The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-08-14
Letter From Nashville.
HoraE oT REpnEsENrArIvRs.
NAahvILLEl Tenn., AuN. 7th, l46t

NAaHvILLEif Tenn, Aug. Uh, 1868.
Editor Union Fldg ~ viii give you q few
brief jottings In regard 10 matters that have
been transporting for the past few days, at the
Capitol Of our State. | will first tell you that
there are some four or FIVE hundred .colored
men here, who have fed from the different
counties Of the State, to escape the brutal
optrages of the, Kl Elux Klans, and as they
are unable to get employment here, many of
them are on the point Of starvation. A hot
contest Is being enraged here between s. G.
Mercer, Editor Of the Press and Times and
Col. VIM. +. Prosser, one Of the Represents
tives from Davidson county, for the nomina-
ton from the Republicans of the Fifth Con-
gressional District for the 4lst Congress-
Both are worthy gentlemen and good Repub-
licans, and each would do honor to the Dis
trIet, if elected.
The different subjects recommended by the
Governor in his message, have been given
into hands Of appropriate Committees, and
it Is d~evoutly to be wished that we win soon
have fnisked our work and return to our
homes.
The Rebels have been moving heaven and
earth to get the subject of their enfranchise-
ment before our body. Petitions are pouring
IL uPOh4An NNutJ uhNy diG uimOob oNSAJ W.
funct Rebel General in the State Is here se-
hemiug, iattering aud w~in-working to get
the subject in some way before .he Legisla7
ture. One e~x-Judge Lea has even gone so
far as to draw up a plan and present 1t to
Governor Brownlow, by which he thinks the
acknowledgement of Rebels may be served.
Governor Brownlow has referred the letter
of Judge Lea and his plan to us for our "calm
and deliberate consideration " and we have
calmly and deliberately answered +" that we
don't think this the proper time to take into
consideration the subject Of enfranchising the
Rebels" This proposed plan Of Judge Lea,
brought forth a very animated debate. | par
ticipated in the debate and in the course of
my remarks | animadverted in rather strong
terms on the conduct Of the Rebels in driving
our East Tennessee people from their homes
and remarked among other things T" that |
was not willing that these internal scoundrels
should now come forward to deYiate to US In
regard 70 entranchislng them. p--my remarks
were reported ia the papers here. On yester-
day evening the following note was sent me
BY Rebel General Bate of this city and IEre-
turned the accompanying reply;
NASHVILLE, August 9th, 1868,
SIR ~ see in the newspaper reports of
this morning q speech delivered by you yes
terday, on the question under consideration
by your Honorable body of enfranChising
those who are now excluded from the ballot
in this State. You refer to the efforts Of my
self and Othersin the interest Of peace, as IA
waste OF time, and subsequently refer to us as
: sham peace commissioners Disclaiming
any intention to take exceptions to those or
TO any other expressions allowable in debate.
beg to call your attention 10 the following
expression, which, If correctly reported, was
used by you on the same occasion, namely
{ After having been driven from his iyour)
home during the war by these Internal
scoandrels, 80.
The object Of this note is to inquire of you
whether that expression was intended to APP
ply to the exc Confederate Generals who were
recently assembled at my Office, ia this city,
and signed aud respectfully presented TO the
General Assembly, now in session, the me-
mortal referred 10 behalf of peace.
| would be pleased TO receive your reply at
the hands Of the bearer of this, Major VIM.
Clare. Very respectfully, sir, &C.,
Your obedient servant,
WI. B. BATE.