Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-28
A Candid Rebel.

Major Galaher, formerly u citizen OF this town,
has recently been here on visit to bis family. He
fought CALAMITY through this rebellion, and returns
minus an arm, lost at the siege of yicksburg, whore
he was attached 10 tho regiment commanded by
Pitts Gallaher deserves credit for his lrankness,
and pays just tribute Of ceasre TO those rebels who
assisted in bringing the war and then skulkod out
of the fight
KNOXVILLE, June 2?, 1866.
Governor By0lUaLop'
SIR | have been for nearly four years connected
with the rebel army, and now with my parole In
my pocket, have returned 10 Tennessee. ] entered
the service from principle believed the cause was
just and never for \ moment entertained an opinion
other than that We would ultimately succeed In the
establishment Of Southern Confedoracy, But in
this was mistaken, the verdict is against me, ]
confess placed too high an estimate upon Southern
chipahy ] was credulous and believed that mon
would defend, with arms, the principles they advo-
Gated and in this ] was deceived, Many of the
leading men Of Knoxville, and indeed all portions
Of Tennessee exhibited 80 much anxiety for separa-
ton, and protested 10 bo 10 big gih fight towards
the North, that could not doubt their sincerity
But when armies were 10 be organized and the great
question ut issue to bo submitted 10 arbltrament
Of tho sword, their pregnancy proved to DO false
conceptions. They sought positions In the civil
branches Of the Government, and contracts with the
Government that by virtue Of their contracts they
might s1indLe soldiers and soldiers families, and even
rob the infant Government Of is swaddling clothes,
In all Of which they succeeded admirably. Those
same men urged tho rigid enforcement Of the con-
script law forcing thousands Of men against their
principles 10 enter the service, Twas they who de.
clsred that If tho South succeeded, Union men
could not live in Tennessee. And il was they who
frat ly IA md
now, sycophants like, ask TO be taken into full Fed
eral communion. And in great agony do they
wrthe under the disfranchisemont act Of the Legs-
ature. | think, myself, that the Union party, and
the Legislature particularly, (f II is their purpose
TO conciliate and reconcile the discofdant elements
and establish that harmony that once did and ought
exist might TO facilitate these ends have with prof
II acted with more magnanimity. But an act more
just in all its bearings and under all the circum-
stances, could not have been conceived Of j. sir,
for one, together with all other Southern mon of
Tennessee, if we had succeeded, would have favored
the passage of such laws that would have forever
precuded from citizenship men who left their homes
and took up arms against us. And cannot repro
bate in Others what l would have considered Just
in myself. Nor will ! enjoy privileges granted by
others, that l would not bestow upon them. Nor do
feel willing 10 live under tho penalties of such law
as / would have passed to punish my opponents
And now, having fought and failed, cheerfully
submit to the powers that be. And without any
malice either special or general, / will ask the au
thorites for passport TO some other State, where
all the foxes have lost their tails and with the ded
cation of my new home, wherever it may be, will
renew my allegiance to the Union Of our fathers.
And now Governor, i am,
Very Respectfully,
Your obedent servant
j. Z. GALLAHER