Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-06-06
THE KNOXVILLE WING.
Knoxville, Tenn, May 80, 1866.
AAGTeW Johnson in Favor Of Holding
Seeded States as Provinces.

On the 18th and 18th Of December 1860, Andrew
johnson discussed the question that is now most
prominent before the American people. in an clabo-
rate speech the state Of the country, which was
delivered in the United States Senate. He directed
bis attention at that carly day when the overt acts
Of secession were commencing, to consideration Of
the legal status Of States which seeded from the
mon, and he arrived al the conclusion that, by
such suicidal movement they would Relapse into
'-cT original condition as Territories, our Govern
ment retaining an indcfeasbe right TO conquer and
hold them subugated provinces as long its in
lerests could be promoted by such q policy. No
radical in Congress has ever dreamed of advocating
the thorough oblteTation of State rights which this
speech predicted the natural and logical punish
men. of attempts to withdraw from the Union His
reasoning viii be seen by the following extracts,
Sss peculiar; but the particular point of the
mutual relations which should exist between the
Federal Government and such seeding States as it
might reconquer, the Andrew johnson doctrine of
1860 rigidly enforced at this time would Justify an
Iron rule over the whole South for rs many years
We chose 10 exercise il. The Congress upon which
be has iavshed denunciatOns simply because it has
insisted upon an accurate investigation, and upon
guarantees for future security, has been thousand
times more lenient 10 the States which inaugurated
a WAT whose horrors and extent no one could have
loresbsd0wed five years ago than the President, in
advance, declared they should be. 10 contrast can
be more striking than that which exists between
my policy Of 1860, and my policy Of l8G6.-
The punishment prescribed for secession in the for
mer pOintedly spilled, by way Of illustration TO
Florida South Carolina and louisiana was TO treat
States attempting il as conquered provinces. But
now aro told that the work of reconstruction
mus; be completed with inconsiderate haste because
after conquerlng the rebelliOus States, have no
right 70 hold them in a semi-territorial condition
even long enough to provide cfectually against
schemes Of dangerous traitors.
EXTRACTS FROM SPEECH OF ANDREW JOHNSON IN
Ba- sir, there is another question that suggests
Itself in tins connection. Kansas, during the last
Congress, applied for admission into this Union
She assumed to be q State and the difficulty in the
way was "a provision In her constitution and the
manner Of It's adoption. We did not let Kansas in
We did not question her being State but on &C
count OF the manner of forming her constitutions
and il provisions, we kept Kansas out. What is
Kansas now: Is she a State is she 4 Territory
Does she revert back 10 her territorial condition of
puplage2 Or, having been State, and having ap-
piled Tor admission and been refused is she stand
lng out "a State You hold her az g Territory; you
hold her as a province. You prescribed the mode
Cd clectiug the members Of her Legislature and pay
she- out 0i your own treasury Yes, she Is pro-
VIZ controlled by Federal authority, and her laws
src made in conformity with the acts of Congress
+ she not q Territory. l think she is
Suppose the State OF California withdraws from
me Union. We admitted her. She was territory
acquired by the United States; by our blood and
our treasure. Now, suppose she withdraws from the
loufeGeracy; does she pass back into territorial
condition, remain dependency upon the Federal
Government, or does she stand out separate gov
eminent Let me take Louisiana, for which we
paid SO 100000. That a territory for num-
Der OF years-yes, a province It is only another
name for a province It Is possession held under
the jurisdiction of the United States We admitted
Louisiana into the Union q State Suppose we
had refused to admit her; would she not have still
remained a Territory? Would she not have re-
manned under the protection of the United States
But if she has the power TO withdraw from the
Union, does she not pass back into the condition in
which she was before admitted her into the
Union In what condition does she place herself2
When those States, which at first Territories,
cease their connection with this Government do they
pass back into the territorial condition When
Florida Is gong Out, when Louisiana is going out,
and these other States that originally Terrific
Eies 90 on. Of the UniOn, in what condition do they
place themselves? Are they Territories or States?
Are they merely on probation to become members
Of this conieracy or are they States outside of the
confederacy2
He then quotes the famous Ostend manifesto, ex-
pressing his tull approval Of its doctrines and de-
llaring that whenever the public safety requires the
acquisition OF any territory outside Of our own I'VE
should have right, without regard to money or
blood, 10 acquire IT,
Il Cuba IS TO pass into the hands Of an unfriend-
y power, or any power inmica tothe United States /
We have right to seize and to hold her. Where is (
the difference between the two cases
Where does this carry Us We find that this doc /
trine not only laid down, but practised in the
case q Florida. Suppose Louisiana was now out
1i The conicderacy holding the key TO the Gulf the
cutie. 10 the commerce of the great West. Under :
the doctrine laid down by these ministers and prac-
ticed by the Congress of the United States, would
not this Government have the right, in obedience to
The great principle Of selfpreservaton, and for the
safety Of institutions, 20 seize it and pass il un-
3or the jurisdiction of the United States and hold
Il a province subject 10 the laws Of the United
States l say it would. The same principle APP
piled 20 Florida. The same principle would apply
- South Carolina. l regret that she occupies the
position that she has assumed but l am arguing a :
principle and do not refer TO her out of any dsre-
epeCl. VI South Carolina were outside Of the con-
.ederacy, an independent power having no csnnec-
iio1 with the United States, and our institutions
were likely 10 be endangered, and the existence of
The Government imperillod by her remaining a sep
arate and independent power, by her forming as
sociaiiOns and alliances with some foreign power
that would lDIure free Institutions ] saw we
should have right, on the principle laid down by
NJ Mason, Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Soue and upon
the principle prsctised by the Congress Of the United
States IN the case Of Florida to seize her. pass her
under the jurisdiction Of the United States and hold
her as a province.