Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-09-06
THE KNOXVILLE WING.
Knoxville, Tenn, September 6, 1865.
To the Voters Of the Second Congress
iOnal District OF the State OF Ten
uessee.

IOHdl DlSlTlCt vi TIT OtdtC vi It'll
neSgee.
Although the late election for Congress resulted
II my defeat, l was neither greatly disappointed,
nor am l now discouraged. / am yet well satisfied
that majority OF constitutional voters OF the dis
tTiCt, preferred my election, and favored the policy
and principles l advocated. A full, fair and I'M
trammelled expression Of popular sentiment would
have sent me 20 Congress BY a large majority. But
that kind Of an expression, / foresaw would be
the case was not and under the circumstances, could
not be had. The returns, compared with those of
previous elections exhibit great falling of in the
vote Of the counties, and l may safely say that
than half Of those entitled TO the elective fran
chse either did not exercise it, cast their suffra-
ges for men whose election they did not desire.
have information Of numerous instances where nv
warm personal and political friends were in q man
ner forced TO vote against me. Persons exposed to
dangers, or threatened with or apprehensive Of
personal violence, will sometimes purchase peace at
the cost of personal and political Independence
It Is true the bayonets not at the polls but
worse than military influence was there-a mot
terrorism and fear of violence. Hundreds and
thousands, am satisfied, were in this manner de-
tered from going TO the election at all, and many
constrained 10 vote against their predictions II
Is all q mistake to suppose that majority Of the
loyal people of East Tennessee are in favor of the
policy of personal outrage and violence, or of ne
gro suffrage and negro equality. The great MAORI
ty love law and order, and prefer that personal
legitimate channels Of the courts Of the country.
very large majority are utterly opposed TO taking
the right Of suffrage from the white man and con-
erring il upon the negro and believe that this coun
Try and gOVernmGnt-Its Constitution, Laws, and
Republican institutions were made and intended for
the white race a large majority now that the re-
belion Is suppressed and the idea of q Southern
ConfederaCy exploded DESTROYS Of restoring the
original order Of things-the institution Of slavery
Of course excepted and of starting again the old
ship Of State upon calm and prosperous seas.
am not IN favor with certain powers that be- IN Ten
leSsee, and the effort has been made TO place me
under political ban, because do not favor q con-
Gnual and unnecessary disturbance of the social and
political elements the natural tendency Of which Is
only 20 keep US forever social and political storms
In this, however, have the satisfaction TO know
that stand in company with a large majority of
the people Of the State and my own Immediate dis
irict.
We won't TO war to preserve the political partner
ship existing between all the States comprising the
American Union, and which the Southern States /
in their madness and folly attempted to Dissolve
We Won and the South, with commendable philos- ;
ophy, has submitted 10 the logic of events. They
consider the issue Of secession as forever settled and
are willing and 70 considerable extent, anxious 20
come again under the government Of the Union
Now what more can, or ought we TO ask or desire 1
except that the South shall continue faithfully to
observe the compact Of Union? Gan this be most |
successfully and satisfactorily accomplished by ma
that they have part lot no rights and liberties
IN Il? II il be desirable TO keep alive the fires of
secession and disunon, and TO retard our national
prosperity and progress it is only necessary to de-
5troy the connection between Union and liberty, |
and make the former a symbol Of oppression to any
one section Of the country.
Our President, IN eonsonanco with the usage of /
civilized nations and the wise and well recognized /
maxiIls Of humanity, moderation and honor, gov /
crning all heightened and christian rulers has pro-
a
gagged IN he late rebellion. When an amnesty is /
published and accepted are told by information
al law writers, All the past must be buried in OBJ
livion.' am therefore opposed TO tearing open
the old national wounds and causing the body poll
tic 10 bleed sgsIn at every pore. To heal those
wounds from which during tho last four years riv-
Of precious blood have poured out to redden our
land It Is necessary only 10 withhold all undue rri
Jants every cause Of disturbance and dissatisfaction
except such may be absolutely requisite to main
tain the national dignity and secure the national
integrity Placing the negro on level with, or in
deed, In superiority 10 the white man; redress of
personol grievances; all undue and unusual severity
ID the laws, and system Of wholesale indictments
and COnhscROn not necessary either TO conserve
the national integrity promote the national honor
The flames Of dscOrd and civil war, are not favor
able 20 the administration Of pure and sacred JUS
lice.
am happy 10 know that my State has expressed
agreement with me in sentiment on these subjects
The people have with one two exceptions elected
conservative, highly talented and patriotic dclera
ton 70 the Congress Of the sUnited states, Who u
doubt not, If permitted 10 take their seats will =
bring 10 the discharge Of their official duties full
measure Of ability and patriotism. l regret my
own defeat only as defeat Of the wishes and prin-
CiPles Of q majority Of my GCllow-citizens who
from the causes before mentioned, were prevented
from exercising their rights as freeman Time and
a returning sense Of justice, hope will set all
things right.
Sm unwilling 10 be placed in a false position be-
!ore people with whom have lived so long and
Tor whom ] entertain such high regard. No honest
man IN this community viii insinuate ANYTHING
against my loyalty 70 the government Of the United
StStss As Union man / have been constant from
tie beginning-deyoted to Che Union from princi-
pie and for the sake Of the Union. Every candid
man with whom l have exchanged opinions in re-
gard 20 the state Of the country and the government
If the nation, knowing my cordial agreement with
President johnson so far Is his policy has been de-
Eeloped; and that have invariably expressed the
opinion that President johnson would settle the
difficulty between the North and the South as spec
Oily and satisfactorily as any man in the nation
could DO. That believed IN his ability TO conceive
the measures adequate 10 that end and his nerve 10
enforce every necessary means. When Mr.. Lincoln !
vss hFst elected 10 the Presidency voted for q
citilal Of tennessee, whom had known from his
first entrance into public life with whom I had al
WAYS maintained intimate and uninterrupted friend
hip and whom l had always believed ~ he 81 hon
Ell capable and faithful. Ihls, too was the opiD-
ion Of the people Of the State, as they proved by
repeatedly confering upon him the highest Offices
they could bestow; nor did the American people
dissent from this high estimate Of John Bef as
Statesman.
But Nj. Lincoln was elected legally and Constitu
-lonallyi and supported him IN good faith 10 the
extent Of my capacity Contending that IT was the
duty OF Tennessee, and all the Southern States
70 scquiesce In that election and submit 70 his gov
eTnment-au Of which no man knows better than
those VINO now ind It convenient to denoUnco me
as 8 coRperheaa. Nothing has since transpired to
change my views OF my position. The freeing Of
the negroes accept as one Of the consequences Of
the war ana do not believe that it formed any Part
Of Mr. Lincoln original policy.
At the last Presidential election l would have
voted for Gen. Mcclellan, had there been an eecto
raj ticket in his favor in the State because in nv
opinion, he was not only equal 10 Mr. Lincoln in
administrative ability but l believed he comman-
ded the confidence Of the army in a high degree.
and from his experience as g warrior would prose
cute the war with more vigOr and energy than MI.
Lincoln could do But I still had full confidence
in Mr. Lincolns patriotism, and no man viewed his
death as a great calamity to the whole country more
sincerely than did.
I have no wish to diguise the fact-for it is fact
that my strength rested in the conservative and con-
sttutional voters whom, both before and since the
election, believe compose the majority of the dis
Er;ot 41,o, hornou doeo II .