Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-01
Three Parties In Tennessee.

The late Presidential election, and the action Of
the late State Convention, have developed fully
what we knew existed-three distinct political par
ties The first is the radical Union party that voted
for Lincoln and johnson, and that assembled and
controlled the late State Convention. This party
finds its main strength in East Tennessee, where a
majority of $1,000 votes were poled against "Sep-
Grafton and Representation" even in June 1861,
when regiments of rebel troops were quartered along
this great railroad, to intimidate Union men, and
keep them from the ballot box. In this party are
to be counted 90 600 soldiers in the Federal army,
who are a unit in their support of the measures of
the present Administration and in their detcrmins-
ton to rid the State of slavery which they re-
gard as the cause of the rebellion. This radical
party of East Tennessee is backed up by the uncon-
ditional Union men of the Middle and Western di-
visions of the State, and assisted by some now
calling themselves conservative carried the
State against Separation by majority of As, 900
votes
The second great party is that of the rebels, who
were such from the beginning. They are the ne
gro-worshiping arisocracy the cotton and tobacco
planting lords, and the deuded poor whom, Il. ten
ants and serfs they led into rebellion they had no
interest in. The sirty rebel regiment, they have
sent into the field to fight the Government shows
the influence they exertcd for evil. The original
secessionists never numbered in the State as many
men as went into the rebel army. Many were in
duced to 90 with them, because this State had roted
out
The third party is that middle. class which spring.
up in all revolutions party in all respects uncer-
tain and unreliable. 1t is forming now Tennessee,
and began its work Of organization under the semi
rebel flag of Mcclellan and Pendleon. This IL the
great Conservative Constitutional Peace Party con-
tnualy finding fault with the administration Of af-
fairs at Washington with the operations of the ar
my in the field, and with those who command the
various military posts. The leader. of this action
are for deLdy DELAY, in all things DELAY, in the
hope that something will turn up, as to enable
them to save and exercise ownership over the ne
gro! They claim to be alarmed on account of the
usurpation of the Executive; they are dsgntcd
with many arbitrary arrests and they are horri-
fed because of the growing national debt But in
reality all that troubles the most Of them is the loss
of the negro. Some of the leaders are insuted be-
cause they were not taken up by the Administration
and placed in offices of honor and profit This class
Of leaders have taken the initiative, and will finally
go over to the rebel party, and act with them in
elections The worst men among the rebel leaders
are, and will be for some time to come in the South.
keeping out of the way of indictments, and avoid
ing the wrath of injured Union families When
these return, as they will gradually the conscrva-
tives will fall in with them, act and vote with them
although they have not the courage to fight for
them, and were even silent while acting against
them.
Original and answering Union men should guard
against the intrgues of this third party with more
determined spirit than they would against the
avowed followers of jeff Davis