Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-02
+. DRAGGED rvro 1T.

The most unfortunate class of people in
the South, connected with the recent rebel
lion, were those who were dragged into it,"
Most of this c.ass-notwithstanding the CO.
ercion that was applied--managed to stay al
home and drive profitable trade. We
know q number who have been able TO live
more sumptuously since they we're dragged
into" the rebellion than at any former time
in their history. There is Mr. ARsELL, for
instance, who by this dragging" process,
and various letters of Recommendation from
his rebel friends, was enabled to.drive profit
able contracts with the Confederate Quarter
masters Department. and for this great out
rage upon his feelings he is now seeking to
disfranchise those who imposed their letters
Of recommendation upon him, and thus
dragged him into his shoe and his leather
contracts.
Mr.. SESTER, the present Senator from
Granger, was also dragged into the re-
bellion, and taken off by Isham g. Harris
and his rebel Legislature to the city of Mem
phis, where he was co-erced into a most in
flammatory speech in behalf of "repelling
the invader" from the soil of the South.
Wonder if he has refunded to the Treasury
under the recent law, the money he drew
from the Bank (par funds) for his services
as member of that reasonable conclave."
Col. Stokes, also, was " dragged into" the
writing Of his John Duncan letter, commend
ing Gov. Harris for arming the State to
resist Lincoln to the point of the bayonet."
Gov. FLErcHER-if the statement of his
Union neighbors be true-was " dragged in
to" making his application for commission
to raise regiment for the rebel army.
And the friends of Secretary BRowNLow
were bitter in their denunciations of Sneed,
Swan & Co., for repelling the advances of
that gentleman after he had 80 gracefully
yielded to the dragging process and
stood between the porch and the altar of the
rebellion.
There are many others whom we could
mention, if circumstances required, who
were dragged into" the rebellion after the
same fashion. They have one consolation,
however. We have never known an in
stance where the unfortunate individual
did not thrive and prosper under this sup
preston Of his liberty.
1t will not be long, we suppose, until
some enterprising New Highlander will pub
fish another book of martyrs, handsomely
illustrated with incidents of their "suffer-
ing.s' There are some at the North, how
ever, who are little incredulous as TO
their statements of having been drag
ged into" the rebellion. Among the
number is John Van Buren,, who, in a speech
in Albany the otherday, in which he favored
the hanging of Mr.. Davis and other South
err traitors, was not disposed to believe there
had been any very loyal men at the South.
He said:
do not stop to consider the conduct of those
now in the South, who claim that they have been
drdg0ed into this contest, and to have been reluc-
tant in regard to it; though | do think that when
n man ike james Il. IcilBTUs III Tue Dttlc VI
South Carolina, IN the heart of Charleston. sur
rounded by all the social distinction Of that place,
could stand up alone and proclaim that this was a
great crime in which they were engaged, and that
the punishment must come sooner or later and
refused 10 lend himself 10 il, there might have
been found n few more in other portions of the
Southern States who could have participated in
this sentiment and sustained him in that action.
When prominent men of the South claimed they
were dragged into this controversy. without stop
ping TO deny il, should wish, before repOsing I'M
cd IN them FIJI no q NJ
qure what they will be dragged into the next
and wait a reasonable time. IL Qua Laughter