Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-05-16

COMMUNICATION FROM THE HON. JOSEPH s.
FOWLER, UNITED STATES SENATOR ELECT
FROM TENNEssEE-A TRUE MAN DEFINES
THE MISSION AND DUTY OF THE UNION
PARTY.
Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette
NASHVILLE Tenn, April Is.
The following letter is from the pen of one of
Tennessee's truly loyal sons. 1t was placed in my
hands by the gentlemen who received it, with per-
mission to give 1t to the public, if thought best to
do so. So brave and cheering word for the cause
upheld by the Union party, should not be lost and
feel sure that many who read will bestrengthen ed
in the right, when they perceive man from the
South, who will, trust, soon represent this beaut-
fu State In the American Senate, placing himself
and advising his fellow citizens to place themselves
upon so firm and true basis.
Mr. Bosom, to whom the letter is addressed, is a
loyal and enlightene member of the Senate of Ten
nessee; the mover of a school bill now pending be-
fore the Legislature of which Chancellor Lindsey
said, In speech TO an educational meeting at the
Capitol some time ago that he would rather be its
author than the loftiest hero who ever returned
from the battlefield crowned with victory. But
read the letter:
GWAsHINeToN, April IA, 1866.
Hon. WiLLians Bosom:
DEAR SIR-The country beholds you again at
work In reference to the trials you passed through
during the WINTER have nothing to say, only that
it may prove useful in the end by showing the friends
of freedom that there can be no compromise. We
cannot afford to traffic in such an element as justice.
Justice is as the thunderbot of Jove purifying and
cleansing as it goes, but blasting The people who
seeh to impede its course.
trust that true courage, free from vengeance,
may characterize the proceedings of the Legislature
Its members should recollect that they are body
of plain men, sent by plain men to the capital for
great and patriotic purposes. They meet for the
first in no Of to
the PEoPLE-not for white men only, nor black men
only, nor red men only. There is such being as
MAN. He is q real being-transient in this world,
but in the universe of God, everlasting. Legslate
for him.
The present Legislature has assembled to provide
for, and guarantee to the Commonwealth a new and
immortal life. The future, that dread censor of the
present. will look with praise or blame upon their
dongs. History has opened her terrible pages and
already her pen is tracing, in lines of approval or
rebuke, the conduct of your body The citizens of
the entire Republic gaze upon you with throbbing
hearts. In contest like this, dare the children OF
freedom quail before hrr enemies?
The great contest through which we have passed
was not fought for territorial integrity or vul-
gar dominion 1t fought for the interest of man.
and it must be settled in mans interests and for his
sake II was conflict of antagonistic and rrecon-
cilable principles. On the one side was love of do
minion over man; on the other love of humanity
former triumphed, or should it triumph now, our
hopes for the future glory and grandeur of the South
and of our whole country, would assuredy die. But
in the success Of the Union party | see the land
blooming with beauty, and glittering under golden
harvests; a school house and a church in every
neighborhood; the hum of machinery sounding
through every valley; the mountains yielding up
! their stores Of wealth. Your Legislature should
WELD rod like that of Moses shifting the parched
and barren rock left in the wilderness made by sa-
very and civil war, and drawing thence streams that
shall refresh the thirsty State Let them not be
! frightened from their duty. What if they are ira
ducCd and abused What If their enemies denounce
and scorn them as ignorant men, unused to making
and unfit to make laws Is this worse than was
said Of Jesus the carpenter, and of his humble ear
nest followers W hat If they are denounced as
Radicals? What was Paul, Luther, Cromwell, and
every other earnest effective men The greatest Of
all Radicals was the Prince of Peace He brought
! good will tomen; but he served his party with o
! flaming sword from all others. He made no com.
promise. You can make none For in the contest
you are waging, religion, liberty and humanity are
all at stake.
hope the Senate will second the movements OF
the House without fnching; and hope both will
educate themselves to look upon the elective fran
chise as right, and not mere privilege which you
or l can take away. Let 1t be forfeited only b.
crime
The stand taken by the Republicans in Connect
cut was indeed noble They entered upon and
fought through the contest with the faith and zeal
/ of missionaries. And they succeeded. l hope a:
much from you Yours truly,
Jos. S. FOWLER"
This able letter was, Of course, not intended fol
publication; but it is all the more valuable on that
account it makes effort to conceal the heart OF
| the true patriot who writes it. 1t will be q happy
day for country when the halls of Congress shall
be filled with men as pure in life, word and aspra
I ton, as Joseph S. Fowler IS