Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-04

I. {ON
A separation from, and Independence of
those they esteemed bad ueigbbors constitu-
ted their main, ii not only, object
THE aovERsxENT or THE srArE7
The misdeeds of the citizens of this State
having been committed against the United
States, the imposition of punishment for them
properly belongs to that power and not to
the State. If the United States are satisfied
by the submission and atoneraent Of the
offenders, we, the representatives Of the citi-
zens OF the State, cannot, with propriety, IN
terpose and say they have not been adequate
ly punished, and impose additional burtbens
uron them. If the United States cheerfully
receive the repentant prodigals, kill the fat
ted calf and invite them to the table, why
should the people of Tennessee refuse her
own children the crumbs that fall from their
fathers table?
What have they done to the State of Ten-
nessee to Justify the Representatives in i'm
posing upon them additional penalties or any
burthens whatever
You cannot have forgotten that an invas-
ion Of the State, by the United States, was
apprehehded In the Spring Of 1861, and the
gallant young men of the State were called
upon, by the regularly constituted authorities
CT Che State, to arm for its defense, and a
league entered into with the other Southern
States, offensive and defensive, as the best,
II not the only mode of defense against the
n iao 40 he kol
adopted by Gov. Harris for its defense were
generally approved Of by the opponents as
well as friends of that officer, and most of
the young men of the State were induced to
volunteer under a thorough conviction of the
justice Of the cause they espouse,d and they
performed their duty to the State with a
zeal and gallantry that have never been sur
passed, and upon every battlefield, glorious
iy sus tanned the ancient rsnoWn Of the vol
unteer State. y 80
EXALTED MAaNANIMrTY
If the President of the United States rep
resenting the whole nation, can generously
and magnanimously forgive his erring couu-
trymen, why should not the State of Ten nes-
nesse, who invited these gallant young men
to the field, do so likewise? General Grant
had met them on many q severely contested
battlefield and found them soldiers ''wor,hy
of his STEEL" and upon their surrender exac-
ted no humiliating terms from them, calcu-
lated to diminish their own selt-respect or
lessen them in the estimation of their fellow
citizens at home.
Forgiveness to poor erring human nature,
is the divine lesson taught US by our holy re-
ligion, and is the constant attendant of the
magnanimCus and brave, whilst the flre-side
patriots and the proud philanthropists exact
the last pound of flesh.
Upon the return home of these gallant
men, instead Of meeting the generosity and
liberslity which had been extended to them
by their victorious enemies-they found
themselves penniless and Naked. their ne
groes emmancipatcd, their friends robbed of
almost everything and every house in MOURN
ing for some of their lost companions. They
found the General AsSsmly Of their cwn
State, claiming to represent the people Of the
State, had passed laws disfranchising them
and their friends, denouncing them as trail
tors and robbers-thus reducing them and
their friends TO an equality with their eman-
cipated slaves, and at the same time coop
Grating with the radicals Of the North who
were urging the extention of the elective
franchise to the negro-thus whilst those
claiming to represent the people of the States
were using every effort to reduce the white
man to an equality with the negro. their
Northern associates were not less active in
their efforts to elevate the negro above the
white man.
,nvsrxr ,rr,r,rnv ov rr,v.ssrr
WIN not attempt 10 uePicc the emotions
whicn niieo the poSsoms OF our gallant
young meh, VINO nao so hooiy sustained
cause lney oeiieVeo 70 oe Just ana necessary
10 tne prosperity ana happiness ot ine cit-
gems OF their own state; :,
IL Is enough 10 say tnat IKE peaeeaoie'
gooa clllzens, .ney formed no comoinaIlons,
made no movement 70 punish the injustice
S 81, aa ...ns ~
peace and harmony which thew wished 10
preyail throughout the country. They re-
mained peaceably at home. relyinp upon the
pledges of the officers of the United States
for protection. and knowing that the peoplo
of their own States would do them iustice.
whenever an opportunity was piyen them TO
sneak or act.
was horn and rcored among the neonlc
and have snent the better half of NV life in
their service and can truly saw that at no
neriod in onr history. have the people becn
more ouietIv and peaceablv disposed. or
more determined 10 UNFOLD thc Constitution
and laws.
No more annreben.;ons of secession or war
with the United States need 6e entertained in
anv ouarter-experience and suffering have
tano5t tbem a jasson tho, vii, not readily he
forgotten dr;ven 10 n bv The ;ninstice
and onnreseion which M freeman can hear
and n,,,si saw with dean regret tbat tbs
movements now beinr made at ,be North in.
a;cate @ . temner n nnsasorahie 70 IN tbs neace of
the country and ,bs restitution Of the rights