Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-09-28
r@- We find the following very interest.

r6 We find the following very interest
ing letter from Hon. Jacob Thompson, Of
Mississippi, in the Oxford Falcon; Ct las,
week:
DUBLIN, IRELAND, Aug. II, l7ss.
To Capt. William De,any:
My DEAR SR:-Your interesting letter Of
the l6th ult., was received by me on yester-
day, and the only way in which can mani
fest the unqualified pleasure it gives me, is
by making you on immediate reply. | new
er knew until ! was cast out an exile, with
out home, or country; ard apparently WITH
out friends, how necessary 70 human happi
ness Is human sympathy. A stranger in a
strange land, caring for nobody, nobody
caring for me, ] determined, for my pleasure
and Improvement, to visit the principal
scenes Of historic interest and Thus familiar
ize myself with the story of those who had
gone before me. l went to Paris, which,
take 1t all in all is the pleasantest city in the
world, and there remained until could re-
read her history and learn something of the
French language. Then went to Switzer-
land and visited the retreats of the different
distinguished exiles, who, in the violence of
party, had been driven from their country
to this place of quiet and safety. went to
kome, the home of the greatest men and
purest patriots, whose history adorns the an
mails OF the past, and there / remained two
months industriously employed all the time
in examining the ruins of former greatness
and grandeur, never feeling the slightest in-
terest in the living; but absorbed with
thoughts, principles, and actions of the
mighty dead. Then went to the delight
ful city of Naples, delightful for its climate
ana situation, not for its people; here was
the seat of royalty now in banishment.-
Then to Egypt, the cradle, of letters and
learning; then to Palestine, to tread the
ground our Savior trod, to see the places
where he performed his glorious works, to
climb the sides Of Mount Olivet to stand on
Mount Calvary, drink the waters from the
pool of Sloan, and gaze. upon the tomb
where they laid His body and which could
only retain it for its appointed time. From
here l think l came away better man. /
returned through the Greek isles, of vast
interest to the student, up the Adriatic to
Venice, a most singular place, with most
marvellous history. Thence through Vienna,
Munich, Frankfort, Cologne and Brussels to
Paris again. Here Mrs. Thompson left
ysarning to see the land we both had loved,
and love still; but could not go with her,
and why? Was 1t because feared to meet
there the penalties of offended law2 Was
it because trials might be instituted and proofs
he produced which would afiix a stigma up
on my name2 mol 1t was because felt
that there was no constitution or law In the
South for the protection of my rights. It
was because the arbitrary will Of an officer,
guided by prejudice and passion, which have
been excited by the grossest ISLANDERS and
foulest falsehoods, might arrest incarcerate,
and in thousand ways annoy me and
could have no remedy. When civil rights
are restored; when the military officer be-
comes subject to law, and for any violation
Of the rights of the citizen, the courts who
have the power to infict upon him condign
punishment then will be happy to return
and take my old friends by the hand; for l
assure you, that with all her faults, love
my country. There is no other such couu-
try in the world. have visited every king
dom and people which have any position
among the nations of the earth, and with the
ever could find an acceptable
place-to settle down and gather my little
family about me, and there in quiet spend
the remnant Of my days; but find no place
In which am willing to leave my family
No, for good or evil, the best country is the
United States, and If there could be only
security of person, property and reputation,
it would be the most desirable country on
earth. At all events, those dependent on
me, want them to remain and abide the
fate and destiny Of their country. What
shall become of me is Of but little conse-
quence, my days of usefulness are past My
sun is fast Fastening to its setting, but my
will shall be that when life's fitful fever is |
over, my body shall be buried beneath the
soil which has been fattened with the blood
Of my ancestors in the struggle for its indie
pendence. With these feelings you can
easily imagine how highly appreciate any
evidence of kindness and good will from
those who are to keep vigils over my grave.
Your petition is wellintended. l am thank |
ful to each and every one who signed it. |
regard it as friendships Offering; but fear
II will be unavailing. Indeed, it will be of
no use. Mr.. johnson is or may be well dis |
posed, but yielding to the suggestions of
deep, designing malignancy on the part of
Others, he has inflicted upon me gross injus
tice; he has inflicted upon me grievous
wrong in denouncing me as an escaped telon.
believe he knows and feels it, but fear he
Is like all other men; the more groundless
the reasons for his injury, the more obsti-
nate he will be in refusing TO make repara- |
tion. Moreover, the President cannot act
for fear of the denunciations of the Radicals,
If he were ever so well disposed. would |
be unwillingto embarrass him with anything
on my account, for honestly believe if he |
succeeds there Is some hope of the country. |
If he fails, the constitution is buried, civil
rights win become by-words, liberty isgone,
and & deep gloom Of inevitable darkness
hangs over the destiny Of the greatest peo.
pie in the world. weigh not my own fate |
as feather in the balance; on ly hope to
live until shall have power under the law
to prosecute the perjurer and inalct punish
ment upon those who have wronged me-
And although have knelt at the tomb of
our Savior, yet fear that the punishment
that awaits the evil-doer in the next world