Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-09

forth victorious. Whereas, l am well sat
fed, that If we continue to be patient and
forbearin ? throwing the whole response
biIity Of renewing the horrors Of war upon
our Radical prosecutors, in one way or
another, our ultimate triumph is certain.
cannot agree with the Banner in con-
demning all the efforts for peace which
have been recently made. | cannot dis
approve the noble and patriotic memorials
for peace which have come up from every
part Of the State to the Governor and Lee
gislature. I cannot fnd it 10 my heart to
censure and Tidicule the praiseworthy efforts
Of our renowned Confederate Generalsin be-
half Of peace, good order and the restora-
ton of constitutional freedom. ! cannot
find fault with Judge Lea, Chancellor
hackleford, and the numerous body Of en-
lightened and patriotic citizens who visited
the Capitol last Tuesday, TO make, what
may turn out to be, the last effort TO save
our State from scenes of internecine siaugh-
ter. / have no disposition 10 denounce all
these acts as "dTt-eatiRg,O as was done
in the columns of the Banner on yes
terday morning. / do most seriously
doubt the discretion Of that editorial article
in the Banner of this morning, which
seems to me to suggest a course of pro-
ceeding, which, if adopted, must result in
our ruin as people. Just at this moment,
when leading. Radicals are openly pleading
in our behalf with Governor Brownlow
and the Legislature when the Cincinnati
Commercial, the Memphis Bulletin and other
leading Radical papers are demanding
earnestly our northumberland and the
abandonment of the scheme of organizing
the State militia; Just at this moment, the
Banner complains of all the efforts Of DEM
Ocratic citizens in favor of peICe, and says !:
"The people are far in advance of
their old leaders, and, impressed with
the importance of the policy we had
fOreshadowed, they were coming up in solid
line to enter the field against the common
oppressor, and to aid the nation in throw
ing off this hideOus nightmare of Radi-
calism. That solid front, has been un-
happily broken by vaciIlaiion, apprehen-
sion, and doubt among our own feld-marsh-
ais. Whilst The rank and file Dere standing
at charge, and eager for the peaceful but
determined contest, few of our leaders,
good and true men, though they be, insisted
upon going forward with a flag of truce,
the reception of which by the enemy, as
the sequel has proven, was just precisely
what was predicted and feared it would
be-" The Banner in the same number says
further: "If we would throw of the yoke
which grinds US into the earth, at the only
opportune moment which may ever again
occur, 1t must be no halfway work, but
our entire weight must be thrown into the
scale, for
He either fears his fate too much,
Or his desert is small
Who dares not put it TO the touch
And win or lose ii all. ,"
These are fine and fashy words, truly,
but connected with other articles in the
Banner, they mean tOdr, immediate wur, and
they can mean nothing else. Ii is in this
same spirit, and with the same unfortunate
views as to the true policy of our people at
this crisis, that the Louisville Journal, in
an editorial article of two or three columns.
on the day before yesterday, ridiculed, de-
nounced and reprobated all the peace
measures which have been recently set on
foot here-accused them of being "weak"
and contemplate assaulted most unkindly,
certain public men here by name including
Gov. Neill S. Brown, Judge Gaut and 9TH
ers-not sparing even our noble Confeder-
ate Generals, of whom it was said, in plain
terms, that in the event of another war,
these gentlemen would not probably be
selected as military leaders. Now, with
all respect, | beg leave to say that our
Confederate Generals need no defense
against the assaults which have been made
upon them, come from whatever quarter
they may. They never displayed valor in
the field more conspicuously, though the
world is full Of their fame, than they have
nobly exhibited, moral courage.
calm and digniied serenity, a profound
sagacity and a statesman-like wisdom. in
their interviews with the Legislative com.
mittee here, and in their Jealous efforts to
prevent war, which, should it occur, will
be&he most bloody and wasteful that the
world has yet known. Let me say TO the
editor of that journal, that if war shall at
last come upon US in spite Of all our efforts
to avert it land God knows the present
prospect is alarming enough; if our adj
versailles shall choose to drive US to the
wall; if we shall be compelled In the end
TO fight even for our affairs and our fire.
sides, the very Generals who are now 40
arraigned for their manly and
patriotic efforts TO maintain peace, will be
selected by all Tennessee to
lead our valiant people In the last battle
for constitutional freedom on the soil of our
noble State. If the entertainment and ex-
preston of views like these shall deprive
me of the confidence of the editor Of the
Banner, and expose me TO the unkind at
.acks of others, who seem determined to
my character and motives of
action, shall endeavor to submit to these
nisfortunes with as much Of moderation and
forbearance as am capable of
l have the honor to be your obedient
ervant. H. $. FoOTE.
P. S.-In justice, ask the insertion of
he above in the Banner. II. s.. F.
Nashville, Aug. 8, 1868.