Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-09-12

II deprived citizens of the other States of the
Rprivileges and immunitiesn in these States an in
jury and usurpation alike unjust to Northern cit-
zens and destructive of the best interests of the
States themselves.
Alarmed at the progress Of democracy, in the face
of every discoursgement at last il sought immunity
by secession and war.
The heart sickens with the contemplation Of the
four years that foowed-forced loans, mpressments,
CONSUMPTION, with blood hounds and bayonets muir
der of aged Union men, who had long laid aside the
implements of labor, but had been summoned anew
to the field by the CONSUMPTION of their sons to sup
port children and grandchildren, reduced from COM
fort TO the verge of starvation the slaughter of
BILE youths types of physical manhood, forced into
an unholy war against those with whom they were
identified by every interest; long months of incar
ceraton in rebel bastiles, Punishment from homes
and hearthstones are but partial recital of the long
catalogue of horrors.
But the Democracy, North and South combined,
defeated them. They lost. What did they lose
The cause of oigarchy? They lost African slavery
By name only. As soon as the tocsin of war ceased
AS soon as the clang of arms was hushed-they
raised the cry of immediate admission" and with
that wstchword seek to organize, under new forms,
contest TO perpetuate their unbridled sway. They
rehabtate their sweeping control of all local and
State organizations The Federal Executive, easily
seduced, yields willing obediencet to his old masters.
Aided by his INSCRIPTIONS disregard OF Constitution
and laws by his mercless prescription of true dem
ocratic opinion, and by all his appliances of despotc
power they defantly enter the lists IN the loyal
North, and seek to wiring from freemen an endorse
ment of their wicked designs.
Every foul agency is at work to accomplish this
result Falsely protesting to assent to the abolition
of slavery they continuing to continue its dete
table power by legislative acts against pretended
grants. They know that any form of servitude will
answer their unholy purpose They pronounce the
four years war brilliant sword scene in the great
row ~ rnh1t
ment holds high carnival, and, profting by the ex
ample of the Presidential pilgrim, breathes out
threatenings and slaughter against loyalty ignores
and denounces all legal restraints and assails with
the tongue of malignant SANDER the constituionally
chosen representatives of the people.
To still the voice Of liberty-dangerous alone TO
tyrants, midnight CONGREGATIONS, assassnations and
murders in open day, called to their aid reign
of terror through all these ten States makes loyalty
stand silent in the presence of treason or whisper IN
bated breath. Strong men hesitate openly to speak
for liberty, and decline to attend convention at
Philadelphia for fear of destruction.
But all Southern men are not yet awed into sub
mission to treason and we have assembled from
all these States determined that liberty when en-
dangered, shall find mouthpiece, and that " the
Government of the people, by the people, for the
people, shall not perish from the earth We are
here to consult together how best to provide for
Union Of truly Republican States; to seek to relume
thrty-six stars on the old flag We are here to see
that ten Of these stars are not Opaque bod paling
their Intellectual fires beneath the gloom and dark
ness of oligarchical tyranny and oppression. We
wish them to be brilliant stars; emblems of consti
tutional liberty; gttering orbs sparkling with the
life-giving principles of the model Republc-ftting
adornments of the glorious banner of freedom
Our last and only hope is in the unity and forti-
tude of the loyal people of America in the support
and vindication Of the Thirty-Ninth Congress- and
in the election of controlling Union majority in
succeeding or Fortieth Congress
While the new article amending the national Con-
stitution offers the most liberal conditions to the
thors of the rebellion, and does not come up to the
measure Of expectations, we believe its ratifca
lion would be the commencement of q complete and
lasting protection to all people, and therefore
accept it the best present remedy, and appeal
to our brothers and friends in the North and the
West to make it their watch word in the coming
elections.
The tokens suspicious of overwhelming sue
However little the verdict of the ballot box
may affect the reckless man in the Presidential chair,
cannot doubt that the traitors and sympathizers
he has encouraged will recognize that verdict as tn
surest indication that the mighty power which
crushed the rebellion is still alive and that those
who attempt to oppose or defy it will do SO at the
risk of their own destruction.
Our confidence in the everything providence of
God prompts the prediction and intensfes the be-
lief that when this warning sufficiently taught to
these misguided and reckless men, the liberated mil
lions of the rebellious South will be proered those
rights and franchises which may be necessary to
adjust and settle this mighty controversy in the
spirit of the most enlarged Christian philanthropy
GEO. W. PASGHAL, of Texas Chairman.
r. o. SIDNEY, of Mississippi.
JOHN H. ATKINSON, of West Virginia.
TH0S. W COLESC0TT, of Kentucky
J0HNsA. ALLDERDICE, of Delaware.
A. W. HAWKINS, Of Tennessee.
SAMUEL KNOX, of Missouri.
WRIGHT R. FISH, of Louisiana.
MILTON J. SAFFOLD, of Alabama.
PHILIP FRASER, of Florida.
D. R. GO0DL0E, of North Carolina.
D. c. F0RNEY, of District of Columbia
JOHN A. ]. CRESWELL, of Maryland.
g. W. ASHBURN, of Georgia.