Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-10-26

ne<ne az East 1eunessce the facts which are daily
transporting IN the country. After tie Hon. JEFF.
Davis he'd stated In Richmond, in aconyersation
rslative to my pipeT. that ne would not I'VE N =
Govsrnrnent that did got tolerate freedom of the
press after the Judges, attorneys, jurors and all
others filing positions Of homer and trust under the
spermaneni Constitution" which guarantees free
don, Of The press; and after the entire press of the
South had come down in their thunder tones upon
the Federal Government for suppressfng the Louis-
vile Courier and New York Day Book and other
secession journals did expect the utmost liberty to
be allowed 70 small sheet whose errors Gould be
combated BY the entire Southern press 1t is not
enough that my paper has been denied circulation
through the ordinary channels of conveyance in the
cov-fry but it must be Discontinued altogether and
its editor must write and select only such articles as
meet tho approval OF pack Of scoundrels III Knox
Vile when their superors in all the qualities that
adorn human nature are in the penitentlary OF our
State And this is the boosted liberty of the press
in the Southern ConfederacyI
! shall in no degree feel humbled BY being cast
into prison. whenever if is the viii and pleasure Of
this august Government to put there but on the
contrary, shall feel proud of my confinement. I
shall 20 TO jail--es John Rodgers went to the stake
for my principles / shall go, because I have
failed to recognize the hand Of God in the work OF
breaking up the American Government and the in
auguration OF the most wicked, cruel unnatural and
uncaled-for war ever recorded in history. Igo, be-
cause have refused to lau1 to the skies the acts Of
tyranny, usurpation and oppression, inflicted upon
the people of East Tennessee, because of their de-
votion TO the Constitution ard laws Of the Govern
ment handed down to them by their fathers and the
liberties secured to them by war Of seven long
years of gloom, poverty and trial! repeat / am
proud Of my position and Of my principles, and shall
leave them to my children legacy far more val
liable than prncely fortune had the latter to be-
stow,
With me life has lost some of its energy having
passed six annual posts the western slope of half
century, something of the fire of youth is exhaust
ed but stand forth with the eloquence and energy
of right to sustain and stimulate me in the mante-
nance Of my principles am encouraged to firm
ness when ] look back to the fate of Him "whose
power righteousness" while the Infatuated mob
cried out, aCrucify him cruelty himi'
i owe TO my numerous list of subscribers the fill
ing out Of the respective terms for which they have
made advance payment, and, if circumstances ever
place it in my power to discharge these obligations,
will do it most certainly But, if an denied the
liberty Of doing so, they must regard their small
losses many contributions to the cause in which
have fallen. / feel that can with confidence re-
~ upon the magnanimity and forbearance of my
patrons under this state Of things They viii bear
me witness that have held out as long as am al
lowed to, and that have Welded to military des-
potism that corld not avert the horrors of or sue
cessfully oppose.
will only say, in conclusion-for / am not al
lowed the privilege to write-that the people of this
country have been unaccuStomed to such wrongs:
they yet scarcely realize them. They are asound-
ed for the time being With the quick succession Of
outrages that have come upon them, and they stand
horror-stricken like men expecting ruin and ami
hilation. / may not live to see the day, but thou
sands of my readers will, when the people of this
once prosperous country will see that they are
marching by sdouble quick time from freedom to
bondage. They will then look these wanton out
RACES upon right and liberty full in the face and my
prediction is that they will stir the stones Of Rome
to rise and mutiny.D Wrongs less wanton and out
rageous precipitated the French Revolution. Cit-
zens cast into dungeons without charges of crime
against them and without the formalities of trial
by jury private property conscated at the back of
those in power; press humbled muzzled and sup
pressed prostuted to serve the ends of tyranny,
The crimes of Louis NV fell short of all this, and
yet he lost his head The people of this country,
down-trodden and oppressed, still have the resoll-
lions of their ilustrious forefathers who asserted
their rights at Lexington and Bunker Hill.
Exchanging, with proud satisfaction, the editorial
chair and sweet endearments of home fsx cell III
the prison or the lot of an exile,
l have the honor to be- DC,
WM G. BRowNLow,
Editor Of the R'sorriUe WAig.
October 20 1861.