The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-10-19
Letter from General l.. s. Trow.
bridge.

us on Monday NEXT.
KSoxvlLLE, Tenn, Oct. 18th, 1896.
Ny Dear Captain IL have been hoping
that / could meet the gallant soldiers Of East
Tenne, see, at Jonesborough, on the 22d in
slant, but as our Circuit and Supreme Courts
will both be in session, it 4 Is extremely do .bt-
full whether l will be able to get away from
here.
The issues now before the American peo-
pie are such as to excite the most intense in-
terest and anxiety In the mlnda of al
thoughtful men. Win we had fought
through four long years Of bloody war, and
had brought; il to a SUGGEST / termination,
the greatest Of all modern y ara, We natural
ly thought that Ne had fully demonstrated
the great problem Of free Govt. We did not
consider it possible that We could be subjec-
ted to any such strain, my greater test :hsn
that which we have just undergone. But
now we find ourselves threatened
with new dangers, more alarming if possible
than these through which we have just pas
sed because TINY CONT to US clothed in the
garh Of devotion 20 cur free institutions.
| have no wor $ OF abuse for our Presi.
dent. With his private character l have no
right to deal but it is one of the peculiar
beauties Of OF F; institutions that the public
acts Of our public servants, however great
and exalted, are open to the scrutiny and
criticism Of the humbleSt individual. It
seems to me that the great question before
the American peoples not 20 much whether we
shall endure the policy Of the President, Or
that Of Congress, as it is whether Ye shall
have sny Congress at all or not. In fact,
whether W. shall have our Govt. preserved as
our fathers made il with its three CO. equal,
coordinate, ind.Psndnt departments, or
Whsth sr the chief Executive shall be allow
ed to usurp the entire power and authority
Of the Legislative department whether the
popular branch " our Govt which belongs
to the people, and springs directly from the
people shall still have its proper weight aud
authority, or whether i. shall be controlled
by the will Of the President and once let it
Us tbldbllbntu aJ u AANh Luhb huN ANelGChAt
by threats, by intimidation, BY vituperstion,
and abuse, in short, by the power OF his own
will, can force a free Congress to the adop-
tion Of hiI measurSs, and our free govern
ment is not WerIh q cent-is Is utterly and
hopefully gone, and We are gwen over to a
one-man power, more unrestrained and ire
sponsible than many Of the monarchies Of
the old Wo-ld.
said this HHI the great question before
the American people. What ars the facts
Eleven States had engaged in armed REBEL
ion against the Government. They bad
sought, by all the power that despotic tyran-
NY could command, to overthrow the govern
msnt Of the United States bat they failed.
ther n long and bloody war, they were hnAl-
y conquered aud overcome. Then arose
great questions rs TO the status of these Sc
coded States, aS to their relations with the
Government and with the other States Of the
Union. THIS whole subject belonged entire.
" and exclusively to the Legislative depart
nrnt and yet, notwithstanding this, the
President undertakes 10 r~e-organiLe these
State. although he has no more authority
10 make q law than the humblest individual
II the community, yet he undertakes to sub
sri9ri bis proclamStion5 for legal enact
nrnts. lie apPOsats Proyi5iGlal Governors,
ne authorizes the calling OF Goa aSnl,Jns, he
.ays who may, and who may not, vote, ID
short, be provides for the entire .rorganiEa-
tion Of these States although there was not
:he frat section, not the frat word, not even
the FIRST syllable, or letter Of any Law, giving
him any such a uthoriiy. Now, 10 this usur-
patton, or 70 i; not?
But the President usurps not only the Au-
thority Of the legislative department, but al
so that OF the Judicial department, Of the
Government for he goes on to declare the
effect Of I'll these proceedings and he de.
that they have had the effect to put
these States upon tbs Iame footing rs all
the loyal States and because Congress will
not adopt lis dirtation as laV, he StigmatizeS
,h,m "a a body OF Misunderstanding to over
throw the Governmental illegal, uHeonShtu-
body hanging on ne rsrgs Of hs Cor
srhHent, rs il be alone owned the Government.
II the telegraph reports correctly, the
President has Just submitted certain inqui-
riss to the Attorney General, concerning this
.ii,gdl body Of D>a dIianing 10 Be CoHgTeIi,'
which mean nothing but mischief, and which
may make il necessary for the gallant sol
diers Of East TeDneisss to stand forth again
in defence Of our great Government, God
grnnt that ,bis shall not be the case. But !
must confess that I think there is great dan
ger 10 tbs demands Of the President. lie
gives No to understand the idea Of Seizing
The supreme power Of the Government md
proehiming himself Dictator, had at least
through hiS mind, aud Mr.. Seward
recently asksd q Michigan sudisnce whether
hey would have AndraW Johnson IS Prssi-
Icut or Kingll Grant, II you please, that
.be,s are fooliIh snyingS-noihinE but he
jokes Of the passing moment, What
light has Andrew Johnston, or Mr.. Seward.
Dr. apy other man, 10 think for one noH,nt Of
- -...t-.u. ttg.,. n.f.foraNfu IA Il