Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-03-23
political.
BRowNLow's LETTER,

GOVERNOR BROWNLOW' LETTER, |
WARRINGTON, March 8.
Judge Kelley, Of Philadelphia. has received |
the following readable and highly important
letter from Gov. Brownow of Tennessee,
whose former relations to the President, no
less than his official position, make his state
ments the moro significant.
NAsHvuLg, March 3.
Hon. Wm. D Kelley, House Of Representatives
Dear Sir Enclosed | send you copy Of
my proclamation, from which you will LEARN
that faction Of twenty~one disorRanizers
have, in the true spirit Of the late iniquitous
rebellion, Withdrawn, and reduced our House
Of Representatives below quorum need
not add further remarks, as the proclamation
fully discusses the points at issue.
On Friday last the election of county off
GERS took place throughout the State such
as clerks, sherfs, justices, trustees, and tax
collectors, and in Middle and West Tennes-
see the rebels have made a clean sweep
turning Union men out, and electing their
own candidates, who electioneered for office
on the ground that they we're rebels, and
had either served in the rebel army. or in
some other capacity had given their influence
to the cause Of treason and traitors
When Richmond fell and Lee surrendered,
rebels, and many who sympathized with them,
were very respectful to Union men, often
obsequious. Guilty culprits, they evident.
ly feared arrest and punishment, and fell
that to be let alone and allowed to live was
all they had right to expect But since
pardons have been so multiplied, and no man
has been punished, they have everywhere be-
come impudent and defiant, until in most
counties in Middle and West Tennessee it lie
disreputable to have been Union man, or,
as q Southern man, to have served in the I'M
ion army-and matters are growing worse
the reconstructed traitors openly cursinE 10y
al men, and threatening them with shooting
or hangng-boasting that they have the
President on their side, while we all feel that
the Presidents policy is ruinous to US.
When put the President in nomination
at Baltimore for the Vice Pre- sidency, | felt
that he had so thoroughly committed himself
to the Union cause, and had been 30 badly
treated by the rebels, it was impossible for
him ever to get around to them again but
give him up as lost to the union party, and
as the man who is to head the rebels and
democrats. Every rebel il all this country,
even Mcclellan men, aud every ex guerilla
chief, are loud ana enthusiastic in praise OF
the President The men who. but a few
months since, were cursing him for an abolit-
onist and traitor, and wishing him executed,
are now for executing all who dare oppose
his policy or even doubt its success.
There is twice the amount OF bitterness and
intolerance IN 'he south TO-DAY toward the
Union ana everything Northern that thefe
was AZ 'he ume o. Lee sutrenoer' Abuse
ol Union men, OF the radical majority 10 Con
gress' ana seIi,assumed superiority on the
part OIL lhe southern chlNalry' nave risen TO
such height that loyal men cannot travel on
steamboat, or railroad car without being
lnsulted, AS II was dunng the war, so 1t Is
no"-ali concessions from me North or from
tne majority IN congress are regarded as eVi-
aehces oil lear All the OLD rebel presses oil
iool ana many new ones are In iull blast,
threatening Congress ana 'he North with ul-
innate vengeance and Boosting OF southern
Prowess' Inc most popular men IN ne lar
gest portion OF lennessee to-day are the men
most distinguished ior their hostility TO the
norm, Ano "hat they are pleased to term
Inc radical Congress, and they are the class
oil men selected to NIL of1ces, as the late ooun-
ty elections show. The same Is true OF the
entire SOUTH o"y 10 greater eIte"f In
"otu' 'heS are rosolveo on breaking up the
government ana they expect TO carry out their
seheme "'ou9h me oatot oo@' and no" men
oil canuor Ano ihtelllgehee can represent them
as loySi ana klnaiy disposed IS mystery TO
me- even IN TINS age OF rebellion ana ueach-
cry 40 not go understand them' ana my
opportunities Ior learning ther temper ana
ultimate purposes are as good as most men.