The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-05-12
LITTER FROM HON. CAVE
JOHNSON,

to represent the counties Of Robertson,
Montgomery and Stewart, in the Sen.
ate, and whose long experience in leg
i~slation and enlightened views upon
public polity would adorn any body OF
legislators, but who was refused his
scat by the Radicals because he was
Conservative, and opposed to the pro-
grammc Of the Jacobins, has addressed
Il letter to his constituents, from which
we extract. AS we have heretofore
published in the Home Journal Mr.,
Johnson's protest against the Illegal
action of the Radical majority in ex-
Guiding him, we omit the first part of
his letter, which is in reference to said
action. lie concludes his letter MS fol
lows:
The Government of Tennessee, as
administered by the present incum-
bents, is the most dctestable oligarchY
Of modern times, and conducted with
ont the least regard to the cardinal pr,n-
ciplcs upon which our free institutions
were originally based.
It's organization took place in time
oRwar, intended. no doubt honestly, to
Give aid to the United States in the
GREAT struggle for existence, and will,
therefore, furnish some excuse for the
irrosuIaYitios in getting it up. and for
it3arts during the war: but that any
citizen, thus selected, alterthc war has
ended, should persist in their usurpa,
tons, sticking to the places assigned
them, aud lcgislaling against tie known
wishes Of such Il majority OF the peo-
rlc. exhibits an ambition for Office, n
s]clls!lncss and hardihood not often
met with in civilized communities. 70
misreprcscnt any people, knowingly,
has been, heretofore, always considered
. dcorcdation to which no man, hay
inc proper self respect, would submit.
Correct principles, self respect, duty,
to the people rs well rs thensclye3,
should have induced them, at the close
Of the war, to have surrendered then
usirped. i'll gotten power, to the people
10 whom tbalon"cd, which would have
been followed by peace, harmony and
prosperity at home.
II such a course could now be adop-
ted. and the act ofdisiranchiscmcnt re-
pcalcl, and Il concilintory course prar-
iced By those now in power, the State
would be rs peaceful and orderly as at
any other period in our history. 1t is
not to be expected that the citizens Will
quietly submit to be governed, even
wisely and justly by such a minority,
especially il obtained from military al'
thority without their consent, or get.
ting control of the State by Legislative
tricks and contrivanccs.
The acts of our State Government
say to the world, that ninetccn-twen.
ticths of our people are traitors to
their country, unfit for self-govern'
mcnt, and must he subjected to that by
the sword. 1t would seem but just anl
proper that those who entertain sue!
sentiments, should abandon such trait
orous neighbors, and seek Il home witt
more genial spirits among the Yam
KEGS.
70 b, thus deprived Of the invaluable
right Of self government; to have sucl
unjust burtIlcns imposed on us. ny
men who are not our representatives
would seem to demand of rs promp
and speedy action for our W relief
as vel! us the suitable punishment o.
H., I,,, ,1,,.l tp n-urJI nnI
RIGHTS. But the contest now going OF
I'D :, a~shinoton. between the Presi len
and Congress, for the restoration of thu
States and the rights Of the people, ant
which must soon he settled, as | conf
IDENTITY believe. in behalf of the latter
renders it prudent, in my Judgment, fol
u.s. to be calm, quiet and orderly, bear
inr and forhearing much, so as to ena
BE us to give efficient aid to the Presi
dent IN his effort to preserve the GOV
crnmpnt as il WAS made by the grca
aaI GOOD inca who framed our ConSti
tuition. and to put down the inIamoh
Radical Congress-, who labor, day an'
nirht. to change the Constitution an(
overthrow the Government transmitted
t. u, nv our ycuaratci ancestors.
Changes or alterations in the Con
Al.,utiUn, Ivy such iNnatical, unprin
c,pa,ti parliaan3 Is Stephens, Phillips
Et1wnIow, ETC.. can result in 10 goct
10 the people. / prefer trusting my
de- tiny and that of my children to Tn
pure and patriotic institutions Of Wash
inr-nn and his associates. We may
however, do something, in the midst o
these troubles, to preserve the mono
and integrity of the State from the ruth
less hands now controlling it. Fac.
county can instruct those claiming t.
represent them, and demand n com
pliancc with the instructions or q res
;unation. The right Of instruction In
ever been held sacred in q r%cpublics
government. Ifthey fail to obey in
slructions, we can rcpudiate all the.
do, and the time will soon come whe
appropriate punishment can be impos
cd on the miserable tools of party an
faction. They may learn u lesson froI
the fate Of Hannah, who erected a ga
lows for Mordecai, and was hanged O
his own gailows; or from the fate q
the inventor Of the guillotine, who wa
among its earliest victims. They ma.
make a bed of thorns for the people t
lie on, and it may 500 become thei
bed of repose.
[ shall never cease to remember
with gratitude, the liberal and generou
%cunnort oiven me for half q century
and regret that circumstances, beyon
my control, have prevented me froI
serving you as ! wished to have dom
and as you expected.