The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-20
Governor Brownlow's Letter.

Itfr II wv of4A0E 4SkOWlk0W y Al0ttcEs
Judge Kelley, of Philadelphia, has received
the following readable and highly important
letter from Gov. Brownlow of Tennessee,
whose former relations to the President, no
less than his official position, make his state
ments the more significant: x sgsr..as 81
l,,,,as adj 4. i""NAsHvuLE, March 8, 1856.
Hon. Wna. ID. Kelley, House Of Representa-
Dear Sir-Enclosed send you copy of
my proclamation, from which you viii learn
that a faction of twenty-one disorganizers have,
in the true spirit of the late iniquitous rebel
lion, withdrawn, and reduced our House of
Representatives below quorum. need not
add further remarks, as the proclamation fully
discusses the points at issue.
On Friday last the election of county
officers took place throughout the State; such
as clerks, sheriffs, justices, trustees and tax
collectors, and in Middle and West Tennessee
the rebels have made a clean sweep-turning
Union men out and electing their own candi-
dates, who electioneered for Office on the
ground that they were rebels, and had either
served in the rebel army, or in some other ca
pacity had given their influence to the cause
of treason and traitors -.,..
i1"When Richmond fell and Lee surrendered,
rebels, and many who sympathized with them,
were very respectful to Union men, often OBJ
sequious. Guilty culprits, they evidently fear
ed arrest and punishment, and felt that to be
let alone and allowed TO live was all they had
right to expect. But since pardons have
been SO multiplied, and no man has been pun
ished, they have everywhere become impu-
dent and defiant, until in most counties in
Middle and West Tennessee it is disreputable
to have been a Union man, or, as q Southern
man, to have served in the Union army-and
matters are growing worse-the reconstructed
traitors openly cursing loyal men, and threat
ening them with shooting or hanging boast
ing that they have the President on their
side, while we all feel that the Presidents pol
icy is rlinous to u.s.
When put the President in nomination
at Baltimore for the Vice-Presidency, / felt
that he had so thoroughly committed himself
to the Union cause, and had been so badly
treated by the rebels, it was impossible fol
him even to get round to them again; but ]
give him up as lost to the Union party, and
as the man who is to head the rebels and Dem
ocrats. Every rebel in all this country, every
Mcclellan man, and every ex-guerila chief, are
loud and enthusiastic in praise of the Presi
dent. The men who, but few months since
were cursing him for an abolitionist and trai
tor, and wishing him executed, are now fol
executing all who dare, oppose his policy OF
even doubt its success. ~ !. e,,.,tt f..4 "a.
There is twice the amount of bitterness
| and intolerance in the South to-day towart
the Union and everything Northern that ther,
was at the time of Lees surrender. Abuse o
| Union men, of the radical majority in Con
gress, and selfassumed superiority on the par
Of the Southern chivalry, have arisen to sucl
a height that loyal men cannot travel on
steamboat, or in a railroad car, without bein,
| insulted. As it was during the war, so it i
now-all concessions from the North or from
| the majority in Congress are regarded as evi
| dences of fear. All the old rebel presses o
| 1861 and many new ones are in full blast
| threatening Congress and the North with ul
innate vengeance and boasting of Southern
| prowess. The most popular men m the larg
est portion of Tennessee to-day are the mel
most distinguished for their hostility to tn
North, and what they are pleased to term thu
radical Congress, and they are the class OF mel
sele tied to fill offices, as the late county elec
tions show, The same is true of the entir
South, only to greater ertenu In word
they are resolved 90 breaking up the govern
| ment and they expect to carry out thei
scheme through the ballot boz, and how mel
| of candOr and intelligence can represent then
as loyal and kindly disposed Is mystery t
me, even in this age of rebellion and treach
| CIV. do not so understand them, and my OF
portunities for learning their temper and ulti
mate purposes are as good as most mems
WHY, sir, many ofthem are expecting tn
President to disperse Congress with the bayc
net, as Cromwell dispersed the Long Parlis
ment. The Southern breast is being rapid
fired to deeds oil valor; and all this, and NOR
as believe, has been caused by the mistake
of the President. His plan of trusting rebe
with their State governments has had an effe,
exactly the opposite Of what he intended.
has ruined the prospects of the Union mel
and they feel that there is no safety for ther
unless Congress shall choose to protect then
Even three days ago Gen. Thomas had to sen
troops into Marshall county, some sixty mile
distant, to protect loyal men and freedme
who were fleeing for safety and coming to Cd
city. iaeeJ -H .,
So far as am individually concerned, ~
incorporate abuse Of rebels, the denunc.as,o aa.o
and blackguardism Of their recons..uS.s' s.''s'
Journals. the threats of personal violence Iron
these amnestied patriots, and the anonymou
letters of towards threatening my assassihs :
tion. ali fall harmless at my feet. no eartni M
rorer can drive me from the support OF tn
p i,,aT and party who fought the battles Of th
late late war. and put down the rebellion.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
10y w. g. BRowNLow,
-ll si- '9 Governor of Tennessee"
| 49, T1;,o;s ootfon co,,,y,,a q nd a n nremium