Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-04-11

sdestroyedp and hare refused to ratify the Consti
tutional Amendment forbdding its future szis.ucc.
They have, BY every means at their command, en-
deavored to place under .he ban the men swho have
never faltered in their allegiance to the govern
ment." They have in every instance failed to ex-
tend the elective franchise to the freedmen and in
some instances have denied them adequate protec-
ton in their liberty and property, their right to
claim the just return of their labor, so that the
President has been compelled to nterpose BY the
ganizston of the Freedman's Bureau, and some
times by the repTessive hand of military authority
So far from seeking to be represented in Congress
by men of unquestioned loyalty, they have defiant
ly and in spirit of bravado selected men avowedly
and boastfully obnoxious to existing constitutional
and legal tests. They have clamored for the par
don of all the leading conscious intelligent traitors
including the chief conspirator himself. And this
they call supporting the Presidents policy It can
not be concealed that such conduct has produced
widespread and honest apprehension. These peo-
pie are now on probation before the country, with
predspostion largely in their favor. But there is
naturally profound solcitude to know whether
their coming back means peace or prolonged hos
tility.
In grateful contrast is the attitude of Union low
ing Tennessee By the free choice of her loyal cit
izens and in anticipation of these views and meas
ures of the President she adopted them in spirit and
to the letter. excepting only the elective franchise to
colored men. This, if we may infer from the late
report of the Committee on Reconstruction, Con-
gress is willing should be left to her enlightened
Judgment and good intentions. Indeed as with Just
pride we claim the President, may we rightfully
claim these principles as our principles. They are
but the reproduction of ideas long since familiar to
us, made so, in part, by his own uniform and oft
peated utterances Of the rebellious ssterhood
Tennessee, from the very first has stood apart and
peculiar We, her representatives, conscious of
| right could appeal to the country in her behalf
There sheis, all dishonor wiped from her escutcheon
Judge then, our modification, when on the very
day that the Presidents Veto Message went abroad,
advocating SO eloquently the case of voceless Ten
nessee, by her attitude of loyalty and harmony, by
| the patriotism and energy of her injured and be-
trayed people, we learned the contumaey of legisla
tors deserving their assigned posts expressly to par
alyze our State government. Yet these men, too,
profess to endorse the President Gould his bitter
| mentary?
Some of the same gentlemen, it is said, are now
calling upon the people to approve of this mutinous
conduct by sending them back to re-enact it. God
forbid This is their fault. repetition of it would
FIX the responsibility upon those who should know
| ingly re-eleet them. The consequences could not
fail to be ruinous in impairing the financial credit
of the State necessaryto at this exgent period
in diverting from our borders skilled labor seeking
employment, and capital seeking investment; and
above all, in prolonging indefinitely probation
before the country.
| cannot close without an assurance of high re-
spect for the gentlemen in whose behalf you write.
1 am, very respectfully,
Your obadient servant,
| HORACE MAYNARD.
| W. H. Hess5u7r, Esq, Memphis, Tenn.