Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-19
An Explanation that Ought not to be
go ~ Needed. ~

Within n week, we have heard, from several
sources that the tone OF this paper is so objection
pble as 10 have beon instrumental in influencing
The President 10 wihholda pardon from Maj G..
n. lIESnY. The report is based upon the false as
sumption, that we are disloyal and give utierancc
TO reasonable sentiments, and upon The equally
false assumption, that Maj. HENRY controls the
CRoSIcLE and Is, therefore, responsible for what
ever political opinions are found in its columns
so far rs it concerns us, individually, we do not
deem the report worthy Of notice; bat not wishing
that an innocent party should suffer, or he sup
posed TO suffer, for any fancied ndisereiion, or
crime Of ours, we feel incumbent upon us to say
that, since the close of the war, Maj. lIESRy has
neither written nor suggested a single sentiment
embodied in any Of our editorials; nor have we,
shIsing that PERIOD exchanged with him a word
upon the subject Of politics. lie dcvotcs himself
~ his profession and his private Affairs and no
uan, in The South, has eyinced more prudence, in
word and deed Neither now, nor at any form
reriud, has JIaj HESRY exercised any more control
over this paper than any other of sense with
whom it has been our good fortune to associate;
nor has the any other foundation than the fact
That he has been prominent politician, and We have
so-operaed with him, TO the best of our ability, in
'hn support of the principles aud measures of the
old Wing party.
That portion OF the rumor which supposes thc
Ppsidcnt to be prcjudieed against Maj. HRyRY be-
cause Of the 'one of the Chronicle, we look upon
IS absurd. There was time when President
.ioIIysoS knew of the existence Of this paper but
NC think il extremely doubtful whether he is
,ware Of the fact, that it still exists. And if he
scrc weekly reader, we will do him the justice
80 believe that he wond not only acquit us of dis
loyalty, but hold Maj. HrSRy eGaay gutless
whether responsible, or NOT, for the sentiments we
utter. No man of sense, or good principles, secs
aaythug like treason in an honest defense of the
Constitution, and willing obedience to law nor
get in an earnest condemnation Of the aboliiionists
who seek to opprcss the South, and are willing to
p.ouAtonize the government to find sanction
Sal such oppression. II TO do these things, con-
sti,utcs treason, we plead guilty. Were we TO be
judged by those who first cspouscd, and then be-
trhycd the cause OF the South; or by those who
boast that from the beginning they never raised
arm but to strike former friend or neghbor,
we would certainly he convicted of treason. But,
happily for us and for the county, those Simon-
pare Union men, who were native, or adopted,
sons Of the South have ncithcr the respect nor the
confidence Of the President and his supporters, and
in that lies safety. The government of Ten
sssee, NJ at presented constituted stands without
sympathy, and with no other support than that Of
martial law. a free ballot-ouce the proudesi
nj TRY ynuld IN
The party IN power knows this full WELL and
hcnce the effort TO pcrpetuate its hold upon Office
by Acknowledgement bills asd test oaths, and by
threats dcnunciation and persecution of those
journals that stand up for the rights OF the people
md expose III, wickcjncss of their orprcssors
Hence the cry Of disloyalty against the CHRONICLE
and the effort to crush it by the intervention oil
martial law. But whilst we defend the Consttu
'Dn obey the laws-cvil ard mtary-ant
second the efforts of The Administration to restore
the Union and SAGE, from extcrn:ination the vita
lrinepics q free government we have no cause ,C
rpprchcnd penalties which we have not Justly incur
red 1t is n striking fact, that in those States-Ms
souri, Maryland, kentucky and Tennessee
citizens of which were originally divided, on III,
subject of secession, MI manner of wrong is win
dicively inflicted upon the conquered party, an,
tI,t are most violent now, who were most peace
able during the war. From such a party, we cx
prct nothing but Asconstruction and injustice an,
but for the better feelings aud high sense of iustic
and nagnanmity displayed by those in cominant
Of this Military Department, we might ere thi.
have seen the inside Of the Penitentiary and 70
no other crime than opposition TO measures whic
deprive the majority of all privileges save the on
Of paying taxes.
We beg the readers pardon for dwelling SO Ion
on this subject; but We feel it to be our duty
Maj ilrSRy to set him right in relation to this re
rolt, and, lbs it comes from Nashville TO transmit
10 that point not merely denial but a sugges,io
rs To the probable soSnc and the motives whc
gave rise to it, As we know our duty 10 the go,
eminent, and mean 10 discharge it. in good iai,l
we fear no charge of disloyay from the Just an
honorable and if made by those of the oppost
ch,r'ctcr we SHALL hereafter, treat il with IL
contempt it merits,
GES. 'Crno GoIno' WILLIAMS was to ha,