Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-05-31
NASHVILLE, May %, 1865.

NASHVILLE May %, 1865.
Campbell WaLLace, Esq.
DEAR SIR Your letter from Athens, Georgia
postmarked at Cleveland, Tennessee and dated 10th
inst. is before me- and hasten brief reply As
the Ascending President of the East Tennessee and
Georgia Railroad, you propose to turn over the roll
ing stock and other property to me- rs the proper
representative of the State.
This you propose TO do in person, on the depot
grounds ut Knoxville, or to any authorized agent
may send to receive the property at Social Circle
on the Georgia Railroad. As the State of Tennes-
see, whom in part represent, had no agency in
running this large amount Of property out of the
State cannot put the State to any expense or trou
bic in bringing it back The large amount of stock
owned by you, and by other disloya and ascending
stockholders will fully remunerate the State and
the loyal stockholders for all the losses they have
sustained by your fight before the approach of the
old flag And it will be my pleasure, as it is my
sworn duty, to assist the Attorney General in max
ing up their losses at your expense In the mean
while il you and others concerned shall deem it
proper to return in good condition. the property and
money you carried away, in violation of law and
with contempt for all the obligations of honor it
will 60 to your credit on final settlement.
The East Tennessee and Georgia railroad, under
your entire control, was basely prostituted to the
cause Of treason, and deAanty and boastngly trans
ported rebel troops by thousands, and rebel NUM-
tons Of war by thousands of tons, your conductors
insulting Union men on the cars and decorating
the trains with rebel flags. So far did you carry
your proscrpve policy, that all loyal men to the
United States Government were turned out of en-
ployment The prostitution of that great road for
three years to the cause of treason, the running off
of s immense rolling stock and its large amount of
funds and the burning of its valuable bridges after
you, and to say nothing OF the wearing out of its
stock in Georgia, in freghting cotton and running
the blockade, constitute high crimes in the estma-
ton OF loyal Tennesseeans and cannot now be set
tied up by the return of few old passenger cars
and trucks, aud few new ones thrown in.
Your suggestion that / secure portion of the
Government stock now being used upon the road is
decidedly cool. The Federal Government has laid
down much Of the track with new IRON nearly all
of it with new ties, and has rebuilt ut heavy ex-
pense the numerous bridges destroyed by you and
those into whose minds you infused the poison of re-
bellion. The Government has done u very liberal
part by that road; and what is wanted we must
make out of those who ingloriously fled TO the
South, running off with them the rolling stock, books
and funds.
As u candid man, l cannot advise You to return
TO the depot grounds at Knoxville. Your telegraph
ic dispatches TO Zc!licofer, Vaughn, Rowan and
others, are there urging the arrest OF Union men,
Those whom you contributed TO imprison are there,
and the sons Of those who were executed are there
and they will make your home ANYTHING but a So
cal circle for you The prescribed and prosecuted
members Oh the presbyterian Church, against whom
you made your pastor, the Right Reverend Mr.
Martin preach and pray, are there and they will
no longer receive the bread and wine at the hands of
Ruling Elder who is stepped to the nose and chin
in the blood of this rebellion.
Parson Martin, Elder Wallace [. il opi,,c GEMS.
asserted vehemently at the beginning of the war
that God was heartily enlisted on the Side of the re.
bellion, and in proof of this assumption, you were
accustomed to crowd us with these Scripture quota
tions God is our refuge and strength very pres
ent help in trouble Again THE Lord of Hosts .
is with US, the God OF Jacob is our refuge Itnow
turns out that only Moloch was on your side and |
You mistook tsti: '~-> f'i- y y -----'
You have had your day Of quoting Scrip,uro
Our day has come, and we loyal preachers and al.
ders now quote upon you such passage a. tho fol.
lowing Come behold tho works of the Lord wba,
desoation He hath made on the earth aHe NAL
9th war to cease unto the ends of the earth. IJo
breaketh the bow ard cutteth the spear in sundar'
dc burneth the chariot in the fire. ape still and
know that am God" '''' anu
send this letter to you through the ncwspapors
and IN doing 50 / have obeyed my own convictions
Di duty, without awaiting the action of other ~
seeking their opinions
Very truly etc.
w. q. BRowNLow,
Governor of Tennpssp,