Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-15
Letter from Colonel Baxter..NO. 4.
Editors Of the Chronicle .


ter to General A. s. johnson, 'cy'itten on the 4th
day of Aprit, 1862, as follows:
"SIR: have already informed you Cby
short letter previously written) of my arrest and
detention here, as understand, by your order
and requested an early investigation of the
charges to be preferred against me.
| arrived in this city on the evening of the 18th
ultimo, coming directly from home on legiti-
mate private business. On the evening of the
3lst, was arrested and committed to this pris-
on where have ever since been detained, eX-
cluded from friends, and without information, |
am left to conjecture the cause of my arrest ]
take it that this action of yours is not based on
any misconduct of mine coming under your own
observation 1t must therefore, be prcdicated
on the suggestions of others.
Allow me to say, strand | do so in no vain
and boastful spirit--that let your information
come from what Source it may, and let the inn
putation be what it may, If sufficient to justify
my arrest and imprisonment 1t is groundless,
and without proof to support it; and all | ask is
the privilege of being informed what the impu-
tation is, from whom it emanates, and the right
TO confront my cowardly accusers.
This is, perhaps, as much rs | am now called
on to say 1t does not become me to defend my
self against an unknown charge. I'll go farther
it is not incumbent upon me to defend at all
until a prtD,a tacte case is made by competent
proof Nevertheless will waive this conceded
right and present you with the history of my
political action for the past twelve months
Il was earnestly opposed to the action often
nessce in severng her connection with the Fed
eral Government. With my strong conyic-
tions strengthened by subsequent events of the
mpropriety and danger of secession, / have
thought thatmy willingness to acquiesce in the
rebellion was quite concession to the popular
will About the middle of last June (1S6l) | at
tended convention of Union men at Greene
VILE where l found majority of delegates f-
vorable to the organization of Provisional
Government for East Tennessee, with an Exc
cutive, Legislative and Military, Departments.
The unanimous judgment of the Convention
pointed to me as general commander of their
forces Sir l was not blind to the personal dd-
Ud1tdges which such position would have con-
ferred. l saw mt a glance, and comprehended,
the whole situation. With the recommendation
of Il Convention representing 30OOO JnlOnlsts of
East Tennessee, | could nave gone to Washing
ton, had their recommendation confirmed, OBJ
tanned money, procured arms, with all other ne
cessary supplies for an army, returned to the
northern border of East Tennessee took posi-
ton in Kentucky, and rallied to the Federal
standard from $1,000 to 10000 East Tennessee
ans and, aided by the Federal Government if
| had not commanded absolute success, | could
have made such demonstration rs would have
weakened the Confederate army at other
points and by this means-by hndering the
transit of Confederate troops through East Ten
nessec-inscribed victory to the Federal arms on
other battle-felds.
AT this period of time the foregoing may
appear to you eXtravagant. But you will re-
member that the contest has since increased in
magnitude. Many things which might have
been done then would not be practicable now
Il have reasons for believing that the Federal
Government desired an East Tenncsseean to
command her forces near that locality. This
position through the recommendation of that
Convention, L could have secured. There was
nothing for me to do but to have quietly gone
through the lines-at that time an easy task
and appropriated it. Had | done so, as preten-
tious ms the claim may appear to you, the Con-
federate Government would have been made to
fool tbp ptfp Of m blows Success WOnld have
secured me the full measure of fame, while II
failure could have worked no injury to me; and
if / were as mean and as uHpriRcipted as the
persons to be hereafter referred to, who hold po-
sitions under and possess the confidence of, the
Confederate Government, / could have easily
managed to have provided ample means out of
the monies passing through the hands of staff of
fcers to be appointed by myself to retire upon
into some favored locality in the North, there
to enjoy the luxuries of wealth and the honors
due te one who had nobly sacrificed his home
and property in defense of the integrity of the
National Constitution. The fact is, sir, but few
tunty as was then thrusting itselfupon me. The
temptation, l am we'll satisfied would have Sc
duced and overcome the boosted patriotism of
any one of my corrupt and infamous revilers.
. But with full appreciation OF the personal
advantages which the opportunity offered, and
with strong prediction in favor of maintain
ing the Federal constitution, declined the rich
and seductive invitation And | did this be-
lied, that the Federal Government, in the pride
of its power, would attempt to crush out the re-
bellion by some harsh and vigorous policy,
which /, as Southern man, could never sanction.
NV heart and affections were then, ~ they are
now, in favor of maintaining the Federal Con-
stitution. | have never failed to look upon the
pending war as an unnatural and unnecessary
one, and have never yet seen the day when
would not, Gf L could have done so,) interfcred
with the kindness of Moses, and said 'Ye are
brethren, why strive ye?
ITO our present fearful danger, we have been
dragged by, ambitious men of the two sections of
our country struggling against each other for po-
litical power The property of the South, the
equality and sovereignty of the States and the
Constitutional liberties Of both sections are en-
dangered by this most unnatural contest. This
is strong language but | write deliberately, and
mean what write, But the evil is upon lis
the people of the North and South have so
willed it, and it behooves every patriot to act
honestly with himself and with his country, and
TO support the men and measures which will
most probably conduct this national afiliction to
IN early and favorable conclusion
"Why, then, am 1 suspected, arrested and
imprisoned dangerous character? Simply
because | cannot or will not believe that this re-
bellion was necessary in its origin wise in its in
ception, and successfully and properly conduct
ed This is the plain truth, and plainly spoken
and if deemed sufficient to justify you in re-
straining me Of my liberty, it will but verify my
worst fears of the tendencies of this revolution,
and your oppression will be submitted to with
as good grace as any man of proud spirit and