aided the Union cause, and pro
fesses always to haves been a dyed-in-
the-Wool Union man.
No. 4. Msjor c., Q. NJ D, C. s., says
very ingenioUsly that he took his posi-
ton on purpose to get hold of the pubs
lie funds, and that he injured the cause
greatly by robbing the Confederate
Government and his Southern friends
to the tune of several millions. He
tried hiss best to break up the Govern
ment long ago, but could not steal fast
enough to have the desired effect.
Tere we will let them rest.
l have caught the fashion, and APP
pointed myself a State delegation, with
not q dissenting voice, to proceed to
Washington on purpose to give the ad-
ministration the benefit of my extra
ordinary talent, experience, wisdom,
patriotism, tact, shrewdness and infu-
enee. When l get there l beg of you
not to be astonished at anything you
may see and hes-. scorn to be an
Office seeker, but should the Govern
menr of Barataria or the embassy 10
the Great Mogul be offered me-quisn
sabef
Good bye, Decatur, farewell my kind
friends Fairbanks, Dutton and Naylor.
/ must conclude, as the Alabama dele
cation is about TO pack its carpet-bag
and be off Truly yours,
J. J. G.