Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-06-20


rived their origin from Tory ancestry. TLaugbte
and applause. And will venture to say that yor
may take the whole population of your country anC
you cannot find single instance No, that element
disappeared entirely; wandered off; left the ole
State and went into the new, where their records
were not known; settled down there and became
loyal and lberty-loving men. By way of iIlustra
ting how well they succeeded in doing that old
gentleman, friend Of mine told me of an applica.
ton he had from party to get him pension from
the Government of the United States He said be
talked with him long time without finding out any
thing particular az to the department in which he
served. He asked him the names of his officers the
generals under whom he had gone to battle, and af
ter talking with him long time he asked him what
was his origin, and the old man very quietly, and
with great simplicity not seeming to understand the
meaning OF If, said I" l was NIT de Hessians"-
Laughter. But SO it was; the Tories of that day
disappeared and troubled the country no longer
The policy eminently successful
The same policy has been adopted by the General
Government. In the year 1862, Congress passed a
law providing, in effect, by establishing official
oath, that no person who had committed treason
against IT, or given aid and comfort to those who
did, should hold Office under the Governmental the
United States Several States who had rebels within
their borders, in recognizing their Governments,
adopted the same principle Maryland has adopted
that principle, and West Virginia, Kentucky, Mis-
| souri,, Arkansas Louisiana and Tennessee. Where
that principle has been adopted and adhered to and
observed, there has been no trouble, but peace and
order, and quetness in comparison with those parts
of the country where this policy has not been carried
into effect. Now, gentlemen, is this policy right?
Is it treating fairly and justly that portion of the
community to whom it is made to apply? Because
if it is not however desirable it may be- or however
expedient seem to be, cannot afford to continue
it. Let US look at the beginning of this trouble
Those who Joined the rebellion expressed full
determination and purpose that they would not ad-
horo 4ha 1aTtO Of fbo Init
they would not observe their allegiance as citizens
of the United States that they would have no part
or lot in the Government, Its protection, its du
ties. / need not say that no man can be citizen of
Maryland unless he is citizen of the United States
! l take Maryland TO illustrate nv position. These
men not only declared that they would not be cit-
of the United States, that they would throw up
their allegiance to the Government, but took arms
| and by every means in their power attempted to
make that declaration good by destroying the Gov
ernment of the United States. You understand
that very we'll You have known it. You have
it, and but state facts within your knowledge
when l refer to it. Now, ask you whether there
is any thing wrong unjust in taking these at
their word, and declaring to them that, henceforth
they shall not citizens of the United States take
part or lot in conducting its Government or manag-
ing its public affairs 2 l submit was there ever a
nation that dealt kindly, SO mercifully with them
who for four years even four months had been in
arms seeking to overthrow and destroy it? You
have adopted that policy IN Maryland. Adhere to
it. Carry it out What will be the result? Pre-
cisely as it at the close of the Revolutionary
War Your rebels will dsapper. In very few
years they will be gone. They numerous
and more clamorOus just now, and more trouble |
some, than they will ever be. They will wander,
some of them, into Pennsylvania and set up to be
Union men there; or if they are discovered to have
been in the rebel army they will declare that they
were conscrpted and forced into the rebellion and
there will be body there able discover it. Thev
will endeavor to behave themselves as good citizens
and will pass away and be lost sight of. Many of |
them will go into the territories even to California
| am told that many of the traitors, all from the |
rebel army, are entering the new States or those
just forming. They have found their way out there
and trying to subdue the wilderness and estab-
lish new and loyal communities. In that way we |
relieve the country of class of men who, if they
are allowed to organize and combine, will effect |
political party either with or without you, and will
remain dangerous element in our country so long
they live, and will transmit it to those who come
after them
Why, we are sometimes asked, is not this free |
country is not everybody allowed to vote with the
privilege of holding Office If you had asked me
that question in 1860 would have said "yes" And |
if you had adhered to that policy would have been
now But this is exactly what you
did not do. You threw off the protection of the
Constitution and the laws Of your country. I take
you at your word. If you choose to remain here
you will have the benefit of equal laws the same
laws that these Union men make for themselves, and
they will be administered for you and your children;
but having thrown off the character of citizens of
the United States, you must take the consequences
of it, and it is with very bad grace that you come
here and complain. Laughter and applause l
have confined myself to the presentation of this
idea for, according to my comprehension, it is the
one thing that, decided way or the other is to
determine whether get out of our present COM
plication with safety or pass from one difficulty to
ciunplv Tatfh hic ha NJ nc ho do |
clsred as the policy of the country. Let the loyal
Union men be protected in South Carolina in Geor-
gia, in Alabama, wherever they are found. Let
them feel that they have the whole power of this
great Government at their back Let them feel that
the hand of tyranny, which for FIVE wears has been
cutching at their throsts and its iron heel that has
been upon their necks, let them feel that they are
removed and forever They will soon come up and
assist themselves. You will find new class of men
in the country, men that you and have never heard
1f-quiet retired men-that have no place, and can
axe part in such times we have passed through
You will have population that, in all their mani
estations, will be found among the most loyal
;iatiOns of our common country. That is my faith.
That is nay belief.
Living somewhat nearer this afflicted region than
t is your lot to do, having seen somewhat more Of
t than you have had occasion to see fully con-
7inced that if this policy is adopted the stern un-
yielding, fixed and immovable determination of the
Oyal millions of freemen-that none but loyal men
hall exercise political power either at the ballot box
n in official position-th8t these eleven States re-
ently in rebellion will demonstrate a loyalty and
levOtion to country that will not be surpassed
wen in the most loyal parts of the whole land
Allusion has been made personally to me and
hose whom / represent. Sometimes our friends, |
N looking down into that portion of our country,
ave been unable to see but two classes of men
ebels and black men. The rebel has advocates |
nough; the black man has not been without his
dvocates and friends. l am here to-day the friend
nd advocate and representative Of the loyal white
len of those States. The thousands of men who
esisted the rebellion even unto death-men who
rent into the field under your fag-tLe men who S
'ere Known by every expression that devoted pa
rlotism could make-the men that are with YOU b
ow, and will be with you unto the end-it isin be-
alf of them and their advocate that urge what
regard as this great cardinal fundamental policy
t keeping the Government of your country the
olltical power whether exercised at the ballot-box
T elsewhere, keeping it in the hands of men who j
q the language Of the President have loyalty O
bat will abide every existing legal and constitu- q
onal test. This is not ordinary political ques-
on. Men would have you understand that this is o
Il matter Of pOlitics-lke going to the ballotbox T.
vote for Tom Jones or Jim Brown, which would t
ave no bearing one way or the other. They would o
ave you believe that it is all mere game of poll 81
cs. If thought that ALL would not ask you Ii
stand here in this beautiful May day and listen So
any words of mine. 1t is question for the main o
nance, the safety of our country from class of II
len who have shown themselves capable Of any
heme by which they could gain power and means il
overthrow it-men who delight in the whirlwind Il
I'D direct the storm. Negro suffrage! Negro ii
quality! These men would put vote in every q
egros hands-man, woman and child-men that p
oQld go down upon the sidewalk and play marbles v