The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-23


There can be no better or more glo.
2 GUS cause, for the citizens 10 be ensar-
ed in than in enforcing the oonstitu- !
ton and laws of this country against |
those who are attempting to overthrow
them. And now, permit me in conclu-
sion to deliver TO you, General, this !
beautiful sword, the emblem Of your
profession, prepared by the patriotism |
of your Union friends and fellow citi- |
zens of Bedford county, confident that
it VIII never be drawn, only in defence
of our national rights and national ex-
istence, and when drawn that it will
never be disgraced, nor returned 10 its
seabbsrd, so long as a domestic foe can
be found IN arms against his govern
menL or foreign enemy pollute our
soil
Gen MIlroy responded as follows:
JUDGE W. II. NIsESER-I accept this
beautiful badge of military authority
and emblem of war, 50 gracefully and
hatteringly presented by you, on behalf
Of the patriotic citizens of Shelbyville
and Bedford county a county that has
stood out like an oasis in desert amid
the dark tide Of treason that swept
over Middle Tennessee
To be the favored recipient of this
handsome token Of theappToval of the
loyal citizens of such county, is most
grateful and worthy the highest pride
of soldier of the Union.
This day, my friends-the anniver-
sary of the birth of the Father Of his
country-the great and good Washing
/ TOMS, on that account alone an an
niversary that every true American is
proud to honor. But the great event
of this day In your beautiful State, IS
the appeal, or rather return of the loyal
people to the use Of the ballot
" Which comes down as still
As snow flakes on the sod,
| Yet executes the freeman's will
As lightning does the will Of God"
Through their ballots, the loyal PEG
pie of Tennessee have this day repudi-
ated the act of Secession and treason
| TO the Government established by
| Washington. But still more important,
they have by their ballots, this day
wiped out and expunged from their
| State Constitution and Statutes, the
legal claim to existence, of that blight
ing, burning, degrading, disturbing
| curse, human slqTcyV-the root and cause
of the rebellion.
This days work will enable Tennes-
seeans and their posterity, through all
coming time, 10 read that great chart
Of American liberty-the Declaration
of Independence with blush Thus
| the events of this 22nd of February,
| 1865, will doubly endear the day TO
| Tennesseeans as an anniversary while
the world lasts
Permit me here, my friend, TO most
sincerely congratulate and rejoice with
you, in the great tiumph of justice, 10y
atty, humanity, progress and liberty
which you, with the people Of your
State, have this day accomplished by
your ballots.
But by the kind partially with which
you, loyal men of Bedford, have regard
| ed what little service / have rendered
our great cause in your vicinity and
the nigh honor you have done me by
! the presentation Of this appropriate
memento of your appreciation, have
given me a very strDug additional rea5-
on TO feel grateful and proud that !
have been spared TO see this annivers-
| ary. will say with all sincerity that
YOU have done NE honor Overmuch.
| In obedience to orders, hut very far
| from choice, ] am chained to rail
road passing through your county
as the commander Of It's stationary de-
fences, and but few opportunities have
been permitted me, IN your State, OF
meeting the armed enemies OF our gov
ernment in the field In the actions
| that took place in the vicinity oil Muir
| freesboro in December last, which you
! have so tlatteginely cOmmemOrated 10y
| inscriptions on the scabbard OF this
sword, | gimply did my duty IN en-
deayoring to convince rebels that Union
| soldiers, inspired by their sacred cause,
and fighting for the salvation OF the
Union, are always, when properly led,
able to contend successfully against
more than double their number Of
traitors fighting for the destruction OF
| the Union.
beg of you to scceot my most SIN
| cere thanks for this very acceptable
token Of your appreciation and esteem,
and to express the hope that ! shall
never prove unworthy of your favor
This sword, your generous gift, though
obtained 10y me without price, shall
ever be considered priceless, and be
handed doom rs an heirloom to my
children and po5terity as memento
to them of Tennessee loyalty during the
great Rebellion, and TO teach them TO
love and venerate the Union.
On the same day the ladies, through
Jos. II. Thompson, presented sword
TO 1t. Smith, of the 4th Tennessee, for
which mark Of their favor Capt Moore
returned thanks on behalf of the gal
liant Lieutenant.
Along and interesting account OF the
celebration, written Immediately after
its occurrence, for the UNoE, reached
us only a few days ago. Too late for
publication, we have selected the above
incidents from it.