Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-09
Emerson Efheridge for the President's
Policy.
WASHINGTON. D. c., December

Policy.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., December 20.
John ID. PeTyn,an, Esq.
DEAR SIR: / have your letter of yester-
day, calling my attention to the following in
a Philadelphia newspaper:
=" EMERSON ETBERIDGE.-Emerson Eth
eridge is in Washington, It is SAID, doing his
utmost to weaken the case ofthe Tennessee
claiments to seats in the Congress of the
United States. Notwithstanding this, how
ever the feeling in favor Of these excellent
men continues to increase among the Repub-
lican members"
The statement is untrue. | am now, as
have been from the first, in favor of admitting
the members from Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi and Texas, in which representa-
tives have been elected under the wise and
liberal policy Of the President. And, since
the meeting of Congress, for public reasons
satisfactory to myself L have urged the adj
mission OF the entire delegation from Tenn
essee, although some OF the applicants from
that State were not elected; were not the
choice of the legal voters of the districts they
claim to represent, but were in fact appoint
ed by Brownlow and the agency of negro
bayonets the outrage being sanctioned only
by his petty associates and a few renegade
rebels who have disgraced every cause they
have espoused. Some other applicants, how
ever, from that State are the choice of their
constituents and, therefore, fit to represent
them. They were elected despite the efforts
of Brownlow and the military satraps
who aided him, and, if admitted to
their seats, will do honor to the people
by whom they were chosen. At this time,
however, | would gladly see them all in
Quoted into Office, thereby ending, ! trust
forever the complicated, existing, and dan
gerous question. The opinion here express
ed / have frankly avowed to all who have
asked my views. / have not, it is true,
thrust my opinion upon any one. Indeed,
during my stay in the city, l have not viS&a
the capitol, nor have | interchanged vi4ts
with any Senator or Representative, save
from the State of Kentucky. Those who at
tempt to make the impression that ] am OPP
posed TO the liberal and comprehensive policy
which the President has inaugurated, to re-
store representation to the States first above
named, are themselves the secret enemy of
both the President and his purposes they
will soon be public, as they now are the
private allies of Sumner 4 Co: The message
of the President had been plainly fore
Swallowed by his acts and conversations.
cordially approve the automatic truths there
in so frankly avowed and, without refer
ence to the opinions or wishes of any one,
shall consider it an imperative duty and in
no spirit Of captious criticism, to give his
policy hearty support in the impending
conflict conflict which / regard as inev-
liable, unless they abandoned the principles
of the message for the dangerous dogmas of
radical enemies. This he cannot do without
public and personal dishonor. He has made
and accepted issues thus far boldly; he will
be sustained, finally, by millions of just and
liberal men who SO fully comprehend the
responsibilities and complications inherited
from his unfortunate predecessor.
The President knows that the people of
the insurgent States accepted in good faith
the results of the war; they have done so
with the same courage and fortune they so
signally displayed throughout the contest.
This cheerful acqui sscence in results they
were powerless to avoid may be incompre-
hensive TO mean minds and little souls. And
though they emerge from the conflict with
blood-stained hands-though they were in
sanely wicked in precipitating causeless re-
bellion, they are to-day in all respects, better
than those who seek further to increase their
calamities or desiried in spirit of wanton-
ness. to augment their humiliation. He who
desires longer to hold the people of the
South under the forced rule of military and
official mercenaries is stranger to those
feelings which most adorn humanity, or ig-
norant of the plainest maxims for governing
mankind. repeat that, while the President
adheres to free elections, and is seeking to
substitute the rule Of the laws for the sway of
the sword, he is entitled TO whatever aid We
can bring TO his support. The decent peo-
pie Of our own State, | am sure. will concur
in this opinion nor will they pause to dis
cnss past wrongs or indignities, real or sup
posed 1t is with the living present they
now have to DEAL and in doing so they will |
seek TO strengthen the Executive in every ]
effort he may make Cor the practical enforce |
ment of the policy avowed in the mes
sage. And the President will soon know,
what he has been too slow to believe, |
that il IL to that portion of the peo-
pie OF the United States who actually OPP |
posed his election he must, to a great ex- |
tent, look for reliable aad intelligent aid
Such view of things may be Suggestive of |
painful political collisions; but il the eegn-
try is to be rescued by adherence to priBci-
pies, neither party pride, nor party organi-
cations will be permitted to impede the
work. IL is well known that Brownlow and |
his creatures are now engaged in writing let
tiers TO prominent Radicals in this city, urg-
ing a continuance 81 military rule, and mil
itary commissions, and asking that the
Southern representatives may be refused ad-
mission. Their opposition to free and legal
elections is notorious, while their denuncia-
tions of the principles of the message are
wholly apdisguised The same may be said
of the seedy pOltioal adventures, who for a
while held high carniysl an Louisiana, and
the like OF whom ase nov claimiDg, With
less than thousand constituents, 10 iIie
State Government of Arkansas" II is
notable fact, that in every instance through.
out me South where the elections have been
free, or eonduc,ed under the auspices of the
President the people have chosen those who
heartily approve the Yohcy saHnoiated in
the message. Every wonld-be Official xho
does net sustain this policy, is the appointee
Of some military or other despof who knows
that peace and piusSer arc incompatible
things II is only from these military APP
pointees who hate and fear the people in
proportion % they have wronged them, that
he President may apprehend any opposi-
lion in the Southern States. And now
venture this prediction: In Tennessee. Fhere
almost all civil power j. in the hands of this
,lass where we are insulted and oppressed
BY ignorant and irresponsibleusurpers; where
we daily confront the siekeHine sscsim
which rises when the nation boils"--in
his state we viii soon behold the united
bower Of the so-called State Government
save only few members of the Leeisla-
ure, directed ignorantly, but spitefully and
'nefgesieaily, sgainst the aims and purposes
4 the President. Within the next wear or
Immediately after one fpee election. they