Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-25
speech BIZ a cabinet Oalcer.
THE POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

! OF MI. LlRColh'
But YOU will expect perhaps, that say something
Of his iMr LincOlns successor. In any otnsr plseS
i and under any other circumstances, l should not
feel at liberty 10 make any particular ailuslohs 10
the President of the United States, holding, as 90
! a seat in his Cabinet. But knowing that many OF
/ vou nv townsmen and neighbors, nave oeeh Oh Ihe
opinion that the settlement Of the great quesnohs .
which would necessarily up for settlement AZ
/ he close Of the war, would require, on the part OF
| ne Chief Magistrate Profounder wisdom ana
broader craftsmanship than was required during Us
! ,ontiDuaDce and that lot few have been deepiy
nYious lest Mr johnson be une quail to the prodig-
/ IONS work that hus been devolved upon him, feel
ION strained 10 say that there is, in my judgment no
round Of apprehension on this subject. Trying
md difficult rs Is his situation, Mr. johnson 10 mas
! ter of IT, He possesses in eminent degree, the
Qualities hat fit him for the Presidency at the present
/ time \ Southern man thoroughly acquainted with
the effects Of slavery upon society, be KNOWS how TO
zeal with Southern men IN their present circunl-
stances riently attached to Tennessee, the love
hch be bears to his State is entire ysubordinate to
mat 10 the Union Jealous of State rights, be Is
,aualv Jealous Of the rights of the General Govern
/ n-ut y radlca! and Incorporating enemy of
ulhfcton secession, and every form of disOyRlty,
he is equally al enemy TO any measures which, in
Judgment. calculated, by deprivng the States
81 their just rights under the Con tuton, to
/ vert the Federal Government into despotism.-
Raised in slave States and, until recently slave
no der he hSs never had any love for slavery, and
vas based upon it. By nature and by education, he
Just the man for the great work of blishing
be Federal authority over the recently rebellUus
/ states. And he has taken hold of this work with
devotion, an energy and prudence that promises
/ the best results.
/ -ihgeness of purpose Honest himself he expects
honesty in others Although long in public life, and
! leading politician Of his own school, he IS in no
! sense partisan. UnHssuming in manners, he is yet
elf-p9ssessed and dignif-d He listens to the ad-
/ vice Of those in whose judgment he has confidence
hut acts upon his convictions, and generally sc-
eUrding To his first impressions. With great decision
IF character he is never haty in action Stern and
gnyieldIHg III his adherence 10 principle and duty,
! ne is r man Of kindly and gentle emotions Having
for his own indomitAble energy fought his way up
from low to high estate, be Is in hearty sympa-
/ Thy with those who treadng the upward
path He is, in a word, clear-headed, upright,
srgetic self-relying statesman digniHed, courteous
1 and kind hearted gentleman. His Administration
will be characterized by all the force and energy and
'ndependency of Jacksons, with very little Of its
partisan character.
Under his direction the great work of re-estab-
fishing civil government at the South under the
Federal Constitution, is going rapidly forward-too
rapidly, it seems according to the opinion Of many
~ the North, whose opinions are entitled 70 great
consideration. l know, sir, that many doubt the
wisdom of Mr.. JOhnson's policy; that many of
the opinion that by their ordinances of secession
the Constitution; and that nothing should be DONE
hy the Executive in aid Of the restoration of their
State Government until Congress had determined
on what terms they should be restored to thu Union,
which they had voluntarily abandoned and attempt
ell 10 destroy; that the people of these States had
appealed to the sword and been subjugated by the
sword they should be governed by the sword, until
the Aw-muking powers had isposed of the subject
I of reconstruction that State that had passed
ordinances IF secession, and united with the socalled
FlTal0 no a6r nj
again into the Union unless in its preliminary pro-
cecaings, all men, irrespective of color, should be
permitted to vote, without provision in its
-titGtUn for the absolute acknowledgements of the
( gro Some even, 60 farther than this, and demand
The conhscation OF the property of all rebels and
the application Of the proceeds 20 the payment Of
! the national debt
These are not apprehend, the views of respect
( able minority. know that they are not the views
minority OF the people Of the North. The bet
opinion Is thai the States which attempted to Sc
csae never ceased to be States in the Union that
ali their acts Of secession of effect; that du-
ring the progress OF the revolt the exercise of the
Federal authority merely suspended and that
/ there never ii moment when the allegiance of
The people OF the lDsurreCnonary State not due
10 the Government, and when the Government WAS
not bound % maintain It's authority over them and
extend protection to those who require it. When
the rebellion WIS overcome the sOCallpd Confpder-
ale Government and al State Governments, which
had been formed in opposition to the Federal Gov
eminent ceased ~ have moral existence and
be people whO had been subject to them were LETT
FOR the ums being, without any Government what .
