Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-10-05
4rIsE TRUTH OF HISTORY.

relgned as monarch OF that city, Il
in the habit of saving by way of cx.
p.anation of the atrocity, that il
was done for the benefit of the wives
and children of Confederate sol
r diers who were ''cOnscripted" into
tne Confederate army. Now in the
first place, the 'struth of his
toFy" must be yiBdicated by the
itatement that up to the time of the
occupation of Nashville by Federal
roops there was no conscript law
IA the Confederate States, and con-
sequently nobody in Nashville was
conscripted. That is falsehOod num-
Der one. Then he leaves the i'm
lpression that the loans were for the
Exclusive benefit of Confederate
widows, wives and children, while
the fact is that the money thus
forced out of men who had not half
the agency of Andrew johnson in
bringing on the war, was levied for
the purpose of taking care of all
the destitute in Nashville, including
Confederate, Federal and Refugee.
That is falsehood number two, as
will be seen by the following of
fetal statement made by Judge
James Whitw orth and j. b. Knowles
Esq, both of whom were "uncon-
ditional Union men," and may, for
aught that we know, be now sup
porting Brigadier General Andrew
johnson for Congress for the State
at large.
Response OF .MessFs. WhitSyorIh
and knOWIes---HOSy she
FUND was Distributed.
Messrs. j. F. Demoville, G. W. Cunning
ham, and dothers-Gentlemen:
NASHVILLE, Sept. 16, 1s72-HaVing seen
! your letter Of inquiry addressed through
the Union and American of Saturday morn
ing 20 us, while we dislike to appear in the
newspapers in any shape, we feel that II is
due you that we should state, for you and
L for the benefit Of all whom il may concern,
the facts in the case
In answering the inquiries we think it
better 70 reproduce the letter, and answer
the last inquiries first, which letter is in the
words and figures following:
NASHVILLE, sept. II, 1oI2.-Hons. JAS.
Whitworth, j. B. Knowles and W. A.
Glenn-GentleInen: The Hon. Andrew
johnson, in his recent speeches delivered
in this city and Edgefeld, in substance said
thHt he had levied Contributions upon the
citizens OF Nashville and vicinity during
the late war for the benefit Of the wives
and children of poor Confederate soldiers
''whO were clamoriDS Tor bread"
The undersigned are informed that you
L he of this and
give the facts as TO what amount of money
was collected and disbursed from these as
sessmentS levied, ana to whom IL 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 OF TO whom. Also, state
II you or other parties were directed by
President johnson 20 pay said lund SO
raised to any particular Claas OF persons; II
so, to whom; 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
in this county by taxation or otherwise; If
so, please 20 state what amount was raised
and so disbursed during the years 1861,
| 1862. 1864, 1854 and 1863.
An early reply to these enquiries Is So
licited. Very respectfully,
AND. j. MCWHIRTER,
&. w. W.CUNNINGHAN,
}. L. WEAKLEY,
y. j. WARREN,
4 J. HOPKINS,
T. {. MCCULLOGH,
GEORGE HARSH,
OF Harsh Bros.
DANIEL +. CARTER,
and others.
There Was an act OF the Legislature OF
! 1861, authorizing the County Courts OF the
various counties TO levy 4 tax for the bene-
| tt Of the wives and dependents OF Conted-
| crate soldiers, and the County Court OF Da-
wilson county did levy tax in 1901 and
| 1862, from which and other sources Of the
county there was raised and distributed 10
| the dependents of Confederate soldiers
/ about $4,000 within the time mentioned
/ above, as viii be seen By reference 70 the
| County Court Records.
All the above sula OF money VAS dis
| tributed by James WhitwOrth, County
Judge, and the Magistrates Of each district
/ in the county, the Magistrates OF each dis
| trict and County Judge having been by
resolution Of the justices Court appointed
q Committee for that purpose.
! When Gov, johnson came 70 Nashville
as Military Governor in 1862, ] called 70
see him aud explained TO him what had
been done by the Legislature and County
Court, and asked bim-ig he Intended to pre-
vent any further distributions under the
law, 10 which inquiry he responded ne
would not interfere, and the distributions
| were continued until the money was eX-
hausted.
The above statement is made by james
Whitworth alone and appiies alone 70
the money raised under the law referred
TO. III -t- - --t-
ON or about the 2sal day Of August, 1862,
Gov. Johnson issued an order 10 Joseph b.
| Knowles, Nj. NJ. Monahan and james Whit
worth, AOnahan Is nOw dead, CONSTITUTE
ing them q relief committee t0odistnbute
such funds ss might come into their hands,
through his orders, for The beRe6t OF the
poor then concentrated hr residing III the
city or county. From tie I'D day oil Au-
gust 1859, 10 the SIN day Of January, 1864,
there came TO the5hands Of said eOnlnIttee,
under his orders; The sum Of tlVentY-two
| thousand three hundred and seN enty-tW0 o
dollars and niaety-fiVe cents S22,5s2 So
| all Of which WAS distributed 90 the poor,
/ without regard 40 wbethsr- they were
Confederate soidiers' wives and children OF
not.
We do not know Vhat, if any, orders or
instructors were given TO other parties
I about this OF 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, 20
far as classes OF the poor were concerned, TO
! our own discretion and Judgment and in
the exercise of this Judgment and discretion
We did aid and assist With the money put
in our hands under said orders the wives
and dependents Of Confederate and Feder-
al soldiers, refugees and home or resident
poor. making no distinction, but were gov
eTned in our distribution alone by the ne
cessities OF each applicant
The above sum Is all the money We know
anything about in connection with the
poor, a complete account of which, with
. the names of those 10 whom it was given
can be seen by calling on james Whit
worth, in whose hantls the account is, As il
was reported to the Governor from time e
, time. Yours respectfully,
JAMES WHITwORTH,
J. b. KNOWLES.
kept the books for the committee aul
the statements given above OF the receipt,
: and disbursements 10y thecOmmIttcc Is Ger
rect. a. appears from my report made 1,
GOV. johnson, ending Feb, 1861.
W. \. GLENN.
The philosophic Billings graph
) calIv illustrates the difference be
tween blunder u mistake: WheI
a man puts down a bad umbrell,
and takes up good one saith Josh
; he makes mistake; but when h,
puts down good one and takes VI
bad one, he makes blunder.