Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-07-24
~" sI.Ii-'' J INill 1HNNpi ji @iOi919dI
0D9ljo1I::: .gtateslnau,
q u 'D''l tFrom The Missouri RepublitanI no 10
EMERSON ETHERIDsE TO THE
o, PRESIDENT lart,l
Why Etheridge was Arrested.
'OAUsTIg REVIEW OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON
IN g,g AND PARsoH, BRoWN10W. W.,,r.,cI
COLUMBUS, KY, July 13,; 1876

-suN.. Ygr -ug' /--T7 : aiGtlr 4 9radi Il
fed. be-.do, COLUMBUS, Ky, July 13,; 1862
To His EncellencN Andrew johnson, President
.,of, the United States; ~ D',''.'i
The Hon. Horace Greeley-the wisest and
among the best OF your present friends
addressed your distinguished predecessor
through the columns of. his newspaper. de
wrote in behalf of the ..colored race" ] am
emboldened by his example to invoke your
attention to- tile condition of the 'unfortu-
nate whites. Besides, ] know jhow!you are
surrounded by political and religious pat
riots, who dailyapproacb the throne of EX-
ecutive grace to assure you of their love OF
country anil detestatiOn of place; and ito
offer up their fergent prfayerseto the reste-
ration of your health, and the prolongation
of your Invaluable life Perhaps some one
of these may see this communication and
present it to the attention ofyour Excel
lency. In this press upon precious time,1
make no estimate of the intervals you so
cheerfully devote to the crowds OF contra
bands who constitute 80 much OF the elite
of the Capital. l.ulItlT'D lgTnh54 .ii .E-
know the magnanimous nature of your
EXcellency, and fear the sad announce
ynent have to make will prove Injurious,
if not fatal, to the delicate sensibilities of
your noble and generous heartd Twas ar
rested at my home in Dresden, Tennessee,
on Friday last (hangman's day., by de-
tachment of armed soldiers, whose deport-
ment and appearance would do honor to
any service. They are known in the Army
Regulations as ''colored troops,p but, to
their shame be it spoken, your old friends
still persist in calling them ''niggers."-
They we're commanded and directed by four
or five white men, who arrested me as MIR.
Adder-rig, from which, / inter, they claim
lager beer nationality. i deem it my duty
to report that your old friends, of the Sc
cesh persuasion, still persist in the treason
able practice of calling the personnel Of such
expeditions, ''d----d Dutch and niggers.p
You will doubtless be relieved to hear that
the expedition was a success. Though l
had timely warning of the approaching
raid, Ipreferred surrender to hopeless re-
sistance, and the command reached this city
without material loss, treating me, since
my arrest, with courtesy and Kindness, for
which am grateful. '' , p..a" -
L have been here five days; and though l
have not yet been able to obtain the names
of my accusers, or copy of the charges, il
any, upon which | was arrested, / have OBJ
tained from other sources, Information upon
which rely, of the causes and motives of
my arrest. am charged with using trea-
sondble language against the Government of
the United States, and the Government of
Tennessee; and with speaking disrespect-
fully or your EXcellency, and of the Right
Reverend William G.. rBrownlow, 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, aud truly, that [ have given profess
sional opinion, declaring that the slaves in
Tennessee have not been made free by law.
As L willno doubt be held prisoner until
after the pending election farce in Tennessee is
OUer, propose to indulge a portion of my
leisure in giving you concise statement of
some things l did say, and the circum-
stances under which have provoked the
military displeasure of that Grand Army, of
which you are the Commanders -in-C Chief.
A public meeting OF all the citizens Of
Weakley county, Tennessee, was called at
Dresden on Saturday, the 1st day of July
last, to consider the best course to beadopt-
ed for the interests of all. The meeting was
very large, and was addressed by William
p. Caldwell and myself. .g a''.Qa
- 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 to
arrest and try l-Ofenders, was present.
He had one of Broynlow's Sheriffs and
several of his Justices Of the Peace present,
and iii their presence he addressedthe null
titude from the same stand i had occupied;
yet he did not rs much as hint at my arrest;
he only threatened the people ,oith, an in
UdSton of Federal troops (meaning negroesl,
TO deter them from voting for me-! AT the
close of the meeting. resolutions precisely