Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-12
EAsrTBNxEssEE CORRESPONDENTS.


Radical PerseeutfOns-The Intolerance
Of the Courfs---GOOd Citizens indicted
for robbery and sent 10 the Peniteni-
tiary---.HOw Juries are snnde---CrOPs,
etc, etc.
Correspondence Of the Union.and Americana
NEWPORT, EAST TENNESSEE, Aug. =
Through the kindness Of friend, copy Of
your paper reached me at this place. and
assure you / was much pleased with the
conservatism and elevated tone that pervade
its columns, as well as the neatness and per
lection Of its mechanical execution. 1t came
as a ray Of light, and as the messenger Of
peace and good will into a section enshroud-
ed in the deepest gloom. The embers Of the
late terrible contest are kept aglow, and the
shadow Of war seems still TO brood over us
like some horrible spectre evoked from the
regions Of despair. The energies Of the
people are benumbed, and they gloomily and
despondingly look to future that seems to
promise nothing better than the present.
Some Unio nmen are strenuous and persist
ent in keeping alive the hatred and bitter
ness engendered by the late war.
Charity, generosity, and magnanimity,
seems not to be component parts Of their
moral composition. Hatred, persecution,
and oppression of fallen and helpless foe
are only congenial with their natures. In
the day that tried mems souls, such persons,
as a general thing, were not found on the
front, battling for the glorious Union
or for a cause they now say was far dearer to
them than life Show me man that went
into the Federal army from principle and
fgF nd n hi inns
as a brave soldier, and honest gentleman,
and l will show you q man, who IS not now
hunting down "rebels." He is willing to
to forget the mournful past, and treat as gen
tleman, those who met him on the field OF
battle dishonest patriots, struggling heroically
for what they deemed right.
Circuit Court has been in session here for
several days, presided over by Judge SWAN.
The criminal docket is very large-some OF
the best men of the country having their
names enrolled thereon as robbers and
felOns
1t seems that Southern men are pursued
with the law until all are broken up, run
of, or sent to the penetentiary. Our Grand
Juries are composed entirely of Union men,
and it is next to impossible to geta Southern
man on a jury, that is to try US for life OF
liberty the prosecuting attorney challenges
all such. Our situation is very unfortunate
and l might add almost deplorable, for we
are nearly all liable to be sent to the peni-
tertiary according to the rulings Of the court
Two ex-rebels were tried on yesterday, on an
Indictment charging them with robbing a
Union man of his gun. The evidence adj
duced on behalf Of the State showed that
the two men went to their neighbours house
and told him that they had come after his
gun. The man told them where it was, and
they took it and left, not using a word o.
insult, or manifesting TIE least violence, OF
molesting a single thing else In the house
This occurred in the early part of the winter
1861, at which time there was what was
termed rebellion in this county against the
Confederacy, which created intense excl E.
ment.
The people had been ordered by the Gov
ernor Of the State TO deliver up their guns
for the public defence to an agent and Capt
GoRNIAN and his company was ordered here
for carrying the law into effect A collision
occurred, and many of the citizens rushed
to arms, A Juror Of excitement was up the
Southern men took the guns of Union men
under a general order, and many Of them
were taken or given up. Under these cir
cumstance, and in the midst Of this excite
ment, the two men before mentioned took
the gun, not for their own use or benefit, but
for the use of the c. S. A. They proposed
to adduce proof of this fact but were denied
the privilege. They prov ed that they paid
the man full value for his gun. They also
proved a character without stain or blemish
All felt that there would certainly be an ac-
quittal, Notwithstanding they were not per
mitted TO prove that there ever existed a
Confederate authority. The jury retired
and soon returned a verdict Of guilty and
five years imprisonment in the penitentiary.
Southern men were seized with terror and
alarm; more deep, intense feeling | have
never seen manifested All felt deeply for
the unfortunate men, who hau only done
that which was at that time in accord with
the general sentiment of Southern people.
l will venture that nine-tenths of both ar
mics committed deeds far more reprehensi-
bic than this, and more worthy to blast and
ruin their regulations and bring deep, incon-
solable sorrow on their families. Alas alasl
the drama now being enacted has no parallel
in history A eulogy upon the glorious
Union, bitter, whitening, unsparing denun-
Citations Of rebels and traitors, is the kind OF
speeches Illuminated in the courts Of justice,
when some poor, but honest rebel is being
tried for all that is dear to him in life. Stir
up against him all the deep prejudices en-
gendered by the war. No lawyer will or
dare not say a word in defense of the causes
which prompted him to bid adieu to home
and family, and 60 and stand for four long,
cherries, dreadful years amid carnage and
blood.
Thousands Of men are so cruel-hearted,
so utterly devoid of all the gentle and ten
der sympathies of the human soul, as to re-
joice at the sight Of "rebels" marching to
the penitentiary, simply because they have
been rebels. Many large damage suits have
been brought in this court against "rebels,"
none Of which have, as yet been tried
The prospects for large corn crop are
very fattering, notwithstanding the great
and unprecedented quantity Of rain in the
months Of May and June. Wheat was toll
erably fair, and in fact everything has given
us a good yield. JUSTICE.