Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-21
Supporting the Presidents Policy.

The country presents the curious spectacle of
variety Of parties representing all shades Of opln-
ion, from the still unconverted rebel to those who
peried their all in supporting the Government in
the of rebellion, all resolving vigorously their
Endorsement and support of the Presidents policy
of reconstruction, and each giving their own inter-
pr citation of it. The rebels who admit that they
beaten in war but unconquered in spirit sendu
their resolutions indorsing Mr.. JOhnsons policy,
with the understanding that is hostile to the peO
pie who carried on the war against the rebellion,
and is to relieve them from all its consequences,
store them at to political power in their own
States and in the General Government, and deprive
the loyal population of all protection from their
power. In Short these interpret the President
policy as the giving them the power TO carry on the
conflict by political means which they failed to car
nv through by force of arms.
The Northern Democratic party resolves il favor
of repudiating the national debt against the con-
stitutiOnality of the enamel patton of the slaves
against the constitutional power to change the reb-
el State Governments or to impose any conditions
upon them afirms that the State Governments
which carried on the war are the only legitimate
Governments of the rebel States, reaffirms State
rights-meaning the right of secession-as being
unimpaired by the war, d3nounces the supporters
OF the Government against rebellion as revolution
lists and every measure Of the public defense as
unconstitutional, and winds up with an indorse-
ment of the Presidents policy, further Interpreted
by the continual announcement that he has turned
against the party that elected him.
The proclaimers of the dissolution Of the Union
party, and of the formation of new party COM
posed OF all the elements that treacherousand
hostile to the Government in its struggle for exi
tence that it is to be the Presidents party
and is TO have no principles but his policy. This Is
their Interpretation.
The would-be called Conservatives, which being
interpreted means to sacr fee all that the has
gained declare themselves the real simon pure sup
porters of the Presidents policy of reconstruction,
and that the distinguishing principle Of it is that
the status of the rebel State Governments not
changed by the war; but that they existed as before
with all their powers unimpaired and that poit-
cal conditions can be imposed on them that cannot
be on any of the States; reteratng all this in
the face of the fact that the President has over
thrown the State Government and reconstructed
new in all the rebel States.
The so-called Radical Union party resolve their
| Endorsement and support of the Presidents policy,
understanding it to be to carry out the views of the
people who carried the war OF national defense
| by imposing such conditions on the rebel States as
will guarantee the security OF the nation; protect
all men equally in their liberty and property, and
mt the local governments in the hands of the 10y
Al We might 90 on and particuarze the same unity
of Endorsement and diversity of views of the Pres
ideDts policy in Kentucky, where the State govern
ment needs reconstruction much more than any that
we're overthrow in the Confederacy, and where
the rebels who protested to be neutral in the war;
process of exterminating the people; and in Ten
nessee where the party that is conspirng to over
throw the Government that Mr. johnson recon
sruced, Is most osentious in resolving in the sup
of his policy. And SO might go the circuit of all
the States, and ind the same unison of profession
and diversity of meaning
1t Is obvious that in such conflict Of interpreta-
ton, much Of which is scarcely compatible with
honesty, resolution of the General Assembly, OF
OF any other body; indorsng the Presidents policy
and pledging support to it, has no meaning; and
the general abuse of it for treacherous purpose;
makes It suspicious If the President has sagacty
and ne has not been accused of the lack Of it
he canno. desire any such unmeanng Endorsements
and pledges as this for he knows that it would bt
very easy to state in few words the specific prin
cples and measures for the settlement Of the whole
affair of reconstruction and to ndorse and pledge
support to them.
He sees the decetful purposes for which these IN
dorsement and pledges are made all over the coun'
try; ne knows that III the great majority Of cases
where they have any meaning it is one dishonora
bic TO him. for 1t implies that he is unfaithful to the
cause which elected him, he knows that the patron
age he has in his gift will bring him offerings O.
! this incense from the multitude of that class o
small politicians who desire to turn accidental cleo
ton TO legislative Office into alongerpension from
the Government and he knows that no politician!
or convention or legislature can pledge the supper
OF the people, and that in spite of all the indorse
ments and pledges and Affiliations that may be OF
fered him, every measure hiss got to come before TIT
great tribunal of the people, whose votes no MAJ
can pledge even though it be to the great nationa
/ Uncle"
Resolutions offered for the deliberation OF the
General Assembly, indorsiRg the Presidents pollcy
of reconstruction, and pledging it the support Q