Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-05-01
From the Washington Chronicle
The Rod i'm Pickle,

We are told that tsweet are the uses of adversely"
and the platform of the Tennessee Conservatives is
additional proof Of the fact Having failed in their
efforts to destroy the Union overthrow the Consti-
tuition and abrogate the laws of the land, their first
resolve is pledge to support them. Thank you for
nothing, gentlemen. When your pledges to sup
port the Union, the Constitution and the laws were
needed and would have been of great service to the
country they were not forthcoming. Then you
were in arms for their utter subverson, and the es-
Enlistment of slaveholding despotism over one
half the territory of the Union. You were pledged
and bound by the honorable birthright OF American
citizenship, by the blood of your fathers, by the
glory of your countrys history, and by your duty to
man. to support the Union and the Constitution du-
ring the past terrible six years, but you proved trail
tors to your country in her hour OF need, and are
now only submissive to the strong arm by which
she has compelled YOU What are the pledges Of
men worth who are already forsworn. What the
enforced promises of men in durance When you
had all privileges and all power at the expense OF
others rights you abused them. The ehalice mas
since been applied to yohl own lips. The chickens
you Matched have CONS home to roost, and no0 you
are for equal and exact Justice TO all-exclusive
privilege to none" Why? Only to further your
base partisan project of restoring dominion to the
old shareholders and late rebeonists OF Tennessee.
That is why you resolve that you are IN favor OF an
Immediate restoration of Our dtsTd'1chsed
Gems to the rights, privileges and lmmunltles OF a
pie of Swann's counter revolution in Maryland to
guide you, but that example will serve as well Tor
Gov Brownlow's instruction as for your emulation.
Gov Brownlow will not abandon the principles
upon which the loyalsts of Tennessee elevated him
to the chief magistracy of the State he has mil
tia al his service which be can and Will organize
as a rod in pickle" to keep down local rebellion
and see that the principles enunciated in the fourth
resolution of the Conservative platform are made
effective. There is such Mohammedan spirit Of
resignation in this resolution that cannot forbear
ResoEved That our colored fellow citizens, being
now citizens of the United States and citizens OF
the State Of Tennessee and voters of this State they
are entitled to all the rights and privileges Of cti
zens under the laws Of the United States and Of the
State of Tennessee
1t NAV be that in Tennessee this Coppefhead dec
araton was essential to give the force of law to the
constitutional and statutory provisions whereby the
peoored fellow citizens have been elevated 70 the
doubtful dignity Of equality with the rebels and
traitors but we do not believe this recognition OF
their status before the lsw adds any more force TO il
than the Popes recognition of JEFF Davis did to the
Southern Confederacy We could have suggested
an amendment to this resolution that would have
given if a more cheerful aspect; for instance Re-
soIysd That Teocc bot or coorea fetoi0 cttss'l,
ar, ,,o,g itizeas Of tie Uafsd States, DC. Perhaps
their coored fellow citizens would have believed
them and would eventually ascribe their freedom
10 the Presidential Moses and the traitors Of Ten
nessee.
defender of the Constitution AID supporter of the
law but designates him as President Of the United
States thereby excluding his administration as Nil
itarv Governor Of Tennessee from their cordial ap
nroyal. This is the true index of ther principles
and motives. They are going to be defeated.