Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-02
HON. W. B. STOKES.
Sweet EPistle from Sweet william
The Author of the Duncan Letter.
RepudiRIes the Amnesty-A Ques-
IIOn Of HaIGers EIucIdafed.
Editors Union and Dispatch.


Editors Union and Dispatch.
LIBERTY, Tenn, Sept. 9th, 1867
SRs: l see in your issue of the Doth inst.
the following allusion 10 myself which
does me great injustice.
VIM. B. STOKES AAINFSTED
The Washington correspondent of the
New York World says:
Among those embraced by the recent
proclamation of amnesty is the Hon. VIM.
b. Stokes, of Tennessee, a member of the
thirty-sixth Congress, who went into the
rebellion and proposed to raise troops
now a Radical member of the last, and |
believe, also a member elect Of the present
House of Representatives
And yet this man with the governmental
halter around his neck, has passed himself
off for "fre-tried loyaist."
1t is not true that | ever was connected
in any way with the rebellion, or the at
tempt to separate or break up the Federal
government.
never made a speech or uttered word
in favor Of secession; l never raised any
troops for the Rebel army; never Joined
Rebel company; never sought or held
an office in the so-called Confederate gov
eminent / never took an oath to support
the so-cslled Confederate government;
never contributed one cent TO aid the rebel
lion, unless it was forced from me, either
10y the Confederate authorities or stolen
from me by their rowing bands of thieves
and bushwhackers. If this is considered
as giving aid, then | aided extensively. |
never drew one breath in favor of seces-
sion or disunion, and not one word or act
of mine can be 80 construed if truth and
justice is done. Ii is well known that /
stood up and opposed every move towards
secession in the thirty~sixth Congress. 1t
is well known that l opposed separation in
1861, and made a vigorous canvass against
il during the months of Nav and June.
1861, voting no separation and represen-
tation on the Sth of June, 1861. 1t is
well known that | entered the Federal
lines as soon as General Buel reached
Nashville
Ii As well known that raised regiment
OF good and true men for the Federal army
IN l662 and served as an officer and soldier
in the same until the spring of 1865. when
/ was honorably discharged. 1t is we'll
known that while in the army never
disobeyed an order from a superior officer.
l dislike TO trouble you with this but
justice demands fiat denial of such cross
misrepresentation. Nogovernment halter
was ever around my neck, for the GOOD
reason Of never having committed an Of
tense against my government, either bv
word or deed. You, no doubt, have had
the halter about your neck for treason. and
if justice had been done, the props would
have been Knocked from under you. and
clear daylight would have been seen be-
tween you and earth, and there kept sus-
pended until you ceased to kick or give
signs of treason.
But magnanimous government forgave
you, and permitted you to live and to fol-
low some honest avocation for a living.
Now, in order toreap revenge and put forth
your hatred for the Federal government.
you are villfying and publishing base
falsehoods against the men who stood true
20 the Union and Federal government
during our unhappy struggle.
Now, sirs, in conclusion, let me ask YOU
to publish this letter in your paper, and
hereafter con6ne yourself TO facts. / do