Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-09-19
From the Jacksonville tIn) Journal.
General John B. Rogers, OF Tennessee

| From the Jacksonville lIll.) Journal.
General John B. Rogers, OF Tennessee
We were recently favored with call from thi:
gentleman while route to the Southern Loyalists
Convention TO be holden at Pittsburg next month
From him We gather many interesting facts in rela-
tion 10 matters in Tennessee past present and pros
pectiye so far as can be known. Gen. f. is nearly
seventy years Of age and possesses unusual vigor OF
mind for one of his advanced years He served in
the Florida war as staff officer under Gen. Jackson
At one time he was wounded in the head, but did
not desist until be had slaj,l his redskin opponent
and aisosaved the life Of officer by killing another
Indian For this he received an autograph letter
from General Jackson complimenting him for his
bravery which he now has in his possession. He
also received an autograph letter from Gen. Lsfay-
cite complimenting him as commanding officer Of
the generals life guard, during his visit TO Tennes-
see in 1925 In 1886 he was captain in the regular
army and afterwards served his State many years
as brigadier general, and later major general
in the war for Texan independence For many
years past he has been attorney general for Tennes-
see he has also been State legislator and more re-
Gently if we mistake not he received the unanimous
vote of his district 10 fill vacancy in the present
legislature of Tennessee. He has ever been strong
Union man, and has suffered almost everything but
death from Andrew Johnsons constituency" He
was an intimate and warm personal friend of Mr..
Lincoln, and has stood foremost among the staunch
Unionsts in East Tennessee and for three years was
! obliged to flee the State He is also probably the
only man now living who witnessed the execution
of Ambristor and Arbarthnot in Florida, in 1918,
as detailed by Parton in his life of Jackson and of
the two hundred and fifty who went into the Flori-
dn war from his county, he is probably the last but
one that now survives. Ourreadcrs may well Judge
Of the interest we felt in his narration of events past
and present, and which made him seem as repre-
sentative of t,oo generations of loyal men.
But the most interesting portion of his narration
was in relation TO one Andrew johnson, tailor
and now patent reconstructionis and soldiers ex-
ecutioner. The general has known this man john
for more than forty years, and atlDGyS thought
him an unsafe man in matters involving political
honesty and so is not at all disappointed in the out
which Andy has made Of himself and our party
The general was at Baltimore when johnson was
nominated and he said it intended only TO give
him complimentary vote, and then drop him. But
those who knew the least and hoped the most re-
specting him gave him sufficient votes on the first
ballot to nominate him He then said that was a
sad mistake, and the people know it now.
To show how well grounded were his views and
fears respecting Mr.. johnson then, We cannot re-
frain from Publishing the following extract from a
letter written by him at the time to Governor A. j.
Hamilton, with whom he stumped the State of New
York for Gen. WaSsworth. The letter was furnished
for publication to the Nashville Times:
New YORK, June Is, 1864.
Cor. 4. J. Hamilton, dustin, T&ras:
DEAR GENERAL; l came here from Baltimore,
after witnessing the unanimous expression of the
convention in Mr. Lincoln's favor. But 10! and
behold, the same convention has nominated the no.
torious Andy johnson (of tailor notoriety as he has
been heard to boast of in his speeches in Tennessee
for the Vice Presidency would TO God he was at
bis old vocation But il seemed TO be the desire of
the Tennessee delegation that he should have the
nomination, and they put on DR.. Brownlow the re-
sponsiblity of making it, l said all could in op-
position. l preferred asty good, true man before
Iob has bAnu NV mis- 70 hay hanO
an observer of Andy JOhnsons course for the last
thirty or more years, and confess have to of
him yet the first thing 10 approve, He used his in
huence in l64l to break up the Tennessee legisla-
ture, or to defeat it in the discharge Of its known
duty by running, with his friends from his seat in
that body TO defeat the election Of Senator TO the
Congress of the United States.
He was favorable TO the Southern Convention ut
Charleston that adjourned TO Nashville in 1885,
called Southern Commercial Convention but be-
ieved at that time TO be disunion
He was the avowcd friend OF the late Gov. lsham
G. Harris the greatest rebel that ever sinned against
God or devil in Tennessee.
He was not the choice OF his party IN Tennessee
when nominated for GoVernor-on the contrary,
Andrew Ewing was the man. johnson and his
friends went into the convention agreeing TO abide
by the nomination. Mr. Ewing obtained 1T. When
made known, johnson declared he would run at all
hazards; upon which, Mr.. Ewing ian exclusively
modest and worthy gentleman, much esteemed by the
Whig party at once declined the nomination. Not
to have done so would have insured defeat; and
johnson was nominated as the only alternative He
was always the favorite of the rag-tag-and-
of his party for the gentlemen of the party never
liked him, but democrat-hke, would curse and then
vote for him.
But Governor this is not the worst still; after
Mr. Lincoln was nominated, johnson publicly
avowed his preference for Breckinridge, when it
was known to every school-boy in the State that
there disunion party growing up IN the State,
and that Breckenridge its representative for the
workings Of the Charleston and Richmond Conven-
tions had shown this clearly and it was believed by
everybody.
l hope how well he may acquit himself as Vice
President He can do no harm there SO long as Mr.
Lincoln has the helm. have always since we were
Tverzed desired to see the Vice President as good
and as tried a man as the President. l should re-
gard it as great calamity to be eJohnsoi=cd. have
given you some Of his antecedents; he has never
suited me; he is an intTactable man, for whom l
have no use
As Military Governor Of Tennessee he does not
give satisfaction and the friends Of Mr. Lincoln have
all the time had to laud him. He will have to
change his plumage if he ever afiliates with the
Union party satisfactorily; and tell you again the
Union party Of Tennessee have no faith in him.
Witnessing the proceedings, as l did, at Balti-
more shall ever believe that Andy johnson was
not the sober and deliberate choice of majority OF
the Convention. The vote cast was intended as 8
compliment by many, and when counted was found
to be majority, producing chagrin on the part OF
friends Of other aspirants
Very truly your friend
JOHN B. ROGERS.