Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-20
FROM CARROLL COUNTY.
Something Of the HaWkins Family.
aud SIS History an the Late War.

something Of the HaW kius Family,
aud SIS History an the Late War.
Correspondence Of the Union and Dispatch
am not disposed to quarrel, or TO find
fault with my neighbor, or TO speak lily o.
any one, but am inclined in these times
Of deep distress, to show up in all their
true colors, the character Of men that figure
in public places, and play with the inlests.
and sport in tantalizing triumph, with the
dearest privileges Of the brave and honest,
but unfortunate people Of Tennessee. In
the beginning Of the late sanguinary strife,
our present Congressman from this district.
manifested 10 little interest in the success
Of the Southern cause. He remarked in a
speech made in this county, that If the
Yankees dared 10 invade Tennessee, he
woeld meetthem at the border, and rumor
says he went so far as 10 say, " that he
would Join a guerrilla band % drive back
the Lincoln hordes, it they intruded upon
the sacred soil OF Tennessee"
He would have tried his popularity for the
colonelcy Of Southern regiment, had it not
been for the illness Of his family, and las
/ think together with his bitter hatred Of
the Democratic party. Not having man
hood enough to rise above party spirit, or
milk Of human kindness enough 70 neutral
ize the acrimony OF a long distempered
mind, pent up by a contracted soul like
his he saw the principle was jns:, and the
cause Of the South was right, yet be ven
tured not, nor moved be, uFtil gale Of
misfortune swept over the South, and bore
him full Aedged and panoplied for the fray,
Colonel, or Lieutenant Colonel, Of Yam
kee regiment, and he was beyond all ques-
tion the hero Of Lexington, Of Trenton and
of Union City.
We live here in what may properly be
called the Hawkins dynasty they eli all
the important Offices and nodoubt Il there
were any more Of them Of the right stripe,
our benign Legislature (the "only parallel
Of the Roman Senate would create new
Offices for them. The election Of Col.
Hawkins 20 Congress was the merest mock
cry Of Democratic election. The ballot
box was hermeticslly sealed TO all who
had done the most trivial aid to a Conied-
crate soldier, and in many instances the
applicants for certificates TO vote, were
made 10 tell Cor whom they intended to
cast their votes This usurpation of power
was executed by the Clerk Of the County
Court,-a most pious member and elder OF
the church, and sworn officer Of the State
together with the fac simile, il not the re-
animated Uriah Heap, who gave to the al
ways pious clerk, the wink Of rejection or
the nod Of acceptance. One man prominent
in his district for Union principles, and
unswerving loyalty 10 the government, was
rejected because his wife gave bed quilt
and pair of socks 10 the Southern cause.
That bed guilt and those socks were wrung
from her wonan's heart by the tears and
the impassioned eloquence Of DIR. A. w.
Hawkins, Commissioner Of Roads for the
State. But in order 10 do full Justice to
the name, / must refer TO some who
have held ont faithful 10 the last.
One a young man just entered upon
mans estate, fell a sacrifice TO his
principles, and sleeps in a hero's grave.
Pause, yec onfederates in arms, and COM
rades Of his youth. Shed tears where
young Hawkins sleeps, end scatter flowers
DER his grave. Another was captain in
the Confederate army, and by his bravery
upon the field won the admiration OF all
who knew him, and commanded the respect
Of all who saw him-long lliay he live and
prosper, whose scars bear evidence Of his
faith, and who does homer 10 his name.
The gallant Colonel, before leaving here,
was in favor Of meeting the Rebels on half
way ground was very desirous to see una
nimity Of feeling among all classes. He
made a speech in Huntingdon, not long
ago, in which he said " his votes might be
found with both parties; that the people
must be charitable toward him." etc. All
sensible men knew where he stood then.
As soon as he reached Nashville, on his
way 10 Congress, he swelled into impor-
tance at once, aud delivered himself Of a
radical speech that out-radicaled the most
radical. He was in favor Of keeping the
Southern men right where they are, and
promptly elevating the negro to the ballot
box. Alasl "to what base uses has he
come at last" What fearful commentary
on human principle! NERTTAs.