The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-08-09
EMERSON ETHERIDGE'S LETTER,
TO THE
President Of the United States.
COLUMBUS, KY, July 10, 1865.

10 hrs ELceHency, ANDREW JOHNSON, PreSI~
dent of tie United States
The Hon. Horace Greeley, the wisest aud
among the best OF your present friends,
ones addressed your distinguished prede
cessor through The columns of his newspa-
per- 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
you are surrounded by political and reig-
ious patriots who daily approach the throne
OF Executive grace 10 assure you OF their
love Of country and detesialion oil place
and 10 offer up their fervenl prayers for the
restoration of your health, and the prolong-
alton of your invaluable life. Perhaps
some one of these may see this commune
cation and present it TO the attention of your
Excellency In this press upon precious
time, make no estimate of the intervals
you so cheerfuly devote to the crowds of
conIrabands who constitute so much of the
elite of The Capitol.
know the magnanimous nature Of your
Excellency, and fearlhe announcement
have to make will prove injurious, if not
fatal, TO The delicate sensibiities OF your
noble and generous heart. was arrested
al my home in Dresden, Tennessee, on
Friday last (hangman's day. by detach-
ment of armed soldiers, whose department
aud appearance would do honor 10 any ser
vice They are known in the Army Regu-
laions as ''colored troops" bul, 10 their
shame be il spoken, your old friends still
persist in calling them "niggers." They
were commanded and directed by four or
Adder-rig, from which infer they claim a
lager beer nationality. deem ii my duty
TO report that your old friends of the secesh
persuasion sill persist in the easonable
practice of calling the personnel of such
expeditions cd Dutch and niggers."
You will doubtless be relieved to hear that
the ex expedition was a success. Though
had timely warning of the approaching
raid, preferred surrender TO hopeless re-
sis,ance and the command reached this
city without material loss, treating me, since
my arrest, with courtesy and kindness, for
which am grateful.
have been here five days; and. though
have no, YET been able 10 obtain the names
of my accusers, or copy of the charge, if
any, upon which | was arrested, have OBJ
which rely of the causes and motives Of
my arrest. | am charged with using trea-
sonable language against the Government
of the United States, and the Government
of Tennessee; and with speaking disre-
specially of your Excelency, and OF the
Right Rev. William G. Browniow, who, un-
mindful that the Constitution Of Tennessee
excludes all ministers from civil Office, Is
now claiming TO have successfully seized
the Office of Governor of said State. Fur
ther and truly, iha, | have given a profess
sional OPINION, declaring that the slaves
in Tennessee have been made free by
law. As will, 10 doubt, be held prisoner
until after the pending election farce in
Tennessee is over, propose 10 indulge
portion OF my leisure in giving you con-
else statement of some things did say, and
the circumstances under which have pro.
voked the military displeasure of that grand
army. of which you are Commander-in-
Chief
public meeting of all the citizens OF
Weakly county. Tenn, was called a, Dres-
den, on Saturday, the lst day of July last,
10 consider the best course TO be adopted
for the interests of all. That meeting was
very large, and was addressed by William
P. Caldwell and myself. The object OF the
meeting, the character of Mr. Caldwell's
speech, and much OF my own, may be ca
silly inferred from the resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted at the close of
the meefng-all but the last having been
reported from the Committee on Resolu-
liohs.
On the following Monday, July 3, a very
large meeting was held at Trenton, Gibson
County, which addressed for three hours.
Isaac Sampson, one Of Brownlow's newly
appointed Circuit Judges, having, as he
said, full civil and criminal jurisdiction 10
arrest and try all offenders, was present.
He had one OF Brownlow's Sherfs and sew
eraI of his Justices. of the Peace present,
aud in their presence he addressed the mnl-
tilude from the same stand had occupied
get he did moi as much as hint al my arrest;
he only threatened the people with an in
vasion of The Federal troops (meaning ne
groes, to deter them from voting for me.
At the close OF the meeting, resolutions pre-
cisely similar. TO those passed at Dresden
were unanimously adopted. was unani-
mously nominated for Congress, and the
pretended Senator and Representative from
that county were unanimously requested TO
resign.
was TO have addressed similar meet