Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-20
NASHVILLE UNION AND AMERICAN SUNDAY, MARCH 20 18zn


kind word from one Of your people since |
living IN the State. Ia truth, the dlsposi- |
ton shown has been more Of character to
ccer do me with politeness than otherwise.
2. l have frequently talked with your
people on political questions, perhaps more
with ex-Confederate officers and soldiers
than any other class have never for a
moment concealed or eyaded the fact that
] was Union man and an ex Federal Off
Ger, and have never received censure
or an unkindness in consequence OF the
same.
8. regard the people Of Tennessee to-
day as being quite as law-abiding and pos
sessed of equally as strong respect for the
Federal Government as are the people OF
my former State, Indiana.
4. like your people, like your climate,
and shall make Tennessee my future home.
3. regard the proposition to reconstruct
your State Gas the process is termed) as
simply monstrous, and those who favor it
as the worst enemies to peace, not only In
Tennessee, but throughout our common
country, and the means which they are
adopting to bring about such result as
Sntdmosts.
Trusting, gentlemen, that my answers
win be considered sufficiently full, | am your
obedient servant, !. D. WALKER.
LETTER FROM GEN. A. h. z. DAWSON.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 10, 1870
Hon. X. j. Morris, Col. A. S. Colyar and
others-Gentlemen In reply to your In
terrogatories of this date l have the honor
to state that l entered the service of the
United States army in April, 1861, and re-
manned in active service until the close Of
the war; was then assigned to duty in
Georgia, where remained until was mus
tered out of the service in January, 1866.
l settled in Nashville, Tenn, December,
1866, and have been a resident of your city
since that time. During the three years
that 1 have been resident of your State 1
have travelled in business capacity through
| the majority of the counties in the State,
have mingled freely with the people, and
| have had as good an opportunity of learn
ing the condition of affairs, and the feel
| ings of the people toward the gen.
eral Government and Union soldier
as any one. 1 unhesitatingly state that
three-fourths of the outrages that have
found their way into the newspapers of the
North, and reported to Congress, have no
foundation, and upon investigation are not
substantiated by the facts in the case. The
| majority of the outrages that have been
committed have had no political SigRif-
canoe whatever, and in many cases ex-Con-
federate soldiers and Rebel sympathizers
have been the victims. / have never Wis
tied any town, county or village where it
has not been known that was loyal man
and Union soldier, and 1 have at all times
when the subject of politics was under dis
| OMISSION, avpracca1 r,ovca1f fn1lry nd fraaIv
on thesubject of secession, rebellion and the
late war, with as little hesitancy as would
have done in the State of Ohio, and I have
ever been treated respectfully and received
that uniform courtesy and kindness at their
hands that has ever characterized the citi-
zens of Tennessee. As far as my observa-
ton has extended. believe that any Union
soldier can, if he conducts himself as a
gentleman is required to do in ali civilized
and enlightened communities, reside in
any part of the State of Tennessee, enter
tain and express his own political opinions,
and be in no danger of life or property
have none of his liberties abridged or
rights interfered With. l have mingled
freely with the Union soldiers in the city
of Nashville and Tennessee who have set
tied here since the war and have embarked
| III any leSllilllato DuSineSS-WQOSe JrdQe,
business and profession has not been Office
seeking, but who have endeavored to assist
in developing the material resources anG
interests of the State as well as their own,
and have yet to find one who is asking
for any other protection than is afforded
them by the laws of the State. They are
as a unit opposed to Congressional inter
ference in the management of the affair
of the State of Tennessee.
Very respectfully,
A. +. z. DAWSON,
], ate Colonel 18th Ohio Regiment and
Brevet Brigadier General.
The above letters were adopte d as par
of the'regular proceedings.
On motion, ex-Gov. Neill S. Brown
Mayor K j. Morris, Jo G. Guild, and JOIN
N. Lea, Esqs., were appointed to convey
the petition and protest to Washington
and present the same to the President anC
Congress of the United States.
Appropriate and impressive speeches
were made by Gov. Brown, S. W. Chill
dress, John L. SpUrlock and William G.
Brien, Esqs., and Maj. I. D. Walker, anC
we regret that our limited space will not a
present permit us to give the substance o
their remarks. The petition was numerous
" signed and the meeting adjourned.