Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-26
now THE PLEGMTED FAITH OF
THE GOyEiisMENr ~ DisRE'

with two good sureties, to establish their
loyalty and secure the protection Of the
government The penalty in these bonds
was generally large, and they contained
the following provision
/" To be void, however upon this condi
ton, that said 49, shall keep the peace,
and afford neither aid nor comfort 20 the
enemies Of the government Of the United
States; that he will be true and steadiast
citizen Of The United States, and that
during the present rebellion he will
not 90 beyond the lines Of the Federal
armies, nor into any section Of the country
10 possession of the enemy, without per-
mission Of the authorities Of the United
States"
This bond contained the following
GUARANTEE OF PROTECTION.
this is TO certify, that the citizsn men
toned in the within bond, having properly
executed the same, with approved security,
he is entitled from hencelorth 10 the full
protection and support of the government
| of the United States, and which is hereby
pledged 10 him, as a good and loyal citizen,
in the full enjoyment of his property, both
real and personal. All 5oraging is hereby
forbidden upon his premises, unless actually
necessary for the support and we'll being of
the Federal armies, in which case all posi-
bic care shall be exercised, and full receipt
given by the officer in charge, which shall
be duly recognized aud the property paid
for by the United States government. OIL
GERS in command of foraging expeditions
will be held TO The strictest accountability
| for the protection herein guaranteed.
w. S. RosEcRANs,
Maj. Gen. Comd'g Dep'nt Of Cumberland.
ANDREW JOHNSON,
Nil. Gov. of the State Of Tennessee.
Here were the agents Of the govern
ment, one speaking for the military and
the other for the civil department, as
surfing every citizen, however "disloyal"
who gave this bond and observed faiths
fully its requirement, that he should be
regarded and treated as q good and
loyal citizen" and of course this carried
with it all the rights and privileges to
which such citizen was entitled This
assurance was so regarded by the editor
of the Press and Times, who was then
editor Of the Nashville Union, and so
regarding it he fully endorsed it, In the
latter paper Of November 80, 1862, he
said
powerful as the Federal government is,
still it is as magnanimous and forgiving as
| it is powerful, and is ever ready to temper
justice with the heavenly quality of mercy.
Ii cherishes malice and spirit of vengeance
toward noae of its citizens, although, in
spirit of passion or prejudice, TO which the
best Of us are subject at times, they may
have tFansgressed the bounds of duty and
forgotten their allegiance. 1t offers to all
who have been deceived and misled into
this wicked rebellion, the pipe Of peace,
the olive branch Of love, in the subjoined
bond and guarantee, as an evidence that it
Is not only willing but anxious to welcome
back into the ancient circle of fraternity,
all who will return to the path of duty.
This is the universal desire of all the
loyal. The army fights for peace
not for conquest; it battles for the preserya>
ton of good and long-tried government
are you not weary of this dismal scene
Surely you are if you have the souls of men.
Nor vet have you felt the worst for who can
foretell the result, if by your folly you force
the State to remain for years without civil
Recommendations Legislature, without
inferior and superior courts-under Me
stern scephs Of military rule? II is fear
ful TO think fof the change which snch a
sway would almost certainly work UPON
u.s. Men talk Of their rights. Well, here
the Federal government tenders you your
rights and protection, on condition that yon
resume an allegiance which you forsook
without cause. No new condition is here
required of you; all that is asked is that
you be loyal citizen, bearing faithful al
legiance to the government, which a few
years ago was your glory and pride. There
is no way for you to get your rights without
becoming loyal. The government is firmly
resolved henceforth to draw line between
its friends and its enemies, and give protec-
ton where it finds allegiance"
Large numbers of citizens gave the
bond designated by the agents Of the
government, which made them good
and loyal citizens" And if the condi-
tons Of this bond were not faithfully OBJ
served, why was not the penalty enforced ?
Yet the men who gave these bonds have
been denied the rights guaranteed to
them, which the editor of the Press and
Times then endorsed Early in the
struggle these men complied with the de-
mand made upon them to establish their
loyalty to the government, yet when it
was proposed in the Legislature of this
State to disfranchise these same
men, the editor of the Press and Times
had no word of condemnation for this act
of bad faith on the contrary, he shouted
Justify for their decapitation The faith
of the government Of the United States
was pledged to the men who thus gave
their bonds that they should be protected
in the enjoyment Of all the rights and
privileges OF loyal citizens, and the editor
Of the Press and Times assured this peo-
pie that the Federal government rendered
them their rights and protection, and APP
pealed to them to accept its guarantee
and now the men who then hearkened
unto his fair promises, find that he has
deserted them, and demands that the
State government shall disfranchise aud
degrade them because they would not fol-,
low him into the slough of Rsdicalism
But this is not the only evidence of the
want Of good faith toward the people of
Nashville and Davidson county exhibited
by the editor Of the Press aud Times
On the 2lst Of April, 1868, Gen Robert
B. Mitchell, commanding fhe United
States forces at this place, issued an order
from which we extract as follows:
"The syTnpaihizers with the existing
rebellion in this city and vicinity, appa-
rently considering the dictates OF their
political sympathies "a of more force than
the obligations imposed upon them by
their residence and protection within the
Federal lines, the General commanding at
this post orders as follows:
81. All white persons over the age Of
eighteen wears and residing within the