The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-09

Letter from Coz. BrOaCntOaC.
Ills OPINION OF sol THERN REBELS.
NASHVILLE. Jan. Is, 1865.

NASHVILLE. Jan. Is, 1860.
THE Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX.
DEAR Sir Your letter of the 9th
inst. was received last evening, and am
glad 10 have an opportunity to set myself
rieht. as ii regards the admission OF the
Tennessee delegation to their seats. You
understand me correctly, and represent me
properly. am decidedly in favor of adj
uniting the Tennessee delegation, and
have 80 expressed myself in all my private
and published letters, as well as in my
messages to the legislature.
Tennessee occupies different and bet
ter position than any OF the states that
participated in the rebellion and her
representatives should not be placed on
tie same footing with those Of Virginia,
the Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida,
Mississippi, &c. Tennessee amended her
constitution. declared her slaves free,
elected loyal governor and Legislature
under the administration of the lamented
Lincoln and aS tribute to his memory,
the -tate OUGHT to he restored to the In
ION. The Tennessee delegates, as Whole,
are loyal can take the required oath, and
would. if in their seats, add to the strength
Of IT,. Union party Tennessee was al
lowed to furnish the candidate for the
vicc-presidcncy on the republican ticket,
and low furnishes the president. len
nc-,vr continued to be partially represent
ell in both branches Of congress for two
yearS after the war was commenced, and
she furnished. in all, $4,000 soldiers for
the Mon armies. The Tennessee repre-
senta,iycs ought to be Admitted as an act
of Justice to the loyal Tcnnesseeans who
stood by the country all through the re-
bcllion. and as Il tribute to the joint labors
of McsSrs. Lincoln and johnson in restor-
inc the state to the Union. Finally, they
ought to be admitted as means OF pre-
venting rupture between congress and
the president, which, for the sake of the
country, ought to be avoided The pres
ilen. OUGHT to be satisfied with the adj
mission Of the Tennessee delegates to their
seat. and bavc no doubt would be.
Standing upon different footing alto
gcther, it does net follow that if the Ten
ncs>ecanS are admitted, the representatives
from other states lately in rebellion must
come in also. Not man south of Ten
ncssec should be admitted until those states
manifest less Of the spirit OF rebellion, and
elect more loyal set of men. and men
who can take the congressional test oath,
which bu! few Of those elected can do.
Ii the removal of the federal troops
from Tennessee must necessarily follow
upon tue admission of our congressional
delegation to their seats, why, then, and
in that case the loyal men of Tennessee
beg to be without representatives i'll con-
GEES But our members can be admitted
and military force retained sufficient to
govern and control the rcbet1iOus citizens.
tell You, and through you, all whom it
may concern. that without law t. dis
franchise rebels. and force to carry out
The provisions of that law. this state will
pas, into the hands of the rebels, and Il
terrible state OF affairs Is bound to follow
Union men will be driven from the state,
forced to sacrifice what they have. and
seek homes elsewhere. And yet, Tonnes
see is in Il much better condition than any
OF the other revolled states, and affords a
stronger loyal population.
Those who suppose the south ''recon-
structel, and that her people cheerfully
accept the results Of the war, are teartully
deceived. The whole south is full of the
spirit OF rebellion, and tle people are
growing more insolent every day. Rebel
newspapers are Springing up all over the
south, and speaking out in tones of bitter
ness and reproach against the government
of the United States. These papers lead
the people, and at the same time reflect
their sentiments and feelings. OF the II
papers in Tennessee, II are decidedly reb-
el, outSpoken and undiSguised, some of
them pretending to acqu!esce in the exist
Inc state Of affairs In all the vacancies
occurring i'll our legislature, even with our
franchise law in force, rebels are invaria-
bly, returned and in some instances rebel
officers, limping from wounds received in
battle, fighting against the United States
forces . And yet, | tell YOU that Tennes-
see Is in Il better condition than any other
revolted state
Others will give you a more favorable
account. | cannot in justice to myself
and the truth. | think | know the south
ern people. | have lived 50 years in the
south. OF choice, and two at the north, of
necessity. have the honor to be,
Very truly, &c,
W. G. BRowNLow, Governor, &c.