ever.
The term Of Office of the Federal officers had e1-
prgd, the Offices had become vacant by the trea-
OF thU-e WOO held them. There We're no Fed {
.-a! revenue officer, no competent Federal Judges
and 40 organized FEDERAL cOuTts NOE were the peo-
pie any better OF de- far a5 State authority was re- /
Esriet VII the CUnfed-rscy collapsed all the .
rebel State Governments collapsed with it, so that
win few exceptions, there were no persons holding
civil Office At the South by the authority of any leyt
En4ts Government.
Now, sc Government i al all times . necessity /
among men, and rs il especially at the South /
where violence and lawlessIess had full sway, the
question 20 be decided by the President simply /
TINS: Shall the people az the South be held under /
military rule until Congress shall act upon the Ques-
lion, shall immediate measures be taken by the !
Executive 10 restore to them evil Government?
Alter mature consideration, the President
cuded il 10 be bis duty adopt the latter and
um satisfied that IN doing SO he has acted wisely
Military rule will not be in demand by the peo-
pie OF the United States one moment longer than
there Is absolute necessity for it.
Such al army IS would have been requisite for
the government Of the people of the South, as
su.jUgated people, until Congress might prescribe
the terms on which they could be restored to the
Union would have been too severe q strain upon our
Republican institutions, and too expensive for the
present condition Of the Treasury. The President
has therefore gone work To restore the Union by
the use from the necessity OF the case, of portion
OF those who have been recently in arms to over
throw 1t.
The experiment may be regarded as a dangerous
one, but 1t will be proved apprehend to have been
judcjJus one Never were people so disguised
with the work OF their own hands IS were the great
mass OF the people Of the South, (even before the
collapse Of the rebellion with the government
which attempted to he set up by the overthrow
Of the Government Of their forefathers. Never was
people 50 completely subjugated as the people of
the rebel States. l have met great many of those
whom the Presidents using in his restoration policy
aud they have impressed me most favorsbly be-
Ieve them 10 be honest in taking the amnesty oath
and in their pledges of fidelity to the Constitution
and 1he Union. Slavery has perished-ths all
acknowledge with it has gone down the doc
trIne Of secession. State sovereignty bad been dis
cussed IN Congress, before courts in the public Jour
nais and among the people, and at last, "when mad
ness ruled the hour, this veXed question was sub
miJted to the final arbIt7auent of the sword The
question: as all admit has been fairly and definitely
decided and from this decision of the sword there is
no appeal.
1t Is undoubtedly true that the men of the South
feel sore the result but they accept the situation
and are preparing for the changes which the war
has produced in their domestic institutions with an
alacrity and an exhibition of good feeling which
has confess, surprised rs it has gratifed me-
In the work of restoration the President has :
AHMED 70 do only that which was necessary to be
done exercising that power only which could be
properly exercised under the Constitution which
guaranteed 10 every State republican form of gov
eminent. Regarding slavery rs having persisted in
the re0eous States either by the proclamation of
his predecessor OF by the result of the war and de-
terminng that no rebel who had not purged himself