The
Nashville (Tenn.) Union, of the 7th inst., has the following editorial in reference to the arrest of this individual:
Information often au hectic character reached this city yesterday, that
Thomas A R
Nelson, of
Washington county, was arrested in
Lee county, Virginia, on the afternoon of the 4th inst. He was taken to
Cumberland Gap and thence sent to
Abingdon, Va.,
under an escort of sixty men.
Nelson was supposed to be making his way to
Washington City, for the purpose of claiming a seat in the Federal Congress, which has waged and is now prosecuting a war of plunder and subjugation against the
Confederate States.
He has traversed the mountains and valleys of
East Tennessee, preaching rebellion and war against the
State of Tennessee, and inflaming the minds of the patriotic people of that section against their brethren and the
South enjoying the utmost degree of freedom in uttering his both and treasonable sentiments.
He has counselled his fellow-citizens freely to take up arms against the
Government of their State, and thus to cut off the
Middle and Western portions of the
State from communication with the
Capital of the
Confederate States.
The highest degree of forbearance has been uniformly exercised towards him by the authorities of the States, trusting that he would p use before he made the awful leap into overt treason.
He has been permitted to issue his summons for a rebellious and treasonable convention to meet at
Kingston, without even comment upon his course
But forbearance has ceased to be a virtue in bearing with such corrupt and ambitious men. The time has arrived when they must be checked in their on ward coercer of toryism.
Instead of learning wisdom from the tol ration and forbearance which have been exercised towards them, they have seemed to gather fresh audacity from the entreaties that have been addressed to them.
Mistaking the mild measures that have been adopted towards them, in the abundance of moderation, for timidity, they have increased their boldness and abused the patience of the people by openly proclaiming their treasonable arms, and by weakly imitating the unnatural career of
Pierpont and
Carlile in
Northwestern Virginia.
believing that they will be able to invite a similar invasion of our State, and subject the peaceful homes of our citizens to the barbarities and outrages of a mercenary soldiery, who have so far given to the country through which they have passed the protection that vultures give to lambs.
Such has undoubtedly been the atrocious aim of
Nelson and the other conspirators against the peace and unity of the
State.
They have courted the penalties of treason with a Heaven defying band, which has excited a hitherto pent-up indignation that has at length burst out, and will never cease until our State is freed from their loathsome and dangerous presence, or until they suffer the penalties of their crimes.
They have brought the country to this issue and they must now b de it. If they have supposed that the people of
Tennessee will meekly and quietly suffer them to consummate their hellish schemes, to have their throats out and their fireside's polluted by
Lincoln's hirelings, then they have reckoned without their host Rather will they rise up and exterminate every tory in the land who is detected in plotting against our chosen Government.
The time has arrived when they can no longer disguise the issue they have invited, or shrink from the whirlwind which they have sewn.
They must now either submit to the twice declared will of the people of
Tennessee, or they must drove themselves tories and traitors, bearing all the infamy of the association, and subjecting themselves to the consequences of their acts.
There is no longer any half way ground.
He that is not for us in his war of plunder of our property.
(as legalized by the act of confiscation) of invasion of our homes and destruction of our dearest rights, is against us. We can no longer afford the luxury of nourishing in our midst vile conspirators, who would welcome the assassin and invader upon our soil, and assist him in driving the knife to our bosoms; and who would gladly guide the enemy's force through the mountain passes, as
Virginia tories dia at
Rich Mountain, to fall upon our brave volunteers and murder them.
Neither can we permit men to leave our State and sit in high council at
Washington upon our rights with those who send handcuffs with their army to manacle the proud freemen of the
South, to confiscate our estates and doom us to a felons death.
Not
Mr Nelson, and all like him, would consult their own safety by a graceful acquiescence in the will of the people.
Otherwise, he consuming indignation of a people now thoroughly aroused will consign them to the merited fate of those who would betray their own neighbors and countrymen.
