Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-18
THE IRyIEs FOB THE ROCK.


Bespouse OF messrs. Whifworsl and
Knswles-How ahe Fund was Dis.
trfbuted.
Messrs. j. r. DemoviIls, G. W, Cunningham,
and others-GentIemen:
NASHVILLE, Sept. 10, js72.-Having
ssea your letter Of inquiry addressed
through the UNION AND AMERICAN of
Saturday morning to rs, while we dislike
to appear in the newspapers in any shape,
we feel that 1t Is due you that we should
state, for you and for the benefit Of all
whom IL may concern, the facts In the case.
In answering the inquiries we think it
| beAer to reproduce the letter, and answer
the last inquiries first, which letter Is In the
words and figures following:
NASHVILLE, Sept. II, 1872.-Hons. Jas.
Whitworth, J. B. Knowles and w. A.
Glenn Gentlemen: The Hon. Andrew
johnson, in his recent speeches delivered
in this city and Edgefield, In substance
said that he had levied contributions upon
tbs citizens of Nashville and vicinity during
the late war for the benefit of the wives
and children of poor Confederate soldiers
"who were clamoring for bread"
The undersigned are informed that you
know the history of this matter and can
give the facts as to what amount Of money
was collected and discussed from these as
easements levied, and to whom it was paid.
Will you, therefore, state for the benefit of
the public what amount of money was so
raised and disbursed, at what time and. to
whom paid-whether to the wives Of Con-
federate soldiers or TO whom. Also, state
II you On other parties were directed by
President johnson TO pay said fund so
raised to any particular class of persons; II
so, to whoms Will you do us the further
favor to say In your reply whether there
was any provision made by law or by the
County Court Of Davidson county for the
support Of the families Of Southern soldiers
Ia this county by taxation or otherwise; il
so, please to state what amount was raised
and SO discussed during the years 1851,
1852, 1868, 1854 and 1865.
An early reply to these enquiries are soil
cited. Very respectfully,
j. F. DEMovI1LE,
AND. j. MoWHIRTER,
G. W. CUNNINGHAM,
j. l.. WEAKLEY,
A.. j. WARREN,
T. J. HOPKINS,
T. G. MCCULLoeH,
GEORGE HARSH,
OF Harsh Bros.
... DANIEL F. CARTER,
and others.
There was an act Of the Legislature of
1851, authorizing the County Courts of
the various COUNTIES TO levy. tax for
the benefit of the wives and depend
ents Of Confederate soldisrs, and
the County Court of Davidson county
did levy tax in 1851 and 1852,
from which and other sources Of the county
there was raised and distributed to the de-
pendents of Confederate soldiers about
$4,000 within the time mentioned above, as
will be seen by reference to the County
Court Records.
All the above sum of money was distri-
buted by James Whitworth, County Judge,
and the Magistrates Of each district in the
county, the Magistrates of each district and
County Judge having been by resolution
Of the Justices Court appointed Com
mittee for that purpose.
When Gov. johnson came to Nashville,
as Military Governor, In 1852, called to see
him and explained to him what had been
done by the Legislature and County Court,
and asked him il he intended to prevent
any further distributions under the law, to
which inquiry he responded he would not
interfere, and the distributions were con-
tinued until the money was exhausted.
The above statement is made by James
Whitworth alone and applies alone to the
money raised under the law referred to.
On or about the 2Sd day of August, 1882,
Gov. johnson issued an order to Joseph B.
Knowles, NJ. n. Monnahan and James
Whitworth, (Monnahan is now dead,) con-
shutting them a relief committee to dis
tribute such funds as might come into their
hands, through his orders, for the benefit of
the poor then concentrated or residing in
the city or county. From the 23d day Of
August, 1852, to the 9th day of January,
1854, there came to the hands Of said COM
mittee, under his orders, the sum of TWEEN
ty-two Thousand three hundred and sever
ty-two dollars and ninety-five cents ($22,-
372. $50 all of which was distributed to the
poor, without regard to whether they were
Confederate soldiers wives and children or
not.
= We do not know what, II any, orders or
Instructions were given 10 other parties
shout this or any other matter, but there
was no order directing us to distribute the
funds placed in our hands TO any particular
class Of the destitute, but We were left, so
far as classes of the poor were concerned to
our own discretion and judgment, and in
the exercise Of this judgment and discre-
ton we did aid and assist with the money
put In our hands under said orders the
wives and dependents Of Confederate and
Federal soldiers, refugees and home or res
ident poor, making no distinction, but were
governed in our distribution alone by tbs
necessities of each applicant.
The above sum is all the money We know
anything about in connection with the
poor, complete account OF which, with
the names of those to whom 1t was given,
can be seen by calling on James Whit
worth, in whose hands the account is, rs it
WAS reported to the Governor from time to
time. Yours respectfully,
JAMES WENTWORTH,
j. B. KNOWLES.
/ kept the books for the committee and
the statement given above Of the receipts
and disbursements by the committee Is cor
rect, IS appears from my report made to
Gov. johnson, ending Feb. 1854.
w. A. GLENN.