The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-23
a9aallrillG &Aniou.
Wk. CAMERON d CO., Publishers.
SUNDAY, APRIL %, 1865

NAsuynLE, April 20tb, 1865.

oONDA1, APRlL =, 1900.
Defense or the Hon. W. II. Wisener.
NASHVILLE, April Goth, 1868.
In the Daily Press" Of the 10Th inst
l see an article over the signature Of
"A LOoker-on in Venice in regard
to the record of the Hon. III Wisener
whilst a member of the Legislature il
1861, which, according to the construe
ton attempted to be put on the ex
tracts from the Journal, and the reso'
luton copied, does him injustice. There
ID not truer Union man in Tennessee
than he His every pulsation is for
tie Union" the Stars and Stripes
1t IS true, that persons who have not
examined the resolution and extracts
from the Journal carefully, and weigh
ed the expressions accurately, may
draw differences unfavorable to him,
and the object of that publication is TO
have that effect But when we cares
iully,rehect and examine the statements
and language used, this difficulty is re-
moved. At the time these things
transpired, Tennessee had not seeded.
She was still legally and practically in
the Union. The seven cotton States
had formed a Constitution and Govern
ment de JactO, with its capital at Mont
gomery, Alabama, had large army,
and were threatening the Government
and people of the old Uaited States, or
those that remained faithful 10 the old
Government, as they called the United
States. OF course, no hostile invasion
could come from the Government ofthe
United States against State and peo-
pie who had not rebelled against them,
and as Tennessee had not then done
So she could not be the subject of
hostile aggression or invasion from the
Government of the United States, but
could be from the so called Confederate
Government, who at that time, had
their armies ready for the emergency,
as they supposed. These principles
are correct and known to be so, by legal
gentlemen, who have had their attention
directed to the questions involved
Does anybody pretend that the United
States, in sending her armies through
Ohio, as they have frequently done,
were guilty Of hostile aggression or in
vasion? Surely not But when the
rebel General Morgan went into Ohio
with his army, it was hostile aggression
or invasion. So Of Pennsylvania and
Maryland. Gen. Lees marches into
them were hostile and aggressive,
whilst Gems McClellan's and Meades
were not Mr. Wisener, understanding
these principles, prepared the resolu
ton and offered it, that he might place
himself right before the world, using
language that conveyed his sentiments,
without endangering his life, which
would probably have been the forfeit il
his meaning had been fully understood
at the time. And it seems, by some it
is not now understood, and hence the
necessity of this article.
At the time these proceedings took
place, Nashville was one grand military
camp, with a rebel flag floating over
most of the business houses and resi-
dences Of the city and it is believed
no man could have openly urged the
arming of soldiers to fight the Confed
crates and lived Under such circum
stances az these the Legislature was
called together by Governor Harris.
When they met, various projects were
brought forward. Mr.. Wisener was I'M
derstoOd to be Internationally for the
Union. He had so expressed himself
at home, and so acted in the called SEES
sion in the previous January. Among
the propositions was a resolution au
thorizing Governor Harris to raise three
regiments for the State, and arm and
equip them. Everybody understood
they were to be armed and equipped
for the Confederate government. Mr.
Wisener offered, as an amendment, to
be added after the word State, "Gor the
defense thereof" This was done to
test the sincerity Of the friends of the
resolution, as to the objects and pur-
poses of the regiments This amend
ment was tabled by vote Of A. to -;
Mr.. Wisener voting in the negative.
The resolution was then passed by a
vote Of 81 to Mr.. Wisener voting in
the negative (See PIP. Il and IS of the
JournaD And thereupon the follow
ing protest was drawn up by Mr.. Wise
ner, and signed by him and others, to-
wit: -.. i
1--WE protest against the resolution
and vote thereon which has lust pass
ed. because we are unwilling TO give
unlimited power to the Governor to
arm and equip troops, without authori-
ty of law, to 60 wherever he may send
them
ave are willing to vote any amount
of men and money to defend the State
against hostile invasion or aggression,
and ask to have this our protest spread
upon the Journal"
This latter clause is quated by "a
Looker-on in Venice" He does not
tell upon what vote or resolution the
protest was made II was vote, how
err against men and money for the
Southern cause Mr.. Wisener careful
ly drew up the protest, so that he could
maintain his principles according to
the laws Of war, and understanding Of
belligerents, and yet avoid assassina-
ton. Under the resolution three regi-
ments were organized and ordered Off
to Virginia Immediately. The other
protest was in regard to resolutions and
vote thereon approving the course of
Governor Harris, in refusing TO raise
the men called for by President Lin
coin. These resolutions as they passed
were in the following words:
That the refusal Of the Governor Of
/ this State 10 furnish troops in eoInpli-
/ ance with the call of Abraham Lincoln.
meets the cordial approval of this
body, and reflects the will Of the PEG
F. pie of the State.
ResoFri t'rtlsr, That the people Of
Tennessee will resist with all their
power and TO the last extremity, any
attempt on the part Of the Government