Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-06-27
Letter from washington.
/. wAsHINarox, D. G., june Il

tional Capitol, have made it point to ascertain
the true political situation asfar as an outsider can
be informed
There Is quite different state of feeling here now
to what existed when 1 was here last fall and
winter tI
Then political influences and parties seemed to be
divided between the White House, with Andrew
johnson as the controlling spirit of great National
rarity, and Congress, with Thaddeus Stevens its
turbulent and dangerous leader. Now, the White
House. and its Chief no longer stands pre-eminent
as the embodiment of the true political theory upon
which the late rebellious States should be restored
to the Union. The influences emanating from that
quarter do not proclaim loyalty the true basis of
political power; but the President, hkesome fair
bird of plumage having been shorn of its gram
deur, has descended from his lofty, not to say
sublime position of Radical Unionisrn, and become
the leader of that party of which be has so often
declared The leaders should be hung, traitors pun
ished and their treason made odious."
Andrew johnson of to-day is not Andrew john
son of thepast. He no longer stands as sentinel
upon the watch-owers of loyalty, to warn the coun-
try against the approach of treason; but upon the
contrary, has IpSo-facto assumed the championship
of the great Combination Party made up of the
rebels of the South, and copperheads of the North
which organization only tolerates him as its chief,
because they desire the public patronage to further
their schemes of disloyalty.
He has abandoned the Republican party, and dis
carded those who elected him, and nothing short of
humiliation and shame could attend the Republ-
cans were they to stoop to lift him from the pit into
which he has fallen and at the very first opportu-
nifty the disloyal party which he now heads will
throw him overheard, and put forward Stephens,
Toombs, Wise or some other controlling spirit of
the rebellion. In word, Andrew Johnsons race
is run. His political success is at end.
His fall will be great and crushing but it must
vice in the Presidential chair. Those who have
made up their minds TO follow Andrew johnson
into the bosom of the rebellious element of the
country, relying upon the good luck which has at
tended him in the past, and the patronage he now
so ignobly wields to enable him to trumphs over
the Union party, had as well hang their Harps
upon the willows and commence their lamenta-
tions now for, be it remembered, his glory has de-
parted. And while thus stands the case with
johnson, that other leader of which mention has
been made who last fall and winter seemed to die
tate:he policy of Congress has not much changed
in feeling his good sense, and that of Congress
has been put in action, and policy of reconstruc-
ton adopted, to which every patriot can give an
enthusiastic support.
The great question here ,propounded by every
one you meet is, whether Tennessee will adopt the
Constitutional Amendment passed by Congress-
prescribing the policy of reconstruction? I tell
them, yes. Tennessee is not governed by the White
House. ...-...-
l may remark here that when the vote was taken
in the House, on the NV Article to the Constitu-
ton, johnson was unable to carry a single member
of his party with him. mean, of course, the par
ty that elected him-the Union Republican party
The vote stood 100 Republicans, and 80 Copperheads
ard Rebels. Great God! what q fall
1t is supposed the Governor will convene our
Legislature at once, that they may take action upon
this great restorative measure. There will be
giant effort made to get the Legislature to defeat
this Amendment. The public purse in the shape of
patronag e, will be emptied in that behalf but it is
simply matter of choice to come back by the adop-
ton of this amendment and enjoy the Inequalities
of the Union, or return to military government
by its rejection. So soon as Tennessee adopts this
amendment, our members elect to Congress will be
admitted to their seats, and full participation in
the legislation of the country. Thus the work of
restoration will be fully and practically commenced
The machinery of the Old Ship will be thus far
repaired and beckoned US on to that complete re-
storation that will present us to the world as per-
feet nation. Whatever may be the strength of the
President elsewhere, he has no party here. Wheth-
er Tennessee follows him or not he is without that
loyal support necessary to make his administration
resp ectabe. The Union men of our State have
been almost ignored by him in making appoint
nents
The late secessiOnists from the State Legislature
seem to be especial favorites with him He appoint
ed Carrot, the Bolter, Internal Revenue Collector
over that unimpeachable patriot, A. NJ. Cate
Such is life. Such are the acts of the Preside Mt
Such is Z" My Policy"
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS NATIONAL FAIR.
A wo rthy enterprise is being prosecuted here I'M
fonaI Onion League" 1t realizes from three to five
hundred dollars night, which is applied to the
lief of disabled soldiers and sailors throughout the
Union. 1t is grand and phianthropic conception,
worthy of emulation by other communities and
cities Several thousand dollars have been taken in
already, and it is expected not less than hun
dred thousand will be realized before its close
Very truly,
UNCONDITIONAL UNION MAN.