Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-19
OUR POSTWAR POLITICAL HISTORY
"A SEIRO.COMIC CHAPTER.

al editorial matter in the Washington
Chronicle of the 18th inst, which, in defend
ing the course of Col. w. B. STOKES, Sc
verely animadverts upon President JOHN
son, Hon. Ed. COOPER and many others.
1t undertakes TO give an interior view ofthe
course of political events in this State,
which viii prove amusing, if not instructive
TO a large proportion of the people. It was
not written by any one who is in the habit
of furnishing editorial matter for the Ctroai-
cIe as shown By the inability Of the printers
to decipher the manuscript. The author is,
doubtless, one Of those who hung upon
ANDREW JoHNsoN's smiles and received his
encouragement, until they were warmed in
TO life, and now feebly endeavor TO sting and
annoy him, imPelled thereto by the enmity
that previously existed, and never ceased in
the most trying period Of deceit and hypoc-
ricy. WHO he is we are not informed, and
must leave the reader to judge, as we exer-
else the right to do. We Eow notify him
that he is being closely watched, and that
his reward will be entirely worthless to him,
but vastly remunerattve to those whom he
endeavors to traduce. We quote:
"A meeting was called at Nashville on the 22d
of February. 1866 At the request of ANDREW
JOHNSON, Colonel STOKES went TO Nashville for
the purpose of defeating the attempts of the Cop
perheads to capture the organization, and heal
the troubles in the Union ranks A series of reso-
lutions were drawn of the most decided character;
They we're submitted to ANDREW JOHNSON. and
by him carefully read and deliberately sanctioned.
They were objected TO by the Presidents now act
ing private Secretary. Hon. L. COOPER, who then,
as before, having supported MCCLELLAN for the
Presidency, could not endorse many of the senti-
ments therein contained. They were a second
time presented TO the President, who, having been
informed that COOPER took issue with them, said,
Well, upon these issues we must stand; those
who are not with us are against us Carrying
these resolutions in his hands. Stokes went to
Nashville, arrived there in time to be present at
the meeting, and found the COpperheads in full
possession. 1t ought 10 be stated that q copy of
the resolutions referred to had been forwarded to
Nashville, TO a man who was supposed to be a
leading Union man, with instructions to insist
upon their adoption. When STOKES reached there
he found the COpperheads in control and another
set of resolutions directly opposite were offered
and passed. Being present at the meeting he rose
and denounced the proceedings, and called an
other meeting for the same evening, when, after a
characteristic speech ON the JOHNSON idea in the
course of which he vindcated the Union men of
Congress, and spoke frankly and generously Of
ThdddeiGs HeUens and Charles Summer for valua-
BILE aid to the Union cause for voting men and
money to aid in suppressing the rebellion, the
resolutions that had received the sanction of
President JOHNSON were offered and adopted.
1t is a curious circumstance In this connection,
that while STOKES was speaking ANDREW JOHN-
SONS sentiments at Nashville, on the 22d of Feb
ruary, 1866, ANDREW JOHNSON was at Washington
taking precisely different course, and throwing
Opprobrium upon his pledges and his principles.
1t was only two days after, that Colonel STOKES
discovered that, while he was defending the Rad
r.. A,-l A
was denouncing.them as traitors at Washington.
When Col. Stokes returned TO Washington, he
discovered that the doors ofthe White House were
closed against him. The hand that had been
warmly extended to welcome him was cold and
corpse-like. In vain did he endeavor to obtain
admission. Copperheads filled the hall and
usurped the time of the President, and too soon
it appeared that the order had been issued to
prescribe him and all who agreed with him.
brief history of the character of the men
recommended by Col STOKES for the appoint
mentg of internal revenue officers of his district
by the request of, and subsequently rejected by
the President, including a notice of those who
have been assigned these positions, well
leading events in the career of Col. STOKES during
and since the rebellion, may not be uninteresting,
and will form fitting conclusion to this article.
The collection districts were laid off with regard
TO convenience and cOmpactness, and some diff
Guilty therefore existed in making the appoint
ments of the various revenue officers between
some of the members. 1t was agreed upon by the
President. Commissioner ROLLINS. Messrs. Fow-
LER, MAGRUDER, MAYNARD, Stokes and Others
to change them, so as to conform TO the Con-
gressOnal lines. This was done expressly to
give each member the control of the ap-
pointments in his own district. About this
time the President issued his order giving
recommended previously, in December j. W.
