The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-16

AsvlGefh. No pefhOA VIII peiiSNo tAi1s 81
n gallantry Of Adams which led him into tn
he dangerous position Of Quartermssier's cler
+ could have caused him TO be 80 Transports
- al the returning national anniversary. Can
Of you believe that those two men never gaz
se upon the stars and stripes without feeling
that their only ambition is TO make the hsj
l. their winding sheet, and 10 have the
b graves Swallowed by the out-spread wing
Of the American eagle? They stated TO Mr.
Cooper that they had selected boarding
in Nashville aud would have gone there
= but remained at Mr.. Latimer's until after
u the 4th Of July to erect that Gag aud zee j.
r. Miss Latimer would take it down. They
o placed it low upon the tree SO that she might
e reach it.
E Adams says that this was done because
they were afraid to venture higher up the
tree, and without accident. The Judge Adj
vocaie admits ii was ss large as the Charter
Oak. Whenever anyone heard those men
speaking to Miss Ladmer about the flag,
they were daring her to take it down, and
Offering fifty or a hundred dollars if she
would attempt to remove it; There spoke the
Qusrtefmaster.) Why this psrtinscity in
tsuuting this girl? Why this great pre-
paration for the occasion? Why this salute
from Adams pocket artillery when the flag
was erected, fit was not to drive this guile
less girl to take the flag down 50 that they
might destroy the whole family. Rodgers
says that he left there as soon as he learned
what sort Of a family it was.
Mr.. Rodgers meant 10 inform this court
! that be differed from girl in sentiment
This drafted gentleman is morbidly sensi-
tive on the subject Of patriotism. Rodgers,
nor no mortal man on the face Of the earth
dare 10 cay anything against the honor Of
this family family who have nothing
that Adams, Rodgers, Moore and Littcn
were permitted to board there-men whose
names will be the scot, the scorn and con
tempt ofthis community in all time to come.
Bat let us withdraw our gaze from objects 80
losthsome and disgusting and see what Of
fact appears on the record.
Miss Latmer had no disrespect for the
American flag, and explained the act at the
time the flag was removed. The court well
knows that there can be no offeuse or crime
in the absence of an intention to commit it.
The Judge Advocate will readily admit this
to be the law, and it need not be argued.
The accused said at the time "if it had been
put up by gentlemen she would not have
taken il down that it was not cut of any
disrespect to the flag, but to the men who
put it up there" Yes, that was the cause,
else why allow Gags TO ioat from all parts |
Of the house and disturb none save the one 4
that Adams and Rogers took such deep in
terest in? Adams says after the dag was
taken down, Miss Emma Latiner trampled |
it under her feet. The witness who was
standing right at the gate, says this was not /
true aud must have been seen by the wit /
ness if had occurred. Adams and Rogers |
are both fatty contradicted by Mr.. Cooper.
Adams and Rogers do not even sgree in their
own statements.
Then that flag was taken down, not be-
cause il was a flag, but because such men 1
had put it there-men whose touch would be /
concentrating to anything. It was not put /
up, in the language Of the defendant, by
gentlemen win not everybody say that |
the child spoke the truths What her in 1
stinct convinced her was true, our reason |
compels MS 10 know.
Let US see what the reasonable language |
charged was. at YOU" speaking TO these
-. f....t .t,.t 49, ,,., H.. ,-iG1 tol-a a i
down and burn IT," She would not disturb /
any deg put zap BY any body but these men.
No enmity 10 the dag, but implscable Ia 1
tired Of, aud utter contempt for the men. |
Whatever may have been the purpose of |
these men, il Is most patent to every candid /
mind that the accused either regarded the |
affair as Joke, or else sought 70 express her |
hatred for them, or else never entertained |
one thought about it in any way, aud all !
th ct che said or did was without the least re-
Election. And this was seized upon by these
men to destroy a thoughiless young girl.
Those indignant patriots came TO the city
Of Nashville, and each preferred written
statement detailing the transaction which
had so shocked their patriotic nerves, and
guard was detailed who Immediately carried I
Miss Emma Latimer 10 the penitentiary.
| Aud now those Fourth Of July heroes are
here ssking this Court Ia mdict additional
| punishment on the head Of this inofensivs
girl. In other words, they ask you to blight
the hopes and crush the happiness Of The
| fair defendant; 90 break the hearts Of her
/ 4 4 D. 4. 4 l.
gray hairs Of the father with sorrow to the
| grave, and all for the sake OF gratifying the
| contemplate figure Of these gallant, heroic
magnanimous, brave, dsuntless, disiutcr-
ested .self-sacrifcing Fourth Of july quarter
master patrols. They ask il in the name Of
their own wounded patriotic sensibility,
and with hands uplifted and eyes turned
upon their knees, and with trembling hPs
| they ask it 10 the name Of all the ;qusrter-
masters blood that hss been spilled Ike
water during the war.
Appreciate the embarrassment which the
Judge Advocate and The court must feel IN
this trial. While men whose life for four
wears has been devoted entirely 20 war upon
that dag men who caused that nag to be
lowered az Fort Sumter 30 the storm Of iron
hail that was poured upon it, men who
caused that flag to disappear from the whole
South aud reared in its stead new and
strange flag; men who riddlea this flag with
their bullets, rent with their swords and
pierced with their bayonets; men VINO
swore 10 fire upon all who marched under i's !
folds men who bathsd the land with iha
blood Of the bravest and purest patriots
men who numbered their dead by The hun
dred thousand, while these men have been
aDd are being freely snd Internationally /
pardoned, this court must be embarrassed
% De engaged in trying a school girl lor
ai'l'yaiiy and utteFiug reasonable Ian
guase' and Tins sitter the rebellion IS crushed
ana that strange Gag swept from the face Of
the earth.
Aher The counsel for the defense had
concluded his argument, the Judge Advo-
cate said he did not desire 10 renlv or 10
discuss the merits Of this case. but he
thought the last part Of the arru1,ept N ~.
Election upon General Thons,. who order
ed this Court 70 Try The young lady. That
the Court had no discretion in the matter
To this the counsel for the defense rs,,,,..g
that he challenged any man 90 entertain 4,
higher opinion Of Gen. Thomas than he
did. he thought, as a military chiefsain.
the globe contained, but few, il any, such
men; aud no one admired the many noble
qualities which this illustrioas hero pos
sessed than he did. But Gen. Thomas did
, no' undertake 10 ~ parties. Written state
/, meats e. parts were forwarded 10 .he 6ea-
e5aF' Office, and heoriercd, Of necessity, az
S'sia upon those statements.
- n1' 'his court had the OPPORTUNITY 70 hesr
. Doh sides, A Grand Inv go. bssr4 ans,