Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-03-28
THE KNOXVILLE WING.
K-----------
Knoxville, Tenn, March %, 1866.
Sound Opinions OF A. Johnson.

When President johnson accepted the nomina-
ton for the Vice Presidency in his speech at Nash
vile on the 9th of June 1864 he laid down the true
Union platform, and upon that platform ,Oe now
stand, with a settled purpose not to leave it. Upon
it the Republican majority in Congress stand, and
they don't intend to leave it TO follow the President
any one else who may choose to take passage on
any Southern reconstructed-semi-rebel car. The
sentiments here expressed by the President re-
peated in his letter of acceptance of July 3D. 1864
Read and reflect:
"The question is whether man is capable Of self.
government. l hold, with Jefferson, that govern
ment made for the convenience of man, and
not man for government. The laws and constitu-
tions were designed instruments to promote his
welfare. And hence from this principle, conclude
that governments can and ought to be changed and
amended to conform to the wants, to the require
ments and progress Of the people, and the enlight
ened spirit Of the age. Loud applausel Now, if
any of your Secessionists have lost faith in mems
capacity for selfgovernment and feel unfit for the
exercise of this great right go straight to rebeldom
take JEFF. Davis, Beauregard and Bragg for your
masters and put their collars on your necks.
I" And let me say that now is the time to secure
these fundamental principles while the land is rent
with anarchy and upheaves with the throes of
mighty revolution. While society is in this disor-
dered state and seeking security, let fix the
foundations of the Government principles: of
eternal justice which will endure for all time.
but in calling convention to restore the State,
who shall restore and reestabish it Shall the man
who gave his influence and his means to destroy the
Government? Is he to participate in the great work
of reorganization? Shall he who brought this mis-
cry upon the State be permitted to control its dest
MES? If this be So then all this precious blood of
our brave soldiers officers so freely poured out
will have been wantonly spilled All the glorious
victories won by our noble armies will 90 for naught
and all the battle-felds which have been sown with
dead heroes during the rebellion will have been made
memorable in vain
Why all this carnage and devastation? 1t was
that treason might be put down and traitors pun
ished. Therefore l say that traitors should take
back seat in the work of restoration. If there be
but five thousand men in Tennessee loyal to the
Constitution loyal to freedom loyal to justice these
true and faithful should control the work of re-
organization and reformation absolutely. Loud
and prolonged applause 1 say that the traitor has
ceased to be citizen, and in joining the rebellion
has become public enemy. He forfeited his right
20 vote with loyal men when he renowned his cti-
zenshp and sought to destroy our Government.
"Treason must be made odious, and traitors must
be punished and impoverished. Their great plan
tations must be seized and divided into small farms
and sold TO honest, industrious men. The day for
protecting the lands and negroes of these authors of
rebellion is past. 1t is nigh time it was. l have
been most deeply panied at some things which have
come under nv observation. We get men in COM
mand who, under the influence of fattery, fawning
and caressing grant protection TO the rich traitor
while the poor Union man stands out in the cold
often unable to get receipt or voucher for his
losses. [Cries of That sop"1