Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-06

Alter deliberately discussing the pending
issue between the Conservative and Radical
parties, State and National, Colonel BAXTER
proceeded as follows:
A few weeks ago, Mr.. A. J. FLETCHER,
known 90 most Of YOU as a supporter Of the
Radical faction Of Tennessee, delivered
himself Of a three hours speech at Knoxville,
in support Of the policy of his party friends.
Throughout this entire speech, he held HIM
self forth as the embodiment Of true loyalty:
announced, in an authoritative and emphatic
manner, that there were tgoclasses Of Union
men in the country the one class was made
up Of all that noble, wise, courageous and
patriotic and in a vainglorious and pre-
sumptnous manner be seemed 20 present
himself a. a sample Of this better class Of
pure and elevated statesmen.
While thus proclaiming his own exalted
merits, and asserting his claims 10 the conf
dence and support Of the country, he was
unusually prof0se In his denunciatiOns Of
President Johnson as untrue 10 the Union
and traitor 10 the country. Now such re-
marks, coming from such a source, / am
ready 20 admit needed no reply before an
East Tennessee audience, where the assailed
and assailant both resided and where their
personal and political sntecedents are well
understood But inasmuch as / had accept
Conservatives, 20 assemble few days there
after al Greenyille, where the President and
Mr.. FLETCHER formerly resided, ! thought
il legitimate and proper to detail to that
Convention a very brief statement Of Mr..
FLErCHER's attack upon their honOred
neighb0F, the President Of the United States;
and, having done this, ! felt authorized 70
20 further and run a parallel between the
two from the beginning Of the late rebellion
20 the present time Il was he who tender
ed the issue and l accepted IL; indeed, in
the language of the lrishman, when ques-
toned by the Court and asked why he had
stricken his adversary, BE Jasus, may IL
please your Honor, he held his head 50 fair I
couldn't help ar
Now, indischarging this voluntary love as |
best ] could, Enthusiastically thefollOw-
ing statement Of facts, and ] appear before |
you to-day TO reiterate and affirm the same |
10 be true. In the very inception Of our
late National troubles, President JOHNSON /
took an open, bold aud decided stand for |
the preservation Of the Union. After the |
adjournment of Congress in March, 1861, he |
returned at the risk Of his life 10 canvass
Tennessee, opposing the secession Of the /
State. Without considering consequences
10 himself, personal, pecuniary or political, |
he cut loose from his home his property, |
and his family, and bravely cast his destiny
with the Government. Like brave man as
he always shown himself 10 be, land in no
way more than in his forbearance and mag
nanimty in the hour Of triumph, he de-
voted his great and comprehensive mind as
we'll as his physical energies 10 the suppress
sion Of the rebellion and the restoration Of
the constitutional authority Of the Federal
Government.
These ends being attained-LEE and
JOHNSTON having surrendered-the Presi-
dent at once abandoned the field and direct
ted his thoughts TO the living questions Of the
day, inaugurating a policy Of justice and
Cancellation, and despite the threats and I'M
reasonable clamorof interested politicians
struggling for personal aggrandizement-
he has pursued the even tenor Of his way,
throwing of imperial powers which Con-
grcss kept constantly thrusting upon him,
and with a firm and mistaken confidence in
republican institutions, and in the justice
and patriotism of the American people, he
has labored honestly, faithfully and efficient
ly 10 harmonic the various sections and re-
store the Federal Constitution, as the funda-
mental aud controlling law Of the land.
Such, in brief, is the record Of ANDREW
JOHNSON.
Let ia now turn to the record Of Mr..
FLETCHER In the early part Of the re-
bellion, Mr. FLETCHER was doubtless a
Union man, but il is also true that as the
contest waxed warm and dangers began TO
accumulate either from honest convictions
influence of friends, excitement fear, or
some other reason, he began TO falter in the
good cause.
About the fall Of 1861, he took and sub
scribed a solemn oath Of allegiance 10 the
rebel government. Soon afterwards he APP
piled to the rebel authorities for permission
70 raise and organize a rebel regiment
This he has recently admitted in pub
lished address to the State. But it is due to
him 10 say that he also stated in mitigation
that at the time Of his application he was
very much scared. and for the purpose Of
averting these apprehended dangers, and
playing what he is pleased to term trick
upon the rebel government, and with the
view Of recruiting the Union conscripts and
marching them into the Federal lines" be
held himself cut as a friend of the rebellion,
and applied for a commission in the rebel
army. He thereby manifested his readiness
20 take a solemn oath Of fidelity 10 the rebel
cause, 70 have his contemplated regiment Of
loyal East Tenuesseans also sworn TO bear
true allegiance, and honestly and faithfully
serve the s0-called Confederate States-to
pledge their lives, their fortunes and their
sacred honor for the maintainence Of the
rebel anthority--in order that he might be-
tray the cause to which he had thus bound
them and himself with the most imposing
sanctions known 10 honorable men, by
marching his men into the Federal lines.
How far this statement may comport with |
the truth no one can possibly know but Mr..
FLETCHER himself
There i, however, one thing which l do
know, and il is this, that At the time he (
protested sincerity, and by his protestations
and conversations impressed me with the !
belief that his purpose was terearnestly | (
into the defense of rebellion.
His explanation now, is 20 say the least,
highly improbable. The Unionists Of East
Tennessee did not, at that time, deem IL
either safe or practicable, for am undisci- ,
plined regiment of raw recruits, whether
armed OF unarmed, attempt 10 force its way
through The rebel lines TO Kentucky. Those
who made up their minds 20 take part In the
fight; TO assist the Federal Government in
It's effort 90 preserve the national life es-
saved to make their escape across the Cum !
berland Mountains in squads and with con-
sciences untrammeled with oaths Never
theless, Mr.. FLETCHEB may have conceived !
this brilliaaf idea, to ingratiate himself into
the confidence Of the rebel government; /
swear allegiance to It's cause; obtain a COM
mission in It's army; raise and organize a
regiment under lis authority, 10 fight in It's
behalf: have a solemn oath administered to J
each of his men TO be true 20 the oUlse-to
the end that he might signaliEe his entrance
into the Federal lines by perjury and a con-
spicuous and base betrayal Of the power 10
which he had pledged, before God, his UNI
dying support. a
As improbable as this statement is, il may
be true but, IL SO, he is, BY CONFESSION, a
much more despicable man than his worst
enemies have ever charged. lie is beyond
the pale Of honorable recognition. But
enough OF this He failed 10 raise his rcgi-
menL The prospeetr Of the Confederacy
began " TO grow small by degrees and beau
tifully less Mr. FLErCuER's loyalty
mean his loyalty 10 the Union-began
somewhat 20 revive, until finally he crossed
the Cumberland Mountain in quest Of the
Federal army. Now You would naturally
suppose, from his belligcront tone, his un-
ceasing cry Tor more blood, his profession Of
extreme loyalty, his eloquent and touching
denunCiations of The many outrages perpe-
traied BY rebels upon East Tennessee Union