Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-24

| nSlO atuOob OhbhOiy "6htih5s II va
soon accounted for. Ed. Yerger, wit
his damnable efTrontery, (this was tn
explanation given me- had ordered tn
clerk of the hotel to send al the card
for the Mississippi delegation, to hi
roem, and it was done. He was tn
Mississippi delegation, the honors shout,
therefore ts his!
During that memorable convention
little event tianspired, which for ceriai
reasons, | recall with peculiar interest
Mrs. Senator Sprague invited Colone
Yerger to one of her receptions. Whethe
others of the Mississippi delegation wer
invited or not, | am not now positive
but our hero alone went. Mrs. Spragu
was, as she always is, enchanting; ssh
famed herself with the grace Of al
houri;" so Ed Y erger said, "but capt.
waited, l perfectly Vanquished her." F
1t is convincing evidence to my mind
that Yerger is morally and legally ire
sponsible for the terrible deed he has
committed, that he has, as am credibly
informed, no realizing sense of the hei-
nousness of his offense. He pretended
to be reading a newspaper most Of the
time, but when some point in the testis
mony would arrest his attention, he would
lift his eyes over his glasses, as they were
percbed upon his nose, direct them
toward the witness with a sort oil
half inquiry, half plying contempt, as
much as to say, "What will the idiot say
next ?" You could not say he was inter
ested in the testimony, at the same time
he seemed not unconscious that it was
testimony that might save his life.
| reached the courtroom before the
opening of the commission, and just as
Yerger, his five or six guards with fixed
bayonets, and the officer of the guard,
came marching into the room. Yerger
was hand cuffed and manacled, but the
chain was long enough to permit toler-
able stride. Yerger came ON, bolt up.
right, clanbing his chain perfectly una
Dashed, neither broken nor bent. l
caught his eye, at least l have no doubt
of it, but he deigned no recollection. His
hand cuffs were removed as soon as he
came into court. No sane man, unless
hardened in crime, which Yerger is not,
could bear up under this ordeal as this
man does.
Col. Yerger is fortunate in his counsel.
The most striking circumstance in the
courtroom, next to seeing civilian and
an old friend tried by United States
officers in bullion epaulettes, was the
array of counsel. Mississippi might be
searched in vain to match William Yerg-
er, Harris, Simrall, Anderson, and Mar
shall as lawyers. They are the pride
and the flower of the State. And how
admirably, how patiently, how thorough
ly they are managing the case! Ali that
ability and means can do is being done
for Yerger, and, let me say in the inter
ests of law and justice.
The commission are apparently officers
of intelligence Whatever their preju-
dices may be, they look like men quite
able to decide, even in an unusual case
like this, with justice and judgment.
The President of the Commission, Gem
eral Swift, medical officer, judge, by
his green sash, and probably selected for
this reason, is man of imposing APP
pearance, and Judging by few words
| heard from him in calling the COM
mission to order, is person Of culture
and ability.
The two Judge Advocates who repre-
sent the government in the prosecution,
showed no lack Of zeal in endeayoring
to account Tor all of poor Iergers crazy
tricks on the ground of intoxicatiOn and
deliriuan tremeRs. Those who knew
Yerger would never attempt the SOLUTION
of the problem in this way. 1t is not
your hard drinker who. for instance, de-
iiyers a speech in New Orleans, and is SO
overpleased with his exploits that nothing
short of presenting himself with car
riage, on behalf of his admirers, viii
satisfy him.
But enough. Poor Yerger should
never have been allowed to commit thi:
deed. His friends are to blame that ht
should have been allowed to be habitu'
ally armed. Justice will not permit hin
to be hanged, but, for the rest of his life
he should be confined
My gossip would be incomplete Were
| to omit saying that Col. Gerger is no
a type of Southern man, and is very
far from being dear to Southern hearts
When conscription was the law of OuI
necessity, Col. Yerger fOrsoOk his friends
sought shelter at the federal headquarter
at Vicksburg, and betrayed cowardic'
and disloyalty to his sec ion by telling
all he knew or could learn of the Con
federate movements.
But enough. We like the Cincinnati
Commercial down here, because it give
us reliable news We don't always lik
your opinions, but we do like your enter
prise and honesty.
When we get more labor settled in on
State-it matters not much whether it il
black, white or copper cOlored-an,
our State capital is removed, as it will be
to a more eligible and advantageous pc
sition, you may expect to hear of tn
increasing prosperity and growing i'm
portance of NIcKsBURG.