Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1866-02-14
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR BRoWNLOW.
The Admission of Teuues see Asked for
---His opinion of Southern Rebels.

NASHVILLE, January 5, 1866.
The Hon. Schuyler Colfax
DEAR SIR: Your letter OF the 9Th IN
slant was received last evening, and am
glad to have an opportunity to set myself
right, as it regards the admission OF TIE
Tennessee delegation to their serts. lou
understand me correctly, and represent
me properly. | an decidedly in favor OF
admitting the Tennessee delegation, and
have so expressed myself in - my prl-
Yate and published ietters, as well as IN
my messages to the Legislature.
Tennessee occupies a different and bet
ter position than any of the States that
participated in the rebellion; and her re
personalities should not be placed on the
same footing with those Of Virginia the
CaroIiaas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida,
Mississipni, etc. Tennessee amended her
Constitution, declares her slaves free,
elected a loval Governor and Legislature
under the administration Of the lamented
Lincoln; and. as tribute to his memory,
the State ou1ht TO be restored ID the
Union The Tennessee delegates, as a
whole, are loval, can take the required
oath. aud would, If in their seats, add to
the strength Of the Union party. Ten-
nessee was allowed 70 furnish the candi-
date for the Vice Presidency on the Re
publican ticket and now furnishes the
President Tennessee continued 10 be
partially represented in both branches Of
Congress for two wears after the war was
commenced. and she furnished in all So
600 soldiers for the Union armies. The
Tennessee Representatives ought to be ad-
mittod as an act Of Justice to the loyal
Tenncssceans who stood by the country
ali through the rebellion, and as a tribute
to the Joint labors Of Nessrs. Lincoln and
Johnson IN restoring the State to the
Union. Finally they ought to be admit
ted as means of pre- enting q rupture
between Congress and the Pres dent,
which. for the sake OF the country, ought
to be avoided. The President ought to be
satisfied with the admission of the Ten
nessee delegates to their seat, and | have
no doubt would be.
Standing upon different footing alto
gether. it does not follow that if the Ten
nessecans are admitted, the Representa-
tives from other States lately IN rebellion
must come in also Not man south OF
Tennessee should be admitted until those
States manifest less of the spirit OF rebel
lion. ami elect n more LOYAL set OF men,
and men who can take the Congressional
test oath. which few of those elected can
do
If the removal of the Federal troops
from Tennessee must necesSarI Y follow
upon the ad mission of oar Congressional
delegation t. their seats, why then, and in
that case. the loyal men Of Tennessee beg
To be without Representatives, IN Congress.
But our members can be admitted, and
military force returned sufficient to govern
and control the rebelious. tell you,
and through you all whom it may con
Germ, That without law TO disiranchise
rebels and force to carry out the pro-
visions of that law, this State will pass
into the hands Of the rebels. and terri
bic state of affairs is bound TO follow
Union men viii be driven from the State
forced to sacrifice what they have, and
seek homes elsewhere. And vet Tenncs-
see IS IN much better condition than any
81 the other rc~olted States, and affords q
strlnger '2yal population
Those u,r, suppose the South Is "rec0u-
structal and that ne aaople chccrutv
accept the results Of tie war, arc teart"I-
II deceived The whole South is full Of
the spirit Of rebellion ami the people are
growing more bitter and insoent cry
day. Rebel newspapers are Spriugint up
all over the South, and speaking out ia
terms OF bitterness and repr0ach agaiast
the Government of the United States
These papers lead the people, and st the
same time reflect their sentiments and
feelings OF the t,centy-one papers in
Tennessee fourteen are decidedly rebel
outspoken and IniisCuiscd some Of them
pretendin. to acquiesca in the existing
state Of affairs. la all the vacancies oc~
curing in our Legislature, even with our
Framed isp Ia in fnrrp rpiolS arc inva rim
blv returned, and in some insta nces rebel
officers, linping from wounds received in
nattle fighting against the United States
force! And vet | tell YOU that Tennos-
see i n better condition than any other
revolrrd State
Others will give YOU more favorable
account; ! cannot in Justice to myself and
truth. | have Ii ed tttv-ei-ht years in the
South, Of choice, and two at the North of
necessity.
Ihave the honor to be, very truly, etc
@ ". B,owNLuw
Governor, etc.