The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-03-24

LETTER FROM GOV. BROWN
LOW.
His Views Of the Presidents Pol
icy-TcnncSSec affairs.

lowing letter from Governor Brownlow
was read by Hon. William D. Kelly,
during his recent lecture in Philadcl.
phia:
NASHVILLE, March s.
Hon. VIM. ID. Kelley, House Of Representa-
tives:
DEAR SIR: Enclosed ! send you a
copy Of my proclamation, from which
you will learn that a faction Of twenty
one ~disorganizcrs here, in the true
spirit Of the late iniquitous rebellion,
have withdrawn, and reduced our
House Of Representatives below u quo.
rum. | need not add further remarks,
as the proclamation fully discusses the
point ut issue.
On Friday last the election of county
officers took place throughout the
state, for Clerks, SheriHs Justices.
Trustees and Tax Collectors; and in
Middle and West Tennessee the rebels
have made a clean sweep, turning she
Union men out and electing their own
candidates, who electioneercd for Of
flee on the ground that they were rcb,
els, and had either served in the rebel
army, or in some other capacity had
given their influence to the cause OF
treason and hoitors.
When Richmond fell and Lee surren.
dcred, rebels, and many who sympa.
thizcd with them, were very respectful
to Union men--oitcn obsequious, gull
ty culprits they evidently feared arrest
and punishment, and felt that to be let
alone and allowed TO live was all they
had a right to expect. But since par
dons have been 50 multiplied, and no
mar is punished, they have everywhere
become impudcnt and defiant, until IN
most counties in Middle and West
Tennessee it is disrcputablc to have
been n Union man, or, as Il Southern
man, to have served in the Union ar
my. And matters are growing worse,
the reconstructed traitors openly ours
ing loyal men, and threatening them
with shooting or hanging, Boosting
that they have the President on their
side, while they feel that the Presidents
policy ia ruinous to us.
When | put the President in nomi-
nation at Baltimore for the Vice Prcsi-
dcncy, ! felt that he had so thoroughly
committed himself to the Union cause,
and had been so badly treated by the
rebels, it was impossible for him ever
to get around to them again; but |
give him up as lost to the Union party,
and as the man who is to head the reb-
els and Democrats. Every rebel in all
this country, every Mcclellan man,
and every cX-gucrrilla chief, are loud
and enthusiastic in praise Of the Prcsi-
dent. The men who but u few months
since were cursing him as an abolition.
list and traitor, and wishing him eXccu-
ted, are 0 for executing all who
dare oppose his policy, or even doubt
its success.
There is twice the amount Of bitter
ness and intolerance in the South to-
day toward the Union, and everything
Northern, that was at the time Of Lees
surrender. Abuse Of Union men, Of
the Radical majority in Congress, and
self assumed superiority on the part Of
Southern chivalry, have arisen to such
II height that loyal men cannot travel
on II steamboat, or in a railroad car,
without being insulted. AS it was du
ring the war, so it is now-all conccs
sions from the North, or from the ma
jority in Congress, are regarded as cv-
licences of fear. All the old rebel pa
pers of 1861, and many new ones, are
in full blast, threatening Congress and
the North with ultimate vengeance,
and Boosting Of Southern prowcss.-
The most popular men in the largest
portion of Tennessee to-day are the
men most distinguished for their hos
tility to the North, and what they are
pleased to call the Radical Congress-"
and they are the class of men Sc
lcctcd to fill Offices, Us the late county
elections show. The same is true of
the entire South, only to a greater crtenH
I'm Il word, they are resolved on break,
ing up the Government, and they ey-
poet to carry out their scheme through
Tie bahiot boz. And how men of can
dor and intelligence can represent them
rs loyal and kindly disposed, is n mys-
terry to me, even in this age ofrcbellion
and trcachcry. do not understand
them, end my opportunities for learn
ing their temper and ultimate purposes
are rs good rs those Of most men.
Why, sir, many Of them are expect
ing the President to dispense Congress
with the bayonet, AS Cromwell dis
pcrsed the long Parliament. The South
crn heart is rapidly being fired to deeds
of war, and all this, and more, as |
believe, has been caused by the mis-
takes of the President. His plan of
trusting rebels with the State Govern
ment has had an effect exactly the OPP
posite of what he intended. 1t has
ruined the prospects ofthc Union men,
and they feel that there is no safety for
them, unless Congress shall choose to
protect them. Even three days ago
General Thomas had to send troops
into Marshall coudty, some sixty miles
distant, to protect loyal men and freed
men. who were fleeing for safety, and
coming to this city.
SO far as | am individually concern
cd, the Incorporate abuse of rebels,
the dennnciation and blackguardism of :
their reconstructed journals, the threats
Of personal violence from the amncs-
lied patriots, and the anonymous let.
.ers ofcowards threatening my a~ssassi- .
all fall harmless at my feet
No earthly power can drive me from
the support of the men and party who ,
the battles of the late war and
put down the rebellion. Il n Il ,
Very respectfully, your obi serv't, ,
W. G. BROwNLow, 3
Governor of Tennessee. :
SrIYRINC APPEAL. FOR Am z