Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-16
A QUESTION DESERVING AN An.
SWER.

"A 0DESIlON DESERVING AN An
SWER.
Correspondence Of the Union and Americana
EAST TENNESSEE, August Z. IS66-Is it
go? Frequently, during the last five years
l have at intervals, heard the declaration
made that during the summer Of 1861 ne
gotiations were conducted by certain per-
sons, advocates of Southern independence
and the editor of BRowNLows Knoxville
Wing, to secure the influence Of that paper
for the Southern cause-that the schedule
was very nearly completed, and was to have
gone into operation during the autumn Of
that year-that its contamination was only
prevented through the influence Of two or
three prominent UniOnists of Knox county.
(now bitterly denounced by BROwNLow,
and by the constant and impolitic taunts Of
the Knoxville Register, intended as very
many believed, TO prevent BRowNLow from
becoming an ally, lest his paper should be-
come the leading organ of the party in East
Tennessee.
Protesting no knowledge of the facts
IN the case, except ashley were learn
ed from the lips Of that very unrelia-
bic jade, public rumor, merely ask for
information, and for the qualification of
a natural, if not a cOmmendable curiosity in
the public mind. Was sIch an arrangement
ever canvassed? Did the reverend edi-
tor ever, for any length of time, entertain
such a proposition? What prevented the
ratification to a treaty between the high con-
tracing parties?
Certain articles, which appeared in the
Wing shortly before its suspension, we're
regarded by many Unionists and Southern
partizans, as the prelude to a change Of edi-
torial base, to be gradually effected
The Wing Of September Z, 1861, contains
leader in which the editor announces that
he has received "letters and verbal messages
from friends complaining of my change and
some from Secessionists congratulating.
He replies | carry with me 'Ry unchanged
principles, etc. Yet he says:
East Tennessee, with her Union majority
Of 10000 votes, having failed to declare
herself The State, when she could and ought to
have done 80 and the Federal Government
having failed to sustain the Union sentiment
of East Tennessee, when it could and should
have been done, it is now too late to attempt
either. So far as ] am individually concern
ed, / will not be party to any mad scheme
OF rebellion, gotten up at this late day, or to
any insane attempt to invade this end Of the
State with Federal troops And any portion
of the Union men of East Tennessee, who
may be crazy enough to embark in either en-
terprise, and suffer utter ruin, as they are
bound to do, shall not, when the times of
these calamities be overPast" reflect on me
for having advised such a course.
l have many old friends and co-laborer5
in the Union cause, dispersed throughout
East Tennessee, who think that l ought
weekly to pitch into the State and Confed-
crate Governments, and into everything and
every body connected with secession, regard
less Of consequences; and the more so, as |
conduct the only Union paper left in the
Southern Confederacy. Not being impressed
with any such sense Of duty, | most respect
fully decline the honOrs and hazards of so
brave and independent a course. And if |
there is any gentleman in the Union ranks, |
in this end of the State, who is DESTROYS to |
try his hand in it, l will cheerfulIy yield |
him my position! But before he embarks, |
as a new-beginner, l will apprise him of the |
fact that We are in the midst of fearful |
revolution and rebellion-that the civil law |
has given way to military rule-and that, if |
he is fool enough to attempt such course, |
the military authorities in the South, are |
not fools enough to tolerate it! come |
down from my extreme position, not Of |
choice, but Of necessity, and / frankly confess |
that have not the courage to meet, in open |
combat unarmed as l am, eleven States in
arms, and in full uniform!
II am not now understood, | am wholly |
incapable Of expressing myself upon this |
question"
Again, in the next issue there is a lengthy |
signed Conservative"
(which many believe was the production Of |
i IL,
sent, in which is the following advice to the |
Union party Of East Tennessee:
"When the alternative is presented to us
Of choosing between a NOrthtTH or n Southern
but few, we imagine, will expe-
Renee any difficulty in making a decision.
The universal response will be, "Let as lire
Imong our oUn people, Indeed, the people
IF East Tennessee could not do otherwise.
Here they were born and have raised their
amiliss, and here they expect to live and
iie, and, whether they prefer it otherwise or
not the people must yield to the government
hat has jurisdiction over their territory |
To be a citizen Of one government and owe
to another is an impossibility, and
lpon the assumption we have made,-that
he old government can not reclaim the Sc
,eded Siates.-we must submit to the gov
,rnment of the Confederate States, or re-
move from its limits ultimately. This being
%, is il not our duty, nay our best and high
st interest, 90 avail ourselves Of all the
,ower in our hands, TO render our situation
IA agreeable as possible? Shall we 90 on
md sacrifice ourselves in attempting
o accomplish an impossibility? Shall
ye destroy ourselves, because bad men
ave DESTROYED our Government? Shall we |
tand quietly or sullenly by and see the very |
hen-thc worst men in our midst who have
ided in bringing all this disaster upon Us,
tep in and enjoy the reward for which they /
ave been conspiring2 Shall we permit !
UGH men to foist themselves into places Of
,Ower, in order that they may fa=ten still
lrther evils upon us2 Would YOU, upon ,
hiding your dwelling in flames by the hand
( some incendiarv, rush madly in and suffer
ourself TO be buried amid the ruins. be- ,
lusc, forsOoth, YOU preferred that dwelling
D any other? Would you, when a con- 4
agration has swept through your village {
nd destroyed il, suffer yourself and family
D perish in the midst of winter, while your I
,rmcr neighbors are re-establishing them
elves in comfortable quarters, because, in i
eed, YOU might despair Of rendering your c
lmily as comfortable as they had hitherto '
cen Would You, when your enemy has
ricken you severely, place yet another rod t
1 his hand that he might again strike you a
he more fercely? Every interest Of the &
tizen, every instinct Of manhood responds, {
or $
Now, / admit that the evidences, Of the n
ported treaty are by no means conclusive,
Fl il is evident that they and other circum- a
ances did arouse a suspicion, in the minds
friends and foes, that some sort Of iniu- n
zee was at work 10 produce a change. /
That suspicion has never been removed, \
ltirely. The public curiosity, on the point, A
Is never been satisfied, and although no 5
tactical good might result from itsgrati6ca- c
on, multitudes still wonder if BRowNLow v
'er did agree 10 sell out 10 the secession G
b. VHETro. N