Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-07-25
Powerful Letter from Attorney Gene
eral Speed.
A BLOW AT THE JOHNSON CONVENTION.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 10, fsee

IT. Hon. j. r. DoolittLe Chairman etc.:
SIR:-I have the honor 10 acknowledge the re-
Cept of your note of the 10th lnst1 Win printed
copy of call for q National Convention, 10 Dc
held at Philsdelphia on the I4tI Gay o. august
neyt You reouest in case the call and the princi-
niles anuncsted in il meet my approval, that l may
rrenIv ot nv earliest convenience. This language
wdnfd seem to imply that answer is desired, if
do not approve the call and the principles avowed
| in IL In other words, that failure to reply may
be Interpreted a disapproval not only of the call
but Of each and all of the principles announced
! in il.
This is position in which l am unwilling to be
placed, when approve of many of the principles
set forth In the CALL and yet do not approve of the
call ITSELF will briefly state my reasons, first
promising that do not recognize the very respect
able gentlemen who have made this CALL as the &C
knowledged organs Of the great Union party ofthe
country. Since the terrific struggle from which the
country has now emerged, we have had National
Union party that has exhibited more devotion made
greater sacrifices, and manifested more unsesh pa
triotism than any party ever did previously in the
history Of the world. That party is still in being
with It's organization intact and its organs known
and as that party by its faith its doctrines and its
exertlons has, IN the face of the prophecies of half
the New and the Old World, saved the Government
and the republican institutions of our common
country from the Generalization, and indeed from
utter ruin, by vndicatng at all hazards the primer
da theory OF the eternal indissOluble union of the
theory of State rights ever be maintained and
red out it would appear to me to be still the only,
or at any rate the most efectual MEANS as far as
party can do it, Of finally adjusting all the remain
ing minor and unsettled matters of reconstruction,
consistently with the requirements of the theory
mentioned. This party is the same to-day as it
IN the days ofits trial t he same party as when
but few short months ago, it elected Lincoln and
johnson and the majority of the present Congress;
and as acted with it then, for paramount reasons
m of g06S of I
with it now. /
The pith and marrow OF the present call, should |
say, tends towrad convention to form party for .
sustaining not the Government in its entiret y,
has been the mission Of the Union party, but de-
partment Of the Government; and here must take .
liberty Of adding that can hardly conceive of any
sadder spectacle under the crisis Of present circum
stances than that of the tried MON party of this
country becoming dislocated and broken up by d. ,
versions that Of one branch Of the Government of
the country taking an issolated position upon ques
tons Of deed and common interest, and placing it
self in hostile conflict with coordinate departments
For these and other reasons which might be men |
toned cannot join in the call for the Convention
in Philadelphia.
have said that many of the principles stated in j
the call, are in my view, unobiectionable l will |
not stop to criticse those which are Objectionable
but content myself with stating that the call fails TO
take any notice Of one Of the great issues now be-
fore the American people. allude TO the question
last amendment proposed by Congress to the Con-
stitution Of the United States. This is grave and
all important question; the issue upon it cannot be
avoided. 1t should be placed fairly and squarely
before the people The failure to take ground upon
so important question must be attributed either to
q desire 20 avoid the issue declaration of be-
lief and policy against the adoption of the amend
ment. Being myself earnestly and decidedly III IA
vor Of headoPtOn OF the amendment by the States,
L cannot so into an organization that would either
openly oppose that measure, would smother il by
avoiding its discussion. l must also add, that
man is more desirious than am, to attain the
the restoration of the American Union, with its
practical workings in more perfect harmony and
concert than ever and the surety as far mortal
affairs be made sure Of endless perpetuity in the
future
The blessings 10 flow from such 4 Union are
countless and inestimabe. But such Union, con- !
sistent within ITSELF maintained by the universal
consent OF all classes and sections, and laughing to
scorn both the assaults of foes internal EXTERNAL
and the ravages Of time and change, will only be
obtained by stcrny retracting every departure from
or compromise with the supreme and general idea !
ofthe American fundamental law-the Constitution.
That general idea consists in brief of the political
liberty and equality of mankind under the law.
Such, and such only, can be the Union, the ma !
tionalty that will put in form the magnificent and
lofty dreams OF the American influential mind, !
and fulfill in future the highest efforts of the pres
ent and the past. 1t is not the vague deluson that
lean theory eliminates properly in the sacredness of
the rights Of ndividuals-ofea each single individual.
That after all is what Washington carved ont with
his sword, and Jefferson, fltering it through his |
subtle and free mind, drew up and put on record |
with the pen.
1t is well known that in the political and legal his
tory Of the United States, the only departures on
compromises Of the kind alluded have been those
in the interests Of slavery and Of its manifold incl
dents. do not, Of course propose to 90 over the
Of he Vt
day Slavery as a confessed legality, is as we all
know, no more, but some of the most important of
its incidents or compromises still remain blots and
incongruites upon the law. What equitab bic reason
be given why these incidents also should not be
erased? Time was that when the brains were out
| the man would die, but we see the limbs de-
handing to live and move if the nerves still
listed. The persistent attempt to keep in the Con-
stitution the rule of unequal and unfair basis of
representation Is perous to the future peace of the
country, and will surely cause chatting sense Of
/ injuries as long as it is continued. Furthermore,
the high mission Of the Union party, as avowed in
| the Baltimore COnvention-to extirpate slavery
includes the removal Of all the hate and ant-popu-
lar eXcrecence engrafted by that institution for its
own selfish ACKNOWLEDGEMENT upon free natl Onal
laws and policy. That high mission and obligation
cannot be accomplished until all sUhich SLacery has so
e9rGttcd IS chi ont; for until then s!Groyis not
| trpatea
Earnestly sympathizing with the men who look
upon law of equal representation the only guar
anty for popular rights should feel myself ont Of
place IN party taat Sh01-ed basis Of representation
giug peculiar ald unjust advantages to a portion of
the body polite, to the detrmeHt and dissatisfaction
| Of the lohoJe.
United with you and all good men in the soulfelt
desire that peace prosperity and amcable brother
| hood, which is moro than any worldly prosperity
| may soon prevail and continue unbroken through
| our common country; that the former cnmity shall
die out and be forever lost and that all over the
| broad domain Of America equal laws shall prot ect
equal rights 10 all minds
1 have the honor TO subscribe myself your obedi-
cnt servant. JAMES SIZED.