Bowen, for assessor. and Captain a. NJ. CATE, a
Union soldier, gentleman well qualified in every
respect for collector-whO voted for LINCOLN and
Johnson, and also for Judge PATTERSON as United
States Senator. Captain &. served three years in
the Federal army and was one OF the men employ
ed by the Government to burn the bridges on the
railroads in East Tennessee. While some were
caught and hung, Capt. C. made his escape and
Joined the Federal army. On this account his pro-
perty was taken and destroyed. tie is at this time
a state Senator Stokes on learning the Presi-
dents order, and desiring to act IN harmony with
him recalled the name of Bowen and nominated
Lieutenant Colonel THOMAS WATERS, who had
served calamity for hreeyears IN the cause OF the
Union, and rose from private to Lieutenant
Colonel. If being a brave soldier, having perilled
his life for his country, good business man, of
moral and strictly temperate habits, of upright
Sheraton, then JOIOnel WATERS merits any pO-
stion he may desire. lie was firm supporter of
LINCOLN and JOHNSON, and advocated JOHNSON's
policy as laid down by him IN lS64-bo Colonel
STOKES dstrictli in Middle and East Tennes-
see. STOKES desired to give each portion one of
the offices. The Presidents nominees, Bowen and
GARRETT reside within six miles of each other and
both were members of the Tennessee Legislature,
elected on the general ticket by the loyal men of
about one year in the Federal army, and com
manded during that time what was known as the
home guards. When the Legislature was
endeavOrng to pass the bill to keep
menIn February last. Garrett and Bowen turned
their backs upon the Union men and declared for
equal privileges for the rebel and the Union man,
and were among the leaders in trying to break up
the Legislature and destroy the State government
which President Johnson had inaugurated. They
resigned their seats in order to reduce the Legs-
lature below a quorum. STOKES demonstrated
with the President. and pleaded with him not to
nominate these boilers, as it would be q victory
for the rebels and their sympathizcrs. The PreSi-
dent nominated them, notwithstanding STOKES
had made more speeches in defence of him and
his policy than any man IN the State. STOKES Is
with him to-day on his policy as marked out by
himself in his speeches and prOclamations of
1S64-65 and he has truly stated Johnson's recon-
struction plan, and defended instead of denOunc-
Maryland and Massachusetts. In all his speech
os he has announced his intention to stand by him
a. long he continued faithfully TO carry out his
policy of 1864 '65: but Colonel STOKES has suffered
too much in the tent and on the battlefield to
agree that Copperheads, rebels, and their sympa-
thzers shall hold the offices aud rule the country.
But Stokes district IS not the only district IN
which this bad spirit has been exhibited by An
drew JOHNSON. There Is his private seoretaIys
district the renowned Judge COOPER, who, after
voting for MCCLELLAN, consistently proscribes Re
pubhcans-for which RAMSEY and STEELE are
nominated for assessor and collector. The for
mer is a Copperhead, and voted for MCCLELLAN
and PENDLETON. in 1864, and the latter one of the
boilers from the LegiSlahre-neither of whom
served day in the Union army. Yet in the See
retarys own county Of Bedford there are cid and
young men who served during the war. many of
whom are disabled by wounds but well qualified
for civil positions Their claims are ignored.
however, and rebel Sympathisers are nominated
10 FIJI the Offices Is this adhcring to his policy of
prcfcrring Union soldiers for official tav0rs or IS
II giving them to those who have rendered no aid
i'm the suppression of tho rebellion, or to those
who are bound to support my policy OF vetoeS
aud dcnunciations of the majority OF Congress?
No wonder that Col STOKES, a true patriot and
soldier, suspects the President of switching of
the track and going over TO the enemy,
IL is said there is one little blot in STOKES re-
cord and but one and that's the DUNCAN letter.
dated MAY 10. 1861. Over and over again, every
time STOKES defended the Union cause and de-
uounced the rebels, this letter has been repub-
lished. Colonel STOKES spoke for the Union up
10 April Is 1851 when the Tennessee Legislature
was convened and from that date to the middle
of Nav he STOKES, was, as the saying IS. on the
fence" During this intervel he wrote the Dun
CAN letter. Ii will be remembered that the mon
papers and leading men of Tennessee, with
scarcely an exception, then went over TO secs
sion. Colonel Stokes, on seeing the act passed
on the It'll Of May for the State to secede imme-
diately took the stump in opposition TO secession,
aud spoke day and night up 10 the hour OF cleo
tion-the Sth Of June island voted against the
ordinance of secession, meeting many able men OF
the rebel school on the stump, among whom were
Judge RIDLEY. ABRAHAM CARUTHERS. Rev. j. Is.
MCFERR; ~ and Colonel STANTON. This work told,
rs the mountain boys stood by him at the ballot
box and afterward on the field of battle; and he,
STOKES, Is true to-day-true 70 the Union and the
Constitution. and true TO the Federal soldiers,
who offered their lives as a sacrifice Tor their
country.
The disunion Radical who wrote this
article will hardly accuse us of garblingit.
We give it thus fully that the loyal people of