Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-14
GEORGIA.
the wilkes County Revenue Rebel
Hon.

T.e wilkes County Revenue Rebel
lion.
The Washington Gazette, published at
the theatre Of war in Wilkes county, thus
relates the facts of the revenue rebellion
that have called out several companies of
the United States troops and pledges
from Gen. Grant, of the whole army and
navy if necessary:
We suppose it waste of time and
words TO deny this report OF Beleher's,
still, for our own satisfaction, we will
show the utter falsity Of it as far as re-
CARDS Wilkes county, and as Washington
(the county site) is made the beadqIarH
tiers of the troops sent to enforce the rev
enue laws, the inference Is, that this
county must be the chief offender in the
third district. We don't know how
many Assistant Assessors may have re-
signed in Belcher's district, but this we
do know: only one man has ever come
to this county and announced himself as
Assistant Assessor under Belcher. This
man, named Nealon, took charge Of the
books and papers belonging to his office,
rented a room, issued notices, and did all
things necessary to a discharge OF his
duties without molestation. 1t IS true
that he found no associates amongst the
whites here, and, so far as we can learn,
even the negroes taboOed him, not because
he was an Assessor of Internal Revenue,
but because he held office under negro.
We assert, without fear Of comrades
| ton, that no threat or offer Of violence
was made to Nealon during his stay here;
but the little boys about the streets,
both black and white land the black
| Hgamins" are far in excess OF the white)
did ridicule him by calling to each other
| on one occasion, Il smell Beleher," with
other like taunts, but not a man said a
word to or of him, while some even tried
to stop the boys from teasing him.
Nealon, we suppose, became ashamed OF
the position he held and left town the
next day, and we have never heard OF
him since. Now if any white man thinks
he can hold an Office under a negro withs
out being held in contempt by both
white and black, we advise his friends
to send him to a lunatic asylum until
cured of his folly. He couldn't fill such
a position in New York without meeting
with contempt from all decent people.
\ I'D >
Since the above was in type, we learn
that the man 4aygood, who resigned be-
cause of threats OF violence, from citizens
of this county, in case he attempted 10
execute the revenue laws here, did come
to Washington, but not in the character
| of an Assessor of Revenue. He came
with Mr.. Smith, the Assistant Collector,
and spent several days in the village, but
said nothing about being an Assistant
| Assessor under Belcher, nor did he take
charge of the books and papers belong.
ing to the office, which are still hero, and
under the charge of no one. We saw the
man. Haygood loaiDg about the town
ourself, and so far as we could judge, he
was on good terms with every one. a!
no one knew he was ono of Belcher';
"aids," no threats could have been mad
against him. If he should come here
however, we think it highly probable b,
will be allowed to associate with himsel
freely, and if he don't like his company
he must not blame the poor Rebels, ant
| if the little boys should hold their nose
when he passes by, we think it will b
rather difficult for the military to sto
them from it unless they cut their fin
gers off. The only noticeable thing abou
Haygood was, as some wag remarked
that it was hard to tell which was black
est and slickest, his hat or his moustach'