Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-23
CUMglhICArEp.
Is II Right?

pR BRowyrow' l. il right that the Government
should upaod aud protest her loy citizens and di,
criulpato hevom recls and those who have stood
Gmo to che Union through the lry ordeal, though
humble in their sphere?
sit right that tho Government by mistaken
policyor pardon, should offer bounty for treason
against the safety Of the country, 10y permitting men
in high place. who have aided .bcttcd, and gave
their wealth to influence the rebellion, prostutcd
their time Intelligence anl influence, to miscad the
ignorant pul cnsmrc them IN the mcshca of treason
to vote aud act against their best interest to take up
arms against the United States, and agnin.t all the
tiptcnal tics that God made between father rand SON.
brother aud brother mother nud SON sister and
brother and -"'nil upon our once happy land the
cry ct ,ne widow aud o, v,plan-pcnury aud disn ,,s
AS pensioners upon the government
Such demon, Of rebellion to stalk abroad through
our streets and thoronghturcs, scot, rrco,' while
their mislcl and guomut dupcs are imprisoned and
punished as rebels against tn. United Staes Gov
crnmcnt, violating the command of God 'whero lit
tie is given, little is required
Is it possible that our benign Government to re-
blood of patriots viii pcmi, cncmc. from motives
secular sinister pecunary or by the ties Of cousan-
guinty TO control and exercise Nh influence in favor
Of bad men who have warrcd against the Union
while there was or still exist chance or ghost of
one Of success; and now that East Tennessee is in
the POSSESSION Of the United States troops have the
mhlu,hhg alIroniy TO say, We are in sympathy with
the UuiM We viii take the oath but at the same
time II ncntal reservation We do not consider it in
our hcUrs rs binding, and as circumstances may of
fer We Will hc governed a., to ta sanctity, And when
the first 'cbcl squad approaches our lines they are
ready togiyc them al the aid and comfort ror their
success j their power and if necessary to shout hos
sannah Il their coming.
The writer speaks from experience. Since the
Fcdcra4come into East Tennessee the rebels come
forward apparently voluntarily took the oath some
gave bonds for their loyalty aud manifested by long
faces and dcmured counencnces, like the hypocritcs
spoken o. 10y cur Saviour the streets, making loud
speeches Sc. But upon the lirt advance Of the on-
envy in the Swcctwatcr Valley, prcyious tothc siege
at Knoxville they become ,tiA-bac,rl st0-ncclcl
and rcbelious and congratulated Long.trr". and his
minions upon their approach to tho Tennessee river
Now whipped again, are ready more to take the
oath To Uncle Sam. | leave to n loyal and reading
community to determine for themselves The answer
to the above interrogutorces.
Is it right for men who have stood weakened
and alo1f afraid Of their own shadow like III,
- tuy lnuiit0" -'''f 80
der, qUu,.; t'"i'u nGn, when the storm of pcrspri.
tion mgcd in East Tennessee when men wrre I'M
pr>oued bnu,hnd, mobbcd, shot down and hung
Families turned ont Of homes destitute citizen, strip
ped Of every comfort of life mothers and children
thrown upon the charity of hcll-begotcn. mobo-
cratic wyuld-bc reasonable dynasty who according
to their power ccscd the lacobine party Of France
when the knife Of the Guilotine was clodded with
the blood Of its victims; that now when the govern
mcnt is in power in East Tennessee, and wherever
sci, 4l4,s ser tsal"ld We aud these spartan gem
tl>nen Stepping forward Offering their satrihccP and
claiming by their acts higher position and influence
than those who braycly stood The storm nscathcl ?
Common sonse and patriotism echoes il is not right.
Isit right that men who have filed high places Of
honor and profit, from the mcpcnt stages of his
rebellion controlling and acting in some of the va
rious departments warning against the United States.
and also some who have come into this rebellion nj
later hour and by their prosecutions and untrin.,
encrgic, in aiding the rebellion, su1oayoring to win
the appreciation Of the rebel chicl, well done thou
good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful
over few things, willmakc thee ruler over many"
Another cllss who have controlled and managed
Railroad in Fac. Tennessee to sustain the rebellion
and by their untirng devotion, lahoring night and
day with their yoritc employees, to keep the road
in running order for the transportation Of troops and
munitions Of war, contributing II more potent power
in urging forward the rebellion than if they COM
mandcd field battery in deadly strife against the
Union army. Yes, repeat i, it right that they
should force themselves upon the United States au-
thoritic having been in sympathy with the Union
and clnim the confidence Of Union men, that they
should I've placed upon an equal platform? for
one cntcrmy protest against such complicated treason
let Others do RS they may. More anon.
JUsTICE.