Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-03-01
To the Public.

IO tuC IuulICs
As the Assistant Special Agent of the Treasury
Department. on the sth Of October last, leased for
period of one year, to Joseph Muens, Il loyal cit
izen of Knox county, a rebel abandoned farm, five
miles west of Knoxville, the property of three bach-
clor rcbels Judge Lyon, Doctor Lyon, and Capt,
Lyon, bitter unrelentng, and influential rebels
They went into this rebellion at the start and did
all they could to bring on our present troubles One
of them became a rebel Surgeon, another the Cap
tain of rebel company, and the third gave more
aid and comfort to the rebellion, by reasons of his
talents and influence than the other two. These
three men fed to the South and left their valuable
farm here, which it was made my sworn duty to
seize and lease out as | did the Department at
Washington furnishing me the form of lease and
requiring me to send copy of the same to Wash
ington, which ! did, giving Mr.. Mullens another
copy
Under the caption of Land., Tencmcnts, &c, to
be Leased, the law governing me is in these words
"V, All property so possessed will be rented ms
soon as practicable by the Supervising Special
Agent the Assistant Special Agent under his d.
rection, having such possession. No lease will be
madef for more than twelve months, and, when prac-
ticable, such property shall be rented from month
TO month. All leases will be in writing and those
for plantations shall be in the following form,' &c.
| acted in strict accordance with the law of Com
,ress, and with the letter of my instructions from
he Treasury Department, in leasing this Lyon
farm. A rebel Captain in the rebel army wrote
etter here that Judge Lyon had died at Richmond,
ind Captain Lyon had died Mt Athens, Georgia
These deaths occurred since the lease in October
The Judge of the Federal Court in January last,
sitting in this town. with perfect contempt for the
ease had made, and with more regard for rebels
han for the Government, and acting upon rebel
ercsGy testimony, ordered this farm to be taken out
Pf the possession of Mullens, and turned over to
ebel Lawyer for the Use of the rebel heirs of the
lyon family
Mr. Mullens forwarded the following petition to
he Judge at Nashville, which submit because it
tates the facts and the law in the case
70 the Hon. Coa,ally F. Triqg, J,dgc OF the District
Court of the UHited States, sitting IN the District
Court at Kaorcdte, for the District Of East Ten
HesSce:
The humble petition of Joseph Mullens, citizen
# the United States, and of the State of Tennessee
esident in Knox county, unto your Honor respect
billy showeth that by an Act of Congress approved
q the 18th day of March, 1868, it is provided that
shall be lawful for the Secretary of the Treasury,
rom and after the passage of this act as he shall
rom time to time it to appoint special agent or
gents to receive and collect all abandoned or cap
lred property in any State or Territory or any por-
on of any State or Territory of the United States
esgnated as in insurrection against the lawful
overnment of the United States by the proclama-
on of the President of July first, eighteen hundred
md sixtytwo' And by the subsequent Act of
uly 3D. 1864, it is further provided, that in addi-
on to the captured and abandoned property to be
eceived, collected, and disposed Of as provided in
aid act, the said agents shall take charge of and
sase, for periods not exceeding twelve months the
bandoned lands houses and tenements within the |
stricts therein named, and shall also provide in
lch leases otherwise, for the employment and |
eneral welfare of all persons within the limits of |
itonal military occupation within said insrrec- |
onary States formerly held as slaves, who are or |
lal become free. Property, real or personal shall
regarded as abandoned when the lawful owners
hereof shall be voluntarily absent therefrom, and
hgaged, either in arms or otherwise, in aiding or
hcouraging the rebellion. By virtue of these acts
contract in writing was made, and entered into |
the sth day of October, 1868, between your pc. |
TONER and William G. Brownlow, Special Agent |
the Treasury Department, by an abandoned plan |
ton or farm, late the property of one Thomas c. |
yon lying in the llth Civil District of Knox !
|unty on the Holston river adjoining the lands of |
homas Parham, Ned Rudder, and the widow |
onas wa. leased to your petitioner for the present
Par. \ true copy of this contract is hereunto at
ched, and the original in the possession of your
titioner, shall be produced when required by the |
ourt.
The said Thomas c. Lyon, late owner had cs-
pused the cause of the rebellion, and had given il |
hearty and earnest sympathy and cooperation. |
hen the rebel forces retired from this part Of the
ate in the latter part of the year 1865 he left his
id farm and went with them, seeking their pro-
ction, and giving to them his allegiance. Your
titoner is informed that he remained within the
bel military lines from that time. 1t is reported
at he is dead. The date of his decease your
ttioner does not know.
In view of the reasonable conduct of the said
iomas c. Lyon, the District Attorney thought
roper to take steps for the confscaion of the said
tate to the government of the United States. and
ed an information in said court for that purpose
the late term of the court, upon satisfactory
Foof being made Of said Lyons death, the nforma-
n was dismissed, and the court made an order that
writ Of possession issue at the instance of his heirs
devisees to all persons in possession of the
emises. Such writ at the instance of one James
Cooke, who assumes 10 act as agent, but whether
the heirs or devisees, your petitioner does not :
ow, has recently been issued and is now in the
nds of the Marshal, who, unless restrained, will
compelled to execute il by the dispossesson of
titioner.
Eefore the action of said court yor petitioner in