The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-07-27
Tennessee.

in the present campaign. And the
consequences of that ratifcation-the
admission of its Representatives to
seats in Congress add greatly to
the strength of the Union Party be-
fore the people. This action gives
the lie to the declarations of our OPP
ponents-that Congress had deter
mined upon a factious and revolu-
tionary course to keep the Southern
States out of their just representation
in the National Legislature No one
can successfully deny the right of
Congress to determine the conditions
upon which the rebel States, which
voluntarily withdrew from Congress
and organized a rebellious and trea-
sonable government, can be re-admit-
ted to representation in that body.
Congress has, after mature investiga-
ton and discussion, by a majority of
r-ffths, announced the conditions
upon which these States can be re-
admitted. Tennessee has accepted
those conditions, and to-day she stands
among the States of the Union clothed
in all her rights as an equal
and sovereign State. And so it
will be with any and all the
other States that follow her loyal ex-
ample. 1t is in no spirit of revolution
and factious opposition that Congress
assumes this position. Had it done
less it would have been false to the
future safety of the country; false to
the brave men who fought that we
might have a substantial and endur-
ing peace; and the loyal people of the
country would have been satisfied
with nothing less than this.
The President could not do so in
consistent an act as to reject the ac-
ton of Congress in the admission of
Tennessee, yet he attempts to
weaken the force of that action
by "a long message claiming that
the work ought to have been
done long ago. and in the way pointed
out and proposed by him. 1T hap
pens that this same President JOHN
SON, as an officer Of the. army and
Provisional Governor, has had some
thing to do with this same State of
Tennessee, when he was talking diff
ferently and keeping other company
than he is now. 1t, is profitable, to
look little at his course then. We
have before us speech madetby Col.
FLETCHER (known to many of our
citizens) at large meeting in
Nashville after the passage of the
Constitutional Amendment He has
been for years fellow .townsrnan with
ANDREW JOHNSON, and knows some
thing of the man beyond his public rea
cord. boA few extracts from his speech
are pertinent, inf view of the Presi-
dents message and his present course
Of conduct: .e.
am free to say that had more conf
dence in his bitter personal hatred of the
rebel leaders than in any other trait he
possessed. 1 had greater confidence in his
malice than in his patriotism, and thought
that he had a sufficient stock of it on hands
to last him at least four years, but it is all
gone already, and he is now in full fellow
ship with the rebels. He has been most
faithless to you. 1t is well known that he set
on foot this State Government, shaped its
course and moulded its policy. Does it
not stand to-day just where he placed it?
His first general election proclamation
DISTINGUISHED seven-eighths of the people,
by the notorious " iron-clad OATH" Now
what do we hear from the Coopers, Patter-
sons and other evil spirits which haunt
the White House? All! they complain
that we have DISTINGUISHED the people of
Tennessee by a stringent franchise law.
Disfranchisement was exactly right in An
drew Johnson, but altogether wrong in
the Union party of Tennessee. Again, did
not Andrew Johnson say that all men
should have an even chance and a fair
start in the race of life? Now he rails and
grumbIes at the constitutional amend
| AnSIlb, WHICH equal OeIOTS
the law to all citizens without respect to
color. Did not he say that rebels must
take back seats in Tennessee? But now
he complains that we exclude them from
| office; and himself advances them to
| places of trust and profit. When he set us
the example of DISTINGUISHING rebels we
| followed it. When he said that treason
must be made odious and traitors punished
| lad
said that loyal men only must rule the
/ State, while rebels must occupy the back
! seats, we Endorsed the sentiment, and en-.
deavored TO put it in practice. In what re
spect have we deserted Andrew johnson ?
On the contrary he has crossed his owr
track, and contradicted his own record
He has belied his repeated solemn declara
tions, betrayed his supporters, and assaiIed