Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-07

| the father of Jason, heard OF the backing,
of which no one approves, but all regret the
thoughtlessness Of the boys, he apologized
to Bingham, and the latter expressed him.
self satisfied of Jason's innocence. But
Jason is also in arrest.
Has Bingham no gratitude? Has he
none Of the principles of a man? Oh!
shame, where is thy blush? Time was,
when by physical infrmities, he was so OBJ
nOxious he could get board in no family in
Athens, the Tanners sent his meals to his
Office. -...- ....r
Mr.. John Tanner, one Of our most hon
orable and reliable citizens, has been his
special friend has stood by him when he
had sufficient cause to turn against him.
Was particularly kind to Mrs. Bingham,
| who, by the way, is an estimable lady
| pity she bears his name-and did much TO
enable her TO get through the lines to her
| husband.
Bingham's recent treatment here was
intended as personal matter, and not be-
cause of any political sentiments.
Better and more honest Union men than
he Eued here during the war Better have
lived here since, and have never been dis
turbed, becauee they were gentlemen, hoB-
est and true.
What is to become of us? Such "teach-
ings" as the above have demoralized our
labor system. Our hands are leaving
the fields without any warning, and our
crops are suffering
As Bingham's correspondent pirates of
free speech, l hope he will not object to
this, as they are facts. CITIZEN.
A SECOND LETTER.
ATHENS, ALA, June 4th, 1867. Editors
Union and Dispatch: The Banner, of the
3lst ult, states, "that band of ruffans
took Hon. d. II. Bingham, late Assistant
Doorkeeper of the United States Senate,
from his home in Athens, Limestone coun-
ty, and after treating him severely, daubed
him over with printers ink.
The Press and Times has furious article,
written probably by Bingham,) headed,
Attempted assassination of Hon. D. H..
Bingham" and instead, makes out case
Of attempted abduction, connects it with
politics, Judge Kelley and the Mobile riot,
the rebellion, resistance to the government
of the United States, and therefrom deduces
| that Union men are not safe in the South
advises rigid military rule and sweeping
contiscation by Congressional Bingham
was driven from his home in 1862, because
| he was a Union man, etc, etc.
The Southern Advocate urges that Capt.
| Bingham was thus abused because he was
Union man, and that it was an indignity
to the government and should be severely
punished, being an evidence of rebellious
| disposition, etc.
There is not word of truth in any of
these statements, except the will to do all
possible harm to the South. Why all this
to do about blacking a hoary old villain,
most probably known to the editors of the
Press and Times, and most certainly to the
editor of the Southern Advocate? What
connection has it with the rebellion, and
the terrible denunciation of the whole
South? That an old Ishmaelite, whose
hand is, and has been, against every man,
and every mans hand against him all his
life, should have such a parade over him
for a harmless freak ofa few lads, is beyond
all conception. 1t is the best evidence of
| bloodless intent. 1t is said that the lad,
Jason Tanner, who called him out, made
no concealment and never laid hands up
on him, though his father went immediate
ly, on hearing of it next morning, and
apologized for the part taken by his SON
when he, (Bingham) reached the door and
| called for Jason, that he was taken by each
arm, carried across the street very short
distance from the hotel, and laid down as
quietly as possible under the circumstan-
ces, and told to be quiet-"lay still, Cap
tain, we'll not hurt you, "and forthwith var
Bished him copiously with an innocent
preparation of lampblack and coal oil.
OF course, we are all apprehensive at so
thoughtless prank, Just at this particular
time. The boys had no thought of the use
that would be made Of this indiscreet work.
Not word was breathed of it, or it would
not have been permitted 1t has been a
most glorious martyrdom for Bingham.
He knew when he came to Athens that he
would be'in no danger. He left in 1862
of his own free will and accord, with no
other compulsion than guilty conscience.
His wife remained, and in 1868 sold their
property for Confederate mOney-was of
fered one dollar in gold for three dollars of
Confederate, but preferred to keep it. He
now claims the property.
The counselor and friend of Mrs. Bing-
ham, after she had been abandoned by her
husband, was the father of one of the lads
accused. After his apology to Bingham
for his son, he professed TO be satisfied but
his false, vindictive heart went on in pur-
suit of his youthful victim, until he is
placed in solitary confinement, and not al
lowed TO see friend or counsel.
His whole history is one Of contention,
and annoyance to every community he has
lived in. Does not the editor of the Hunts
vile Advocate know well the story of his
attempted assassination of Abner Tate, a
respectable citizen of Madison county, AL
ALBANIA? He then essayed bis judicial muir
der, but was most excruciatingly exposed
and foiled by Hon. Jerry Clemens, Attor-
ney for Mr.. Tate. After that he came to
Athens and purchased press avowedly to
harrass Mr.. Tate. For portion, perhaps
of all the purchase money, Mr.. William
Crenshaw, a worthy citizen, became his
security, and had it to pay. After this he
began harrassing suit against this friend
in need, upon the most gratuitous assump-
tions-proving what all knew, that the
surest way to make him an enemy was to
| befriend him.
A number of freedmen here can testify
to his meanness and dishonesty to them
while slaves. When indebted to them, he
pretended to have lost something, and
charged them with theft. One man he
| thus treated has a most excellent charac-
ter-Augustus Tanner. Another he
whipped numerically. His nature is
made up of so many contrarieties that,
had the South not rebelled, he would have
taken sides against it, just to be consistent
with his own hellish compounds. In the
| deranged and distressed condition Of the
people, he comes among them with its
entire system of labor abolished, suffering
from war, pestilence and famine-no money
or credit to buy the absolute necessities Of
life-tells the freedmen that they are as
good as the white people, their former
Rebel masters-to go into their parlors and
demand recognition-that there is no civil
law in the South to make them pay taxes
that they have a right to vote as they
choose, and to vote as they shot, against
the Rebels, and that if their employers
discharge them for it, to report them, and
that their lands will be contiscated-to
vote the Radical ticket and sustain Con-
gress, and it will pass law to oonfscate
Rebel property and give them part of
the lands and money of their former Rebel
masters-that they have worked for and
were entitled to it-wished for twenty loyal
troops to keep US straight
he proposed recently to organize Loy~
al ,paoi1p on n farpa nla1tstion in this