Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-06-28

person. circulating the udtCef Ill
the neighborhood of the under
signed, says he did not recollect
which) saw bill entered on the
journal of the late Legislature to
the amount of $4,000 90 by DR..
VIM. Stewart, for damages sus-
tanned by him during the late war.
Neill is represented as having ex-
pressed a deal of sconder and sur
prise at the enormous amount of
the bill, and particularly as he is
said to have insinuated that Stew
art did not haze so much to lose.
AS Esquire Neill is generally
known, and moreover esteemed a
man of undoubted veracity, we
will permit him to answer for him.
self.
WILLIAM STEWART.
We publish synopsis of Esq.
Neilrs letter, giving in substance
the facts stated. The letter can
be seen at any time at the Office of
the Observer. Ed.
Esq. Neill's Letter.
To the Editor of the Fayetteville Observer:
DEAR SIR-Dr. VIM. Stewart
has just called on me for a writ
ten statement of what | have seen,
heard, or known of him petition
ing the State Legislature for an ap-
preparation to indemnify him for
losses during our late war. Some
time last winter, in reading the
Legislative summary as reported
by the newspapers Of Nashville, l
saw bill introduced in the SEN
ate, proposing an appropriation to
VIM. Stewart, former Senator from
the 10Th Senatorial District. l
cannot now find the paper con-
tanning the proposition alluded to,
but am certain of the fact that
Senator Stewart was forced by per-
sonal affliction to leave the DELHI
erations of that body and return
to his home in Lincoln county,
By referring to the published acts
OF the first session of the Tennes-
see Legislature, 1865, and to the
report of the Committee on FL
nance, giving the mileage and per
diem allowance to the members of
the Senate (see Acts of Session
alluded to, page 59,( by examin-
ing which you will find that Sena-
tor Stewards name is not found in
the appropriation bill.
This explanation and reference
to the acts themselves clears away
all mysteries in the minds of any
one beyond all doubt or caviI, |
should think.
Gross injustice in the absence
of this explanation might be done
DR.. Stewart.
| on one or two occasions mot
oftener) spoke of reading the bill al
luded to for the benefit of Senator
Stewart, but at no time did | in
tend, suspect, or believe that the
simple fact of reading this in the
common newspapers of the day
would be construed as the founda-
ton for the ground of so many
pernicious ISLANDERS as DR.. Stewart
complains of. l know | did not
intend harm to him, or any one,
in simply rehearsing what 1 had
read. Nor did | with regard to
said bill, state to any one any CIV
en- amount.
However wide he and / may DIFF
fer with regard to the political
questions of the day, l must con-
cede honesty of purpose to Sena-
tor Stewart. Ihave no inclination
to wrong or misrepresent him
Nor do | believe him man that
would make a false or unjust de-
mand on the government or on
the people. l have known him
long and favorably-always found
him honest and fair in all his re-
lations of life.
/ consider Senator Stewart a !
close stickler and advocate of his
doctrines and principles, and what
he thinks to be right he maintains,
caring but little what others may
say or believe to the contrary.
l am, very truly,
J. r. NELL.
Now, if you examine the Nash
vile Daily Union, under date of
October 2Sth, 1865, you will see
that Senator Trimble introduced