Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-17
GENERAL PILLOW.
His Persecution ny Prosecution for
Payment OF TleIligerent Trans
action.
The Slate Not Being Allowed by the
Amendments TO Assume the sum,
the People Ought TO.

II is well known to our readers that
for come time General Gideon J Pillow,
OF this city, has been the victim OF legal
persecution by Riddle, Coleman d Co.,
OF PittsbUrg, who seek to compel pay
ment for a large amount of co n which
he seiz'd while major general Of tke
ermy # Tennessee in May, 1861. That
this seizure was neGessit9ted by the con-
ditiOn Of public affa r at that time, aud
in due conformity with the then exist
ing rights of bsItigerents, Cannot be
doubted. The coal so seized was used
for military purposes, and in no sense
whatever did General Pillow receive any
teuehs theTetrOm. The proof in the
cause, which was tried in 1870, showed
that every bushel Of the coal seized was
applied t. military purpose for the de-
partmeut Of Tenues. ee. Had General
Pillow at tina time refused to take this
coal ard apply it to the relief OF the
army, he would have been censured ny
everyone In this city aud in the State, for
at that time the public mind was
in high state of political excitement.
What General Pillow did then was as
an agent OF the public, not as an indi-
vidual acting by his own authority and
for himself. However, the old gentle
man is LOW made to feel and suffer the
consequence Of proper discharge OF his
duty as q soldier and an officer. In 1867
he was sued in the United States circuit
csu rt here for the coal and other prop.
erty seiZed, Riddle, Coleman d Co. lay
ing their damages at one hundred and
twenty five thou and dollars. on which
they chained Il verdict in 1870 for thir-
ty-eight thousand five hundred dollars.
4 inI I'D =
progress OF the litigation Judge Swain,
Of the supreme court, Judge Emmons,
OF the circuit, al Il Judge Trigg, OF the
United States district courts, ell held
that General Pillows plea Of a belliger-
eut as bad, and denied him the right
set up the rein. He has in vain appealed
to the Tennessee Legislature, to Cover
nor JDO. c. Brown and Governor Jas.
D. Potter, and low the old veteran,
who served With distinction aud fidelity
in the Mexican war, and more Iatterly
for his own State and people, is forsaken
and left alone to bear and to endure
relentless persecution, the triumph
OF which IS based upon the fact
that a true soldier discharged his one
plain duty. Can it be possible that the
people OF Tennessee, they who wero
once 60 eager to sound the trumpet of
war, and urge the soldier on to the 'front.',
eau it be that these PEOPLE are COW fJr-
ssking one who, at the peril OF his lie,
and Il G loss Of his iortu re, carried out
their wishes and their principles, and
fought SO nObIy for the protection Of
their rights, their homes, and Their hon
or? Let 6 subscription GO forth, and let
it be aignad by thCs for whom General
Pillow suffers today. His gray hairs,
his noble life Of toll, and gsllsntry on
every battlefield from the Cumberland
to the Rio GrandP, from the proud sum.
nit of TenDessee's capital to Inc halls Of
the Montfzumss in Mexico, are so we'll
known and cherished; bis tue worth as
gentleman, and his nigh sense Of honor
SIS ctzaD, whose whole life has been
devoted more to the public than TO dis
own interest, az peel II the people Of
Tennessee. Let aim be assisted gener-
ou4iy, and then the people Of Tennessee
viii have wiped out what other wise will
be stigma upon her name as a State.