Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-03-28
oovreNoR pnowsLow's LETTER.

,eived the following readable and highly
;mnortant letter from Gov. Brownlow oil
Tennessee, whose former relations to the
President. no less than his official posi-.
ton. make his statements the more signlh'
cant.
NASHVILLE, March 8, 1866.
"Hm. Wm, d. Kelley House Of Rep;
DEAR SIR: Enclosed l send you
copy of my proclamation, from which you
will learn that a faction of twenty-one
disorganizers have, in the true
spirit of the late iniquitous rebellion,
withdrawn, and reduced our House Of
Representatives below quorum. l need
not add further remarks, as the procla'
nation fully discusses the points at issue;
> "On Friday last the election OF county
officers took place throughout the State
such as clerks, sheriffs. justices. trustee.
and tax collectors, and in Middle and
West Tennessee the rebels have made a
clean sweep-turning Union men out,
and electing their ovid candidates, who
electioneercd for office on the ground that
they were rebels, and had either served
in the rebel army, or in some other capac-
ity had given their influence to the cause
of treason and traitors.
"When Richmond fell and Lee surren-
dered, rebels, and many who sympathizsd
with them, were very respectful to Union
men, often obsequious. Guilty culprits,
they evidently feared arrest and punish
ment, and felt that to be alone and al
lowed to live was all they had right to
expect. But since pardons have been so
multiplied, and no man has been punish
ed, and have everywhere become impu-
dent and defiant, until in most counties
in Middle and West Tennessee it is disre.
pntable to have been Union man, or as
Southern man to have served in the
Union army--and matters are growing
worse--the prosecuted traitors openly
cursiug loyal men, and threatening them
with shooting or hanging-boasting that
they have the President on their side,
while We all feel that the Presidents pol.
icy is ruinous to us.
"Whcn VIC put the President i'll noluln,
alton at Baltimore for the Vice-Presidency
| felt that he had so thoroughly commit
ted himself TO the Union cause, and had
been SO badly treated by the rebels, it
was impossible for him even 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 rebels and democrats
Every rebel in all this country, every
Mcclellan man, and every ex.guerilla
chief, are loud and enthusiastic in praise
of the President The men who, but "a
few months since, were cursing him for
an abolitionist and traitor, and wishing
him executed, are now for executing all
who dare even to 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 North
ern that there was at the time of Lee ;
surrender. Abuse of Union men, of the
radical majority in Congress, and self-as.
sumed superiority on the part OF the
Southern chivalry, have arisen to such a
height that loyal men cannot travel on a
steamboat, or in a railroad car. without
being insulted. AS it was during the
war, so it is now-all concessions from
the North or from the majority in Con-
gress are regarded as evidences of fear.
All the old rebel presses of 1861 and
many new ones are in full blast, threat
ening Congress and the North with ulti
mate vengeance and Boosting of Southern
prowcss. The most popular men in the
largest portion Of Tennessee today are the
men most distinguished for their hostility
to the North, and what they are pleased
to term the radical Congress and they arc
the class of men selected to ell Offices, as
the late country elections show. The
same is true Of the entire South, onh
to agreatsr ertent! In a word, they are
resolved on breaking up the government
and they expect to carry on their schemes
through the ballot bO1; how men of cando,
and intelligence can represent .hem as
loyal and kindly disposed is a mystery
to me, even in this age of rebellion and
treachery. | do not so understand them
and my opportunities for learning thei,
temper and ultimate purposes are as good
as most men.
why, sir, many of them are expecting
the President to disperse Congress witt
the bayonet as Cromwell dispersed tn,
Long Parliament. The Southern breas
is being rapidly fred to deeds of valor
and all this, and more, as | believe, ha,
been caused by the mistake of the Prcsi
dent. His plan of trusting rebels will
their State governments has had an effec,
exactly the opposite of what he intended
1t has ruined the prospects of the Unior
men, and they feel there is no safety TO,
them unless Congress shall choose to pro.
tect them. Even three days ago Genera
Thomas had to send troops into Marshal
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