The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-17
FROM COFFEE COUNTY.
How "a Late Union Soldier Talks.

TULLAHoMA, TENN, May 18th, 1866.
Editor Nashville Union:
DEAR SRA letter appears in the pub
lished proceedings Of the Legislature from
Mr.. J. B. Rogers, Of this Assembly District,
asking admission as its Representative,
which go falsifes facts that a reply is
deemed necessary.
Mr.. Rogers starts out with the statement,
that he received the loyal vote Of the dis
trict, and Mr.. Thomas the contrary. Now,
this is only untrue in point of fact, but Mr..
Rogers well knew it. In the first place there
are more than fifty late Federal soldiers in
this District, mr.. Rogers entire vote being
only thirty. four none Of whom SO far as
can learn voted for Rogers, but on the con-
trary, were ardent supporters Of Mr.. Thorn
as, many Of whom myself included) were
originally from the North, and never cast a
vote in Tennessee until since the war.
They recognized, however, in Mr.. Thorn
IS, the true exponent of the principles up
on which they left home, friends, and all
the hallowed associations and memories of
their earlier years and faced the fierce car
mage Of war against The enemies Of the
Government. It was not for a myth but q
great principle, and when that was tho
roughly indicated, and the power Of the
Government TO maintain its authority an
established fact, those lately in rebellion
accepted the issue as inevitable, and quietly
returned to their homes, with sn honest
purpose Of becoming Peaceable citizens, and
unite their efforts with those whom they
had recently encountered in "battle's dread
array" to restore the government of their
fathers and ours to its former glory and
strength.
Many who were in the Federal army
from the North remained in this State, and
have become legal and qualified voters.
How they can be charged with disloyalty is
an enigma to me, and yet not one Of whom
voted for Rogers.
The law passed by the present Legisla-
ture, known as the Franchise Act, was in
tended to cut Of entirely the disloyal vote
Of the State, excepting, however, from its
sweeping disqualifcations those who voted
in the recent State elections, If they are
sufficiently loyal to vote under the present
Act, and voted with almost entire unani-
nifty for Mr.. Thomas. How does it happen
that Mr.. Rogers alone received the loyal
vote
If an election we're to be held tomorrow
for Representatives, in strict conformity
with the requirements Of the Franchise
Act" Mr. Thomas would receive ninety
nine out Of every hundred votes cast in the
District, including those who were in the
army from the North.
Some Of those who voted for Rogers are
well known, and the fact is indisputable
that they were blatant rebels in the begin
ming of the war; one Of whom wrote the
letter produced by Mr.. Mullins at the re-
cent appearance Of Mr.. Thomas in the Rep
reseniative Hall after his triumphant re-
turn by the loyal voters Of his District.
This same man used every exert.on to re-
cruit a company for the Confederate army,
ana Moutu nave eutclcu bho htIflCe buu
battled for the cause if he had been sue
cessful.
These are facts, Mr.. Editor, and can be
substantiated by the evidence Of unquali-
fedly loyal men. Mr.. Rogers should, there
fore, be cautious in his statements, as it
might be expedient to show who his sup
poriers were-which would not be very
hatteriug TO him as an aspirant for the seat
properly belonging to another aud which
is vacant only by means of political chica-
merry and corruption that would crimson
with shame the bloated cheeks of besotted
Nero. FEDERAL SOLDIER.