Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-07
IrrYIlarI'lpa DSAe so'ertorJ

innuential citizens OF Eastern Tennessee have
nemorlazed the Executive TO issued this prooa'
nation calling upon returning Federal soldiers and
qiizons, H. that section II tp state " cease, under
Asense Of political WRONGS 10 resort standardization
q Violence upon he PersQnsd olhqFs WIG ,syllpa,
thized with The rebellion 'nndolso to ccrsc- threats
against Rcfeps'vh9 nyOHetprpsl pdcr paroelto
their homes, agreeably 10 the forms accorded TO Up
aFmie4 VI, Lee and Johnston, apl, Ehegeae tht
menioraliss represent that In several Instances IT.
tempts have, bepn made 10 tgke the lives Of subj
perspns'prbf hcp who ARD yideistptd while 70
manning at home TO have been unlrendly TO dc
Uniohi and further they cali for fall good cti.
zens 10 refrain from acts of lawless and personal
Now, therefore, l. WILLIAM q, BRowSLow, GoR-
ornor Of Tennessee, do issue this my proclamatdn,
calling upon the civil magisracy and the courts 10
repress all improper indulgence OF private orpollt-
ical revenge; and call upon all aggreyed oiizohs
10 apply for the redress Of their wrong6 and the
punishment Of any parties who have personally ih-
jqrcd then, and arc guilty pf otepqq pEpnft the
State or Nation TO the civil courts which are now
open in most of the sections where these outages are
being perpetrated. Should the guilty be shielded
by the corruption Of civil or judicial officers, or JUS
tiee TO the injured be refused by the courts II VIII
then be impossible TO prevent the injured and OPP
pressed from taking their remedies into their own
hands.
abseiicc 81 three years Of hard fgthg return 10
their homes from which they were driven, and find
their homes desolated find that their wives alid
children have sunk into poverty and starvation, Or
into untimely graves or find them in rags and sick
ness, crying for bread-when these wan and weary
men many of them themselves crippled for
life, or reduced in health, with the constitutions
broken, and their prospects in life blasted am nJt
among those who would restrain their vengeance
fh.,
us kept within reasonable boupdsand sought through
legitimate channels, But those agents in the bloody
drama who were themselves tati0Hijg agents. should
be treated with charitable consideration and as u
them we should drown the recoections Of the past
in the dark waters Of oblivion While those lead
crs who notified Union men, at the beginning of the
rebelli9n that bgt one party gould lhersaiter livp
n Eastern Tennessee, and drove them from their
homes, would act wisely 10 quietly and forever
withdraw from the country.
Intelligent, influential men OF wealth who insti-
gated this rebellion-who seized and imprisoned
Union men, and sent them by hundreds and thousl
sDflstp The gtASbt4lpd then isicrowni their wSfklof
infamy, deprived their helpless families Of all they
had-have forfeited MI rightto protection and life
and mort the vigorous and undying opposition Of
loyal men. Still they must be punished in legit
innate way. And in the judgment of the Executive
Of this State the disposition manifested By many of
our loyal citizens to Shield from justice the chief ac
tors in these revolving scenes is cause OF serious
alarm. Leniency, without distinction between
loyalty and treason, is more certain 10 subvert the
Government than is rebellion itself Clemoncy, at
the sacrifice Of justice is the abandonment Of gov
ernment and the overthrow OF law and order. The
treason Of the rebellion is crime against law lib
erty and humanity, They who's guilty Of II have
forfeited all rights to citizenship and to life itself
Every field Of carnage every rebel prison, every
L MON mans grave unite with n violated law and
demand the penalty and if the courts do not ad-
minister it, an outraged people will i
call upon all rebel robbers. bushwhackers ynd
guerrillas TO cease their wicked ways and betako
to honest pursuits " II
/ call upon all rebels who lave stolen horses,
mules cattle and other property, and who have
other outrage upon Unionn men or Union
families forthwith TO Ststorei the stolen property to
its true owners, and make reparation to all loyal
hcn fertile wrong they have dote thon and their
TGa Upon those who have carried of the money
archives and property Of the State and the proper
" OF the railroad companies, 10 forthwith return all
they took away or these offenders shall have no rest
while am in office And warn all who REFUSE 10 \
return this property or make Just reparation, TO
cave theiState oriremsin out Of her borders. \
And call upon all returning rebel soldiers. ~
ease their trsatsof Violence su6hHsl ttatShey are
not whipped, and are only resting with purpose to
light again. Such threats only bring on trouble,
and result in the shedding Of blood
In testimony Whereof have hereunto set my
hand and caused the Great Seal Of the
.99s.s." State TO be affixed, al the Department in
q L. S. 81 Nashville, ON this the Both day of May
.s9ss3sSS"- Ammo Domn, lone thousand eight hun
Isuo sdred y Hnd silftyy-avg s. s1lmA1
X. }. FLETCHER, Secretary of State