The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-05-23
GoTEESoR BEoEELoW TO DUSLEP, RAY Al



EXECUTIVE DEPARTMEyT,
Nashville, Tenn, May Ia, 1865
8cesrs J. T. Dunlap, J. E. z. Ray and
y. d. Bate: Your letter Of the 9TH
instant from Augusta, is received. In
this communication you say that nay
present status gives the control Of the
State Capital You say "the fortunes
Of war COMPEL you to admit the fact
without discussing the right You
further observe, that the archives Of
the State, mainly covering Gov. Harris
administration, which we're removed
from Nashville by Legislative suthori
", you desire to return 20 the Capitol
as belonging to Tennessee, and consti-
tuting part Of its history.
As Tor yourselves, personally, you gay
you ask nothing beyond what mag
unanimous opponent may choose to ac-
cord, and YOU desire 20 be informed
whether you can be permitted to re-
turn to your families without molesta-
ton from the civil or military authori-
| tiles, and be allowed 10 leave the coun
try, il, after testing il, you should feel
/ oppression heavier than exile.
had verbal accounts from you,
which led me to hope that you were
animated by a better spirit than man
Tested in your letter You are still re
belliouR The fortunes Of war alone
compel you TO admit the fact that
have control of the capital Of the
/ State. You decline to discuss the
right. have no doubt you are IN like
manner copsDslled TO recognize the pres
/ ent status Of yourselves, your treason
| able government, aud of the captured
traitor whose lead you have followed
and that you are as little inclined to
discuss the right in the one case as the
other
Pardon me for suggesting that "the
fortunes of war lIcompel you to ad
NIT many other facts equally mortify-
ing TO your pride, before you shall have
seen all the consequences of Conteder
ate treason.
If the archives in your possession
constituted nothing but the kiStory Of
I GOV. Harris administration, should
7 deem them OF very little Importance
( Indeed, the honor of the State would
4 1e promoted by having that part OF her
history forever obhterGted But 1t seem
that in fleeing the State you accommo
4 lated Yourselves 10 some things much
more substantial than mere historIca
souvenirs, among which were the eu
IRE assets of the State Treasury, sun
dry bonds Of the State, aud your Owl
Official bonds.
/ oahnot recognise the "Legislativt
! authority" under which you olaina q
have acted No Legislature could hav'
authorised you 20 commit so high
crime Much less could that conclav'
of traitors, whose very existence wa
treason, pause in their fight from III.
Capitol, and, ss I am informed was Ia,
fact, enact law to legalize your out
ages upon the people of the State sfte
they were perpetrated
Nv status il not such rs TO au
thorize me, If l desired, to protect yol
from an outraged people and betray
ed Government Ny status does no
give me control of the Federal court
IN which you are indicted for treason
You desire protection from the civi
and military authorities. Whetheryo'
will obtain il | cannot say. But 3
yours have been q life of bold eIperl
ments Tor four dreadful years, you hao
as well conclude with another, by re
gurning with or without the archives, a
may appear best to yourselves.
With 8 proper Measure OF respect,
am vs.. e.. BRoWNLoW,
Governor of Tennessee.