Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-02-20
The Horrors Of 1861 Revived.
Twenty Days Notice Served.
Union Citizens Fly for their Lives
Voices from West Tennessee.

| The following letters Come from unoaestionahle
sources The writers of teen are men of tho
character in all respects and have been blamsles.
consistent Unionists from TIE beginning of onr1
troubles. We suppress names for the reason that
| publication would very probably cost our fr;ands
their lives We eutreaf the Legislature n so1d
speedy aid to the suffering Unionists of West Ten
nessee before they are murdered and driven fro-,
their homes. When The sisassnation of loval civil
officers is styled "retribaive JUSTICE bv leading
rebel journals the State gpvernmen! should protect
the lives of true men again the assaults of desnera
does. One letter says undt date of February /
| ~ . The feeling fsre is worse If ANYTIME
than it was last week. D.. W. G.. Purseiy .Jo
Pursely, and Robert Purse are gone They were
advised to leave and teF cd ,at sto1y ONT t5>; %
days God only knows hoN long we will get TO stav
west of the Tennessee river. You may look for me
in Nashville. The rebels are trying to get some of
our Union men to sign apelition to defeat the mill
itary bill They are AFRAID 10 rsfse lest thew ssonld
be killed before the force get here. You must can
ton the Legislature against this for here we have
such an overwhelming majority against,us thatnol-
icy for the present must be used. / know / write
the feeling Of the loyal party here when say thew
want the military bill 20 Pass 30 if vou see thai;
to petition to defeat the military bill Won
may know it is not an expression of their wish but
a stratsgem. II you want to see the Union
frantic with joy just send the soldiers. I wish
l could hear the drum and buge right now, and see
the boys in blue"
The next letter is from leading citizen of West
Tennessee
Can you organize your military force
by March? 1t ought to be done immediately befora
any more of our loyal citizens fall by the hands of
rebels. There is no safety here Every Union man
of any note is in momsntary danger of his life We
know what pitlable excuses are made for these nur
ders; that they are committed by few reckless fall
lows under the influence Of drink, for other than
political reasons and that the respectable mart of the
community condemn such acts What barefaced
hypocrisy and falsehood We know, and All the
circumstances prove thai public sentiment winks at
these crimes, and rebel uriss never will punish the
offenders Men, while publicly protesting to regret
these deeds rub their hands with secret satisfaction
that another and another Id Tennessee traitor
and Yankee has met his merited doom. It ia |
gravely stated that Case had been instrumental ap
ring the war, in the killing of Farris brother. We
know Of no instance where crimes are not justified
on similar ground. Unless you do something speed
lily to stop this, we cannot remain here It grows
worse every day The courts are silent and impo- |
tent. The President and United States Supreme |
Court have invited the rebels to take the country bv
force, and they will do it unless promptly arrested
Send on troops, and levy tax on the criminals and
their abettors to pay the osst. In the name of God
why hesitate? Arc you sfraid rebels will condemn
you? If the principles of the Union
party, that saved the country right, put them
through; eight it out On that line" Let them
growl at radical measures Radical measures only
will save the country from the peris that threaten
usu
The same agonizing, heart-rending cry for help
comes up from other quarters. viii the petition of
our suffering brethren be rejected or DELAYED? Let
speedy relief be gven.-yashuiUe Press and Times