Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-17
Editorial correspondence.
CONTINENTAL HOTEL,

Philadelphia, January It'll, 1866. j
Seven days ago arrived in this great city from
Washington. Here the bell of Independence Hall
rang out the peal of FREEDoM-which struck cord
in the heart of the republic which still vibrates-t
kinded fame in the bosom of every lover of lib
erty which nothing but the impervious hand OF late
can extinguish I love it as the consccrated spot
where at one master stroke our thirteen colonies
were declared free and independent Mingled
emotions of admiration and gratitude are awakened
on this historic ground. Admiration OF the spartan
like heroism of our chivalric sre and gratitude for
the interposition of Almighty God IN behalf OF the
immaculate declaration that :" SU men are created
free and eqiaI We have cause to feel jubilant that
God gave us INDEPENDENCE and that " He who
rueth the nations has preserved our liberties and
that this still the land Of the free and the home
of the brave" despite the Vaccinations of foreign
enemies and domestic traitors.
Thank God l live in land
Where Freedom neer can die;
Where the poor man firm in his right may stand,
And all oppression DEFY
Q, It's indeed glorious land,
And peopled by freemen bold,
Who govern themselves and hold their rights
Bearer than silver or gold
While we cherish the memories of the martyrs in
the sacred cause of universal freedom and are in
spred with love of our great Government, we should
not forget the injunction Of Washington TO guarc
with Jealous eve our free institutions. Treason
armed has been suppressed, but unarmed traitors
| Cataline-lke, are conspiring for the overthrow o.
sacred principles. More danger threatens the Re
public from pretended Union men than InarmeC
rebels Such men we have in Knox and every othe
county in Tennessee Men who never went into tn,
rebellion, but Union men of the sore-headed order
Union men who supported Mcclellan in the las
Presidential election, and who held on with death
grip to the dissolving Of the institution 0
slavery: Union men who, while affecting to rejoic
over the suppression of the rebellion, yet stop t
quarrel with the hand that dealt the rebellion it
death-bows.
Eternal vigilance is the price Of liberty" AM
the loyal people of Tennessee should cateh such me-
and regard them as their enemies and the enemies
correct principles. Nay, more, they should declar
war, irreconcilable and eternal, against them. Pa
triotism and selfinterest alike require it.
There's a warfare where mono but the morally bray
Stand noby and firmly their country to
lis the war of opinion, whero few can be found,
On the mountain Of principle guarding the ground,
With vigilant eyes watching the foes,
Who are providing around and aiming their blows
These men are marshalling their hosts for the re
ns.atemcnt into political power of the slave arstc
Gratis who involved Tennessee in the horrors Of Civ
war. This they are doing under the pretense Of OF
posing negro testimony and negro equality. Wit
this rallying-cry they hope to deceive the hone'
people and lead them, step by step, until they al
bound and shorn Of their locks and strength as We
Samson by D elijah When unable to divine tn
future and gather from the premises the result Of
conflict over great principles, draw largely on m
FAITH, as patriots everywhere did during the dar
hours of the Republic, when treason was everywher
defiant and triumphant on the battlefield.
I have unlimited confidence in the intelligence
and patriotism Of the people of East Tennessee
When they discern the correct path they will d
their duty though fate should hurl them down an
crush them for the attempt. They have passe
through the fery-furnace of persecution andtreaso
with honor unscathed But they will not fail. Ii
the bright lexicon reserved for them there is sue
/ word as fail.
| " Truth, though 1t troubles some mind,
Some wicked minds that both dark and dangerous
/ ! ct it preserves ITSELF comes off pure innocent,
And like the sun, though eclipsed,
Must break in glory
With Congress- the President and the loyal mil
lions Of the North on their sde let loyal Tennessee
ans proclaim correct principles and defy the power
of prejudice. J. B. B.