Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-09-05
THE KNOXVILLE WHIG.
Knoxville, Tenn, Sept. S, 1866.
Good Reading for Johnson Men.

The question is whether man is capable of self
government. l hold with Jefferson that govern
ment was made for the convenience Of man, and no
man for the government. That laws and constitu
tions were designed as instruments to promote hi
welfare. And hence from this principle conclud
that government and ought TO be changed
amended TO conform TO the wants, TO the require
ments and the enlightened spirit of the age."-A7
drei0 johnson, Nashville Jilae 10, 1864, IN speec
accepting the nomination for Vice President.
AS my honorable friend [Gov. Morton] knows
long since took the ground that this Government
was sent upon great mission among the nations o
the earth that it had great work to perform, anC
that in starting il, it started in perpetuity.
Now turn TO the Constitution; we find
that amendments may be made by recommends
ton Of two-thirds of COngres if ratified by three
fourths Of the States The instrument was made
good in perpetuity and you can take hold of it, moi
TO break up the Government, but to go perfect
ing it more and more as it runs down the stream o.
tiue.'-PreSdeat 4. johnson, IN a speech to the Hl
diana delegation, 4priL 81, 1865.
THE CONSENT OF TRAITORS NOT NECESSARY.
Shall the man who gave his influence and hi.
means TO destroy the Government? Is he TO par
tcipate in the great work of reorganization Shall
be who brought this misery upon the State be per-
mtted 70 control its destnies If this be SO, ther
all this precious blood Of brave soldiers and of
fcers so freely poured out will have been wantonly
spilled. All the glorious victories won by our noble
armies will be for nought and all the battle-fedc
rebellion will have been made memorable in vain
Why all this carnage and devastation? II was that
treason might be put down and traitors punished.
Therefore say that traitors should take back seats
in the work of restoration. If there be but five
thousand men in Tennessee, loyal to the Constitu-
tion loyal TO Freedom, loyal TO Justice, these true
and faithful men should control the work of reor-
ganization and reformation absolutely .'-Ardrel0
Johnson, June 10, 1864.
TREASON AND ITS PUNISHMENT.
Treason is the highest crime known in the cata-
ogue of crimes and for him that is guilty of it, for
him that is willing to lift his impous hand against
the authority of the nation, would say, death is
too easy a punishment."-V President Johsqon,
April Sd, 1865, on the fall Of Richmond
when you ask what would do my answer is,
l would arrest them, would try them, would
commit them, and would hang them.
We have put down these traitors in arms let put
them down in law; in public Judgment, and in the
morals of the world p VIce President AHdrelC john
sou, AaisI O. 1856.
II have always thought that theft was a crime,
and should be punished as crime; that arson was
crime, and should be punished SUCH that muir
der dreadful crime, and should be punished as
SUCH and that treason the greatest of all crimes
and should be punished uch.'-PreSideRt An
irelg Johnson, April II, 1865.
With other and inferior offences our people are
familiar. But in our peaceful history treason has
been almost unknown. The people must understand
that it is the blacklist of crimes and will be surely
punished make this alluSlOn not excite the al
ready eXasperated feelings Of the public but TO point
out the principles of public justice which should
guide our action at this particular iuncture, and
which accord with sound public morals. Let it be
engrafted upon every heart that treason is crime,
and traitors shall suffer its penalty. But
we must not forget that what may be mercy to in
dvduals is cruelty to the State president Adrelg
johnson to the Illinois Delegation, AprH Is 1866.
Treason must be made odious traitors must be
punished and impoverished, they must not only be
punished but their social power must be destroyed
and after making treason odious, every Union man
and the Government should be remunerated out Of
the pockets of those who have inflicted this great
suffering upon the country. ."-AHdre11 Johnson,
April II, 1865.
on DEBARRING TRAITORS FROM PUBLIC SERVICE.
Il say that the traitor has ceased TO be citizen
and in joining the rebellion has become public en-
envy. He forfeited his right TO vote with loyal men
when he renounced his citizenship, and sought to
destroy our Government We say 10 the most hon.
est and industrious foreigner who comes from Eng
land or Germany 20 dwell among Us, and to add to
the wealth Of the country Before you can be a
citizen you must stay here tor five years If we
cautious about foreigners who voluntarily re-
nounce their homes 10 live with Us what should we
say 10 the traitor, who although born and reared
among us, has raised a paricidal hand against the
Government which ALWAYS protected him Nv
Judgment is that he should be subjected 10 q severe
ordeal before he is restored to citizenship. \ fellow
who takes the oath merely 10 his property and
denies the validity Of the oath, is perjured man
and not TO be trusted Before these repenting rebels
be trusted let them bring forth the fruits Of re-
pentance. '--AndreU Johnson, June 10 1864.
On EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS.
" desire that all men shall have fair start and
an equal chance in the of life and let him
ceed who has the most merit. This l think, is a
principle of Heaven. l am for emancipation for
two reasons first because it is right in ITSELF and
second because in the emancipation of the slaves,
we break down odious and dangerous aristocracy.
think that we are freeing more whites than blacks
in Tennessee. ."--AIdretg johnson, JLase 10, 1854
Il Andrew johnson, hereby proclaim liberty
fall broad and unconditional liberty-to every man
in Tennessee | will be your Moses, and lead you
through the Red Sea of struggle and servitude TO
future Of liberty and peace! Rebellion and slavery
shall no more pollue State. Loyal men, whether
white or black, shall alone govern the State "-Al-
&retC JohHS0rS speech 10 the coLored citizens Of Nash
vile, October 25, 1864.
ON NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, !
Washington, August l5, 1865
" Cor ". L. Sharkey, Jackson, Mss:
Il am gratifed TO see that you have organized
your Convention without difficulty. l hope that
without delay your convention will amend your
State Constitution, abolishing slavery and denying
10 al future legislatures the power to legslate that
there Is property in man; also, that they will adopt
the amendment TO the Constitution of the United
States sbOlshing slavery. If you could extend the
elective franchise 10 all persons of color who can
read the Constitution Of the United States in Eng
lish, and write their names, and 10 all persons of
cor who own real estate valued al not less tn two
huudred and fifty dollars and pay taxes thereon, you
would completely disarm the adversary, and set an
example which the other States would soon follow
This you do with perfect safety, and you thus
place the Southern States in reference 10 free per-
sons of color, upon the same basis with the free
States.
hope and trust your Convention will do this,
and, as consequence, the Radicals, who are wild
upon negro franchise viii be completely foiled in
their attempt to keep the Southern States from re-
newing their relations to the Union BY not accept
ing their Senators and Representatives
ANDREW JOHNSON,
President of the United States"
My position here is different from what If wonld
be If was in Tennessee. There should trv 70
introduce negro suffrage gradually; first those who
had served in the army; those who could read and
write and perhaps property qualification for others
say two hundred or two hundred and ffty dollarsh
President Apdreg johnson, NoreDaber, 1855
on NORTHERN ooPPERHEADs
He who stands off stirring MP discomfort in this
State and higgling about negroes is practically in
the rebel camp, and encourages treason He who
in Indiana or Ohio, makes war upon the Govern
msnt out of regard to slavery is just as bad"-Apa-
IN