Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-05-08
THE KNOXVILLE WING
Knoxville, Tenn, May 8, 1867.
To the Voters Of Tennessee.

the Radical Union party Of Tennessee for
reelection TO the Office Of Governor, pro-
pose TO submit for your consideration this
document and / offer it as substitute for
a speech, which I am physically unable to
deliver.
A Convention Of 500 loyal delegates, repre-
senting every county in the State, was held
at the Capitol on the 22d Of February last
and did me the honor to nominate rae for
this Office, without dissenting voice. The
wishes of so large an assemblage Of men,
convened for such purpose, and charac-
terized by such intelligence, harmony and
enthusiasm, with full knowledge of my
feeble health, could not do otherwise than
respect and obey. Believing that organi-
zation, general and special, would follow in
every county, l accepted the nomination.
And now that / am before the people, and
good and true men are associated with me
on the ticket, for Congress, and the Legis-
lature, men Of action, true and loyal men,
should be up and doing all over the State
"Unmoved by fear
Health comfort safety, life they couut not dear,
Nor viii they faint nor can they strive in vain"
As soon as the nominating Convention
had organized, l addressed the following
communication TO that body, which they
did me the honor to haYc read from the
stand
NASHVILLE February %, 1867
Jt. President, and Gentlemen Of The Loyal
state Contention
As you are here from all the counties in
the State, TO nominate q candidate for Gov
ornor, il is proper, sustaining the relation /
do TO the Union party Of Tennessee, that 1
should address you this communication.
The partialties of friends have associated
my name with the names of the several
gentlemen spoken of as likely TO be pre-
scnted for the position. | say TO you in all
candor that have not sought the nOmina-
ton My physical debility renders me
wholly unable to speak in the canvass, and
if on this account it should seem to you that
my nomination would be doing injustice to
the cause, l shall cheerfully acquiesce in
your judgment
do not doubt the ability of the loyal
men Of the State to retain its control under
the franchise law, provided the law is en-
forced. have no candidate 70 suggest, but
deem the convention capable of making its
own selection. Nor do speak OF the claims
oimysef or other gentlemen. No man has
any claims TO public trust but the country
having right to the services Of her ablest
and most reliable citizens, such mon will
not feel at liberty to declineimpOrtant NOM
nations, if bestowed with encouraging
unanimity. Even in my feeble state of
health. if wers nominated by your Con-
venton, would not feel at liberty 10 de-
cline the nomination.
But candOr requires me to say that my
convictions arc that you can do better for
the party and for the interests of the State
than to nominate me.
After calm review of the past and of
my official career, my only regret is that ]
rcposed degree of confidence in portion
ofthe reconstructed rebels of the State that
their conduct and Utterances have satisfied
me was not warranted. .tE
That class of men generally, now headed
by the President of the United States, re-
ally staked their all upon the hazard of
die, and they have lost. With singular
blindness and perversity Of vision they
have even up 10 this good hour, refused to
listen TO the unmistakable voice Of popular
condemnation, and in all the loyal States,
IN October and November last, they pressed
forward to a desperate grapple at the polls,
and they suffered the disgraceful fate which
their temerity called forth.
Nominally at the head Of the Federal
Government, the President has become a
mere man of straw-an inefficient, ineOm.
petent negative beseiged by the disloyal
men of the North and South, and advised
and influenced by the worst men in the
country.
Without majority in either house Of
Congress, with two thirds against him in
both houses, so as to set at defiance his We
toes, without q single Northern Governor.
sustaining his insane policy, and without
The Endorsement of one loyal State, what a
pilable attitude for the Chief Magistrate of
so great a republic.
In conclusion gentlemen, l will be ex
vlsed by you for making few remarks per-
sonal to myself Praise, i feel, 1 do not
heed-censure will not iniurc me. The
proud consciousness of having discharged
my duty affords me more consolation than
applause. For one, l never expect TO re-
sret my course as tho Executive of the State,
nor repudiate the noble and patriotic deeds
OF the present Legislature. The Scriptures
say, MO unto those of whom all men speak
Wen. This sentence Of condemnation is
not likely TO fall upon me or the radical
members Of the Legislature We arc not
everywhere spoken Of in terms of praise.
The friends Of our country think and spcalr
veil of US the enemies Of our country
speak Of us in terms ofunmitigated rcproae6.
Of tho opinions of the former we should
feel proud toward the uttorings of the lat
ter we can but feel Indifferent
Trusting that you will harmonic upon
some good and true man, of undonbted 10y.
atty and frmness, and pledging to your
nominee If OF that - faith and order" my
cordial support have the honor TO be,
Very truly and sincerely
W. G. BRowSLow.
After the foregoing communication from
ne was received and read, the Convention
reported and adopted the following Plat.
form Of Principles:
We the representatives Of the loyal peo-
pc m tennessee, in convention assembled,
e thankful to Almighty God for the sue
~ ~ 81 the arms Of the United States over
~ army Of traitors, who sought TO destroy
tbs.oSse government ever known TO man,
Oy saving US and our posterity the