Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-08-14
The Lesson Of Tennessee.

The Republican triumph in Tennessee ends all
discussion in regard 10 The coored vote of the South.
Nor promises nor threats could win the freedmen TO
the support of the party which had opposed their
liberation, and given all its sympathy to the rebel
lion Yet Tennessee is the only State in which gen.
era concessions have been made 10 the colored men
by the Democracy; they were invited to send dele
gates TO Democratic Conventions and at time
when timid Republicans in the Legislature we're
afraid 10 allow black 10 sit on uries there were
Democrats shrewd enough 20 offer them share of
the Offices ia the gift OF the people. On the other
hand, the planters OF Western Tennessee used
stronger means 10 the c0lored vote for Eth
cridge; dismissal from employment was the penalty
Sf a vote for Brownlow, and so universal were these
threats that Gen. Thomas was compelled 10 inter-
fere for the protection o the colored men, But ter
rOrism could not drive, hattery could not betray
che freedmen Of Tennessee knew that the Repubi-
party was the only party they dared trust, and
cast their votes soldly for the Republican candi-
dates. This unsnimity is prophetic If the blacks
are Radical in Tennessee, there can be no fear that
they viii be Conservative IN Louisiana South
Csrolina.
The result of this election, therefore, means the
triumph of the Republican party in the South
Nothing osn prevent IL but the iaithlossness in
differsnce Of Republicans in the North; it Is yet in
our power 20 make or mar success. The full and
perect confidence Of the coOred voters OF the rebel
States given 10 AS and TO keep 1t we have only TO
deserve H. But il the Republican party IN New
York New Jersey and Pennsylvania denies the
right OF suffrage TO the colored citizens Of those
States The faith of the South in its sincerity must
be inevitably lost Two opposing principles cannot
coexist; there cannot be one rule Of justice for the
South and one for the North, bus that policy which
in the name Of freedom we impose upon others We
must ourselves accept. Conviction OF hypocrisy
before the bar Of the nation is the alternative ana
nothing could do more TO check Republican enthu-
siahm IN Alabama or North Carolina than the an
nSuncement that New York had refused the ballot
20 hcr ONE einzens. Ii we want 10 build up
black m IN party that is the surest and speediest
way, nor coolo We have the efrontrv 70 complain
Of political organization based On distractions of
color, which We ourselves recognized and nroclaiu-
ed Yet we have no Tear now that iustiee will be
long denied 20 the eolored men Of the North iet
them vote as they may, il is not With their I;.is
that we are concerned but with their rivbt PsiO
were Il certain that every colored vote in New Y-a
would be cast for the Democratic ticket our vo5cs
would be for impartial suffrage. And upon lower
grounds surely, the devotion Of the freedmen OF
tennessee TO the Republican cause should be an AZ.
gument with those politicians who never fully &C.
cept principles TIL time has proved that il is alse
expectancy.
Tennessee has taught that Lesson. This Is the first
State election At which ihc blacks have taken ful
part and though the canvass was fierce and person
NJ and every provocation % riot was given, order
was maintained throughout the State. The precau
lions taken by the civil authorities and by General
Thomas il is true, were excellent, yet they were
notoriousy insufficient had there been any truth in
the Democratic dogma that The equal rights OF black
and white necessitate war Of races. The freedmen
were not only orderly but it Is plain that they pre-
served order. The vote was unusually large the
polls were crowded the passions Of men we're ex-
cited and had the negroes desired riot, General
Thomas had no force in Tennessee that could have