Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-23
Life-Picture of the COnfederaCy By q
Rebel NeNSpaper.

The people Of the once conlederacy have lJ
ground to complain, for they were among the first
to abandon their principles, they allowed them 20
be abandoned. They allowed every vestige Of hg-
rights TO be ignored, under the promise Of hay
ing them given back after the war. They allowed
themselves to be robbed Of their property their in
herent and natural right under the appalling delu-
sion that it would strengthen their power Of resist
They tolerated the blacklist act that ever dis
graced a legislative northumberland and
unholy-the act Of CONSUMPTION with its arist1lrlic
exemptions. An act that forced the honest indus
trial. labOring man from his family into the ranks.
without providing means Of subsistence for his fam
ily and exempted planters and their nggers: doe
tors, not one in ten of whom deserved q patient.
and at best were but 4 social incubus lantgrn-aw-
ed, canting seven by nine society disturbing prep
ers, and ever meddlesome and dictator-sUppoftin-
editors Exempted them for no other purpose than
10 combine wealth, talent and influence in support
ofthe measure and thereby force it down the throats
Of the people and the courts Of the country. That
act exempted three hundred thousand effective white
men who could leave their families with princely
fortunes and every way provided with the com1yGt=
of life; 1t exempted from service OF any sort live
hundred thousand powerful able-bodied blacks
viewing them in 8 sacred light and throwing the
burden of war and defense of the country upon i've
or six hundred thousand honest laborng men whose
families depend upon their toll for daily suscuauca
Cruel inhUman, disbolieal act, and cruelty, inbu-
manly and diabolcally was it in many. very many.
instances executed.
Added to this, the peopl8 tolerated pack o.. the
most Internal vampires that ever sucked human
blood in the form of petty officials: little dirty v
rants, in official livery, who under the pretence Of
robbing for the Government robbed for themselves.
From brigadier general, cotton law makers down to
the most insignificant pet of the Government that
was not fortunate enough to come under the ez-
emption clause, a general grab was made at what
ever was IN sight. In every conceivable form rob
berry was carried on. Innocent men, honest con-
federates who happened TO have some coveted piece
OF property, would no sooner be pointed o4s than
would pack Of official ours start upon the track.
The best mon Of the country were suspected rr-
Pressly to drive them into opposition, Or from he
country. Confederate States receivers, none uf
whom have We positively known TO settle with h--r
Government, IN many instances disgraced the name
of man III their henrOOst searches after cUuis.au-
bic property. Nj these States and Confederate
States officials, naugurated system of espionage
and plumber never before eeualed on earth No
man was free from suspicion and No man dared 80
point back TO the written Constitution and laws Of
the country for there was no law nor constitution
recognized by the petty tyrants No one dared slg-
gesteven the object for which the war was naugura-
ted: for to do 90 was conclusive evidence of lsay-
atty.
The soldiers who were fortunate enough &. get
furlough5 for home, would no sooner behold the
work Of official vampires, than they would resolve
never 10 return to the ranks. Nine times out Of
ten they would find that all they had left behind
had been gObbled up, and they in self defense would
commence stealing TO get even.
Confidence between the people and government
WAS lost; for every usurpation Of constitution
al authority only paved the way for another OUT
rage. So soon as the Government openly violated
the Constitution, both civil and military officers
ceased to respect the laws, and the soldiers as con-
sequence ceased to respect their officer or hs per-
sons or rights Of the people All there has been 10
the Confederacy, in the last year or tive was al n
toerable military despotsm and soldior-anarcly
Under this weight it was impossible for the Couled
eracy to succeed. Its own weight was sufficient 60
crush il, and crushed it IS, but not wbipped-N0t-
aD1crus Ra1chero