Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-29
Editorial Correspondence.
METROPOLITAN HOTEL,
Washington, November 18th, 1865.

Washington, November lotni 1000
Since writing from the Capitol of Tennesse have
been eight days in the capitol of the Nation. An &C
count of my observation of affairs here I have
thought would not be uninterestng TO the readers OF
the WING in East Tennessee who read no ot4er pa
per- and who will read for the first time what may
have to say. 1 arrived here on Saturday last. On
Monday l called at the White House and sent my
"card TO East Tennessees eminent and gifted son,
Andrew johnson. was at once admitted to the
presence of the man who occupies the most exalted
and honorable position on earth, the Chief hagis-
tracy of the most perfect and powerful government
| in the world.
The President greeted me with that cordially
which was his wont when l visited him while he
was Military Governor of Tennessee, and when 1
attended his appointments during the dark hours OF
'61 when the rebels of East Tennessee hunted and
pursued him as a traitor and tory to use their own
classic language.
| He immediately inquired as to the condition OF
affairs in East Tennessee, and his old friends there
He expressed great solcitude for their Tell-being,
and called up "reminiscences of past which evinces
that he has not forgotten the unsophistcated patriots
| Of his mountain home.
1 Andrew UOuuEOu WOulO Do al Hty1NtS SSaAA ~
forget and cease to feel an interest in the brave and
devoted loyalists of East Tennessee, who stood as
| bravely by him when he needed friends and was.
menaced with death, as did the brave Leonidas at
the pass of Thermopalae in defense of the liberties
of Greece.
The devotion of the President to the great Origi-
nal emancipation and anti Chicago platform
party does not evnce that he credits the ISLANDERS of
the liars and eopperhesds who would bring into
disrepute the most devoted and loyal people in
America. The simon-pure Union men of East Ten
nessee have in Andrew johnson a steadfast friend
The President hopes for the speedy restoration of
peace and brotherly feeling throughout the whole
country. To those who bring forth fruits meat for
repentance he will deal with that generosity which
should govern the Chief Executive of great Re
public. That class who have been in rebellion and
are now morose and unwilling to accept the results
Of the war; need not expect to receive favors at his
hands. Copernicus did kneel before the Catholic
altar and deny that the earth revoved in its axis,
though he had just demonstrated the fact. 4 draWH
s,0ord then gLitered Gbore he's head. 1t was with
drawn, and he whispered to 8 friend, The earth
does turn Tqssnd.
The spirit of Copernicus aptly illustrates the
spirit of thousands in the South in whom secession
is neradicable 1t is marrow in their bones and cir
culates in their blood.
COpperheads in Tennessee, like those who had
little meeting in Knoxville to denounce = loyal
Legslature-men who opposed the President
during the whole war and advocated the election of
Mcclellan and Predetermined not hope by their
loud professions of support and misrepresen-
tatiOns Through resolutions) of loyal legislators,
to make the President Ego back" his old friends.
The honeyed words and Aattery Of So called con-
servatives who endeavored to crush him while Mil
itary Governor, will not make him "Tylerize" and
desert the true who stood by him in the hour of
need
The President called my attention to the action of
the Senatorial branch of the Tennessee Legislature
in giving colored men the right to testify in our
courts He said he was gratihed at their course in
this matter, and asked " If the House Of Repre-
sentatves would with the Senate on this sub
ject.' l told him had no doubt they would do so.
He said, II hope they will" He then briefly argued
the justice both TO the black and white races CO the
House cOncurring with the Senate on this subject.
1 have given no portion of private, friendly in
terview which would be violative Of confidence
The declarations of his I have given would be by
him proclaimed upon the house tops"
The health of the President was never better than
now. Long may he live to administer our glorious
government the principles of justice and univer-
sal freedom.
On yesterday the jailor of Andersonville prison,
Henry Wirz, was hanged. A more righteous exc
cution has not taken place since the hanging of
Hayman. If I did not feel certain that Wirz
was in hell 1 would be an universalist. 1t is not
sentiment Of revenge that leads me to feel gratfed
when so inhuman monster suffers the great penal
ty of his crimes If eyer man deserved death, that
man was Captain Henry Wirz. Every man in the
csuntry who is not a traitor will approve of the
course of the President in refusing to reprieve or
pardon him. As the TAILOR of Andersoaville, he
killed more Union soldiers, according to his own
wicked boast and the official record than Gen. Lee.
The number of graves of recognized corpses at
Andersonville exceeds $4,000. DR.. A. &. Hamlin,
who was ordered to visit Andersonville TO examine
and report on certain points in the Wr2 trial. helps
by statistics to a comprehension of the enormous
loss these figures represent. He shows from the Of
fetal records of the British army that less than that
number Of lives were lost in Eve of the bloodiest
battles fought in the first quarter of this century
The table supplied by DR.. Hamlin shows the num-
Der of British soldiers engaged in the battles men
toned and Of those who died from the effects of