Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-15

gress This Clique, bankrupt in character, has
managed, through noisy protestation Of devo-
ton to the rebellion, aided by military opprcs-
sion and an INSCRIPTIONS press under its imme-
date control, to secure some influence with the
authorities of the Confederate States which they
have used for dishonorable and revengefu pur-
poses. They have scrupled at nothing, however
corrupt to overthrow political opponents
Here follows an account of the forged cor
respondcnce with Amos Lawrence, and similar
infamies, which, for good reasons, | will reserve
for future use
Sir will write without reserve Ii is nv
custom to do so. | have secrets and ambus-
cade no mans character, and make no ciandcs-
tine ATTACKS on any man reputation. | am able
and II will afford me pleasure to sustain by
proof everything which here say
This combination of FREEBooTERs have been
successful in clothing. unprincipled partisans
with military power, through whom they have
attempted to suppress the freedom of thought and
of speech, and the free exercise of the elective
franchise At their instance, Il general system
of oppression of Union men began about the
first of last September. Under and in pursuance
of their policy, many men from different parts
OF East Tennessee, were arrested and imprison-
cd III our own and in distant prisons for no
other reason than tho entertaining by them of
honest opinions aversc to the rebellion The
men thus arrested, taxed with costs, and driven
about by force felt, and not without cause, that
this Southern structure, called the Southern
Confederacy however beautiful to Others was
to them, a despotism, depriving them Of proper
ty and personal liberty. One of their captains,
acting out their policy, arrested from fifty to
one hundred citiZens-J Mon mcn-and under
threats of sending them to distant military pris-
ons, extorted from S25 to 800 each, according to
their several abilities, and then gave them certi-
fcdteS Of loyalty. All this was done in one
treaty. Others, wearing the insignia of military
power and honor, have been enriching them
selves by pretending to seize private property
for the Confederate Government, and appropri-
ating it to themselves; or, by forcing sales at
inadequate prices, and then selling ut profit
for their private benefit. The foregoing are but
samples of the evil and wanton expressions
which have been inflicted upon the people who
have been disarmed and left by both govern
mcnts without the means of selt-defense."
Against such oppression i have constantly in
Weighed; l have denounced it frequently, OPEN
ly, and boldly. and labored to bring the offend
crs to condign punishment. And, hence it is,
that have become the object of their concen-
trated malice. Let me go where | will, their
wilfull misrepresentation follow me; their
hired press assail me; my opinions are distorted,
| my business misreprcscntcd, and my local in
! fuence exaggerated, in order to make the gov
crnment believe that | was the most dangerous
man in the South, resulting in this instance, in
my arrest and imprisonment.
| Certainly their is no inconsistency in my in
| tcrfering for the protection of the community
| in which reside, against the Vaccinations and
| expressions of these men, and the professions Of
| acquiesence and submission which ] have so
| frequently made. There is conflict between
these positions. Can any action of mine be con-
strued into active hostility against your govern
ment or the cause, unless these men of whom
| | have spoken are true opponents of your gov
| ernmental policy. Generals Fain and Gillespie
| Senator Haynes, Judges Mckinney and Tur-
| lev and host of Others who have given
strength and respectabilty. to the Southern par
| ty in that end of the State, have never counte-
nanced the abuses to which | have called your
attention, and which has so frequently provoked
my indignant denunciation.
| Among the many other despicable traits of
| character possessed by these .freebooterS, is
] colodrdice. On two different occasions, by their
willful msstatements-right down lyng-they
| have endeavored to excite large bodies ofsodiers
to mob me and by similar misrepresentation,
| they have twice before, as | understand, endeav-
ored through kilograms, to have me arrested
while was travelling on private business, away
| from home
Here follows a graphic account of the STAN
pede of leading Southern men from Knoxville,
upon the receipt of intelligence of the fall of
Fort Donaldson, which l know your readers
would enjoy; but as it would subject good
many men not parties to the combination
| fighting me to more or less rdcule, and perhaps
contempt will forego the pleasure which it
|
| tent myself with one more extract. Speaking
of the same set of men, | said to General john
| son:
They never have, and never will be worth
| either in political influence, in counsel or in
| martial yalor-one cent to the rebel cause and
though hero a prisoner by their instigation,
| write of them more in contempt than in anger.
If your government will insist on patronizing,
and Listening to, and acting on the suggestions
of these men, let it do so. If the army of the
Confederate States is TO be used TO avenge their
malice let this be go / will not fraternize with
| them nor will L become subservient to their in
terests and wishes let the consequences to me
and to my family be what they may With
forgery on their fingers, and perjury upon their
| lips, and frauds besmearing them all over, Pill
have nothing to do with them and if they are to
be made the true opponents of the Confederate
Government, Ipray God that it may soon be orer-
HroUn For one, have resoLred not to be sub
jugated either By the Yankees or by the KlorriHe
clique.
After writing this much, which is buta 1.-THE
of what might be said, repeat that am inno-
cent of any crime which will justify my deten-
ton by you. l have ever been frank and candid
in my political tenets been at all times what /
professed to be have no hostility to the South,
and contemplate no injury to her people. |
have never at any time entertained thought
hostile to what conceived to be her true inter-
est | may have been mistaken as to the course
best calculated to strengthen herpower, develop
her wealth, and secure peace and constitutional
liberty to her people; but my earnest desire has
always been to protect her honor and promote