Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-08-21
KNOXVILLE, TENN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST q. 1867

Brownlow with a unanimitv 10 which the b;stor,
Of popular elections affords no parallel To 4 GER
tain degree TINS was expected IN the cities like Nash
we, wnere '.ese was ia-ge number Of white
port; although even in Nashville il was sunnosaed
that at least hundred or two of them wonid vet.
/ with the Democracy. 1t lie probable. however ths,
out of a colored vote of over S,000, not TWENTY-FIVE
were cast for Etheridge.
But If this result is surprising in Nashville what
shall we think OF that in Maurv county. in tha
whole of which there were not perhans 3 bpnd -
/ white Unionists, but where notwithstanding. some
I 1900 colored votes were given to Brownlow and
perhaps not ten for Etheridges Maurv Is speciaI
centre of rebel influence, the home of the Polks.
the Pillows, and other once great names, who own
all the landed estate who gave al their influence to
the cause Of treason during the war and now give
Il all for the Democracy. They threatened with
deadly vengeance the colored Republicans but thew
threatened in vain. An old white headed neOro
who was hauled dozen miles in crazy cart to one
Of the voting places, expressed the sentiments Of All
the rest: They tol1 Us, said he fhat if we voted
the Union ticket they would drive us away from
our homes AID sta1ve US. If they make us leave
our cabins, pose well have to take to the bush.
Well live on roots and berries as long as we can,
and then if we can't do any better / reckon we'Il
have to starve bl9 &c n,t,sf rotel p
And thus it was al ever the State of Tennessee.
except in those places where the negroes were by
ever such self-saerihcing devotion known before7-
Did ever principle and patriotism assume so touch
ing, so sublime form The sage may search the
history of the world for parallels; the statesman
may rejoice in this vast accession Of strength to the
friends OF the Republic; the philosopher may trace
ont the secondary causes OF the phenomenon but
he who, soaring up to the source of all wisdom and
philosophy, the great first, universal cause of whom,
by whom and from whom al things are, will see in
the wondrous unanimity Of these humble people
the hand of Almighty God 1.-THE stone which the
builders rejected has become the head of the cor
ner, and the work of saving from Democratic mis-
rule and anarchy the great State of Tennessee and
placing her forever on the broad foundation Of ma
tionaly and freedom, is performed by the once fet
tered slave "Even so, Father for thus it seemeth
good in thy sightP
THE MOST INFORMANT LESSON
In few words l may now refer to the greatest
and most important of all the lessons that may be
learned from this election simple parallel will
make il plain:
When the war closed, there were in the State of
Kentucky at least fifty thousand men who, either
in the rebel army or out of it had wilfuly and per-
sstently fought for the rebel cause The Union
men held control of the State. In fit Of mistaken
magnaninity and cruel leniency they removed all
existing political disabilities from the rebels and
admitted the entire mass of them to the ballot box
Behold the RESULT Loyal men everywhere scofed
HtSSSAANSA
highest offices for no reason save their devotion to
the traitor cause; sworn enemy of the Republic
placed in the Executive chair; the freedmen dis
frRnchised, outraged, abused and in many cases
practically re-enslaved guerrilla bands regularly
organized IN onefourth the counties of the State
Union men fleeing for their lives and lust and rob-
berry and murder everywhere active and rife
Now look at TENNESSEE Here the opposite and
the only true policy was pursued. The Union men
in power at the close Of the war did not commit the
insane folly Of putting the ballot in the hands of
those who had forfeited ali rights who were fresh
from their devilish warfare against the nation and
we're still breathing forth hostility TO its friends
They kept it, where only it can be safely kept, in
the hands of loyal men; and they told the more ma
hgnant and persistent traitors to stand aside Two
years have passed. and how grandly the event Of
Thursday has vindicated their conduct. The State
is fully restored; unrighteous determinations and
every trace of slavery are swept away; order and
law reign almost universally throughout her bor-
ders; and she starts upon new career of wealth
and greatness and patriotism and power.
Such, loyal men of tie State are illustrations of
the two policies Of reconstruction the misealled
policy of ccaeiation which restores traitors ID po-
ltis~l PogTer; and the policy of exact and equal
Jusscs, winch gives the ballot to all loya.men of
every color bat withholds il sternly from She coun
Try enemies Kentuckys, ~
tlnage OF which eAaH the mel States be re-
constructed |? Shall the rebel Or the patriot rule
Union men of Tennessee you have upon your
statute books glorious franchise law. There let it
stand Keep the helm of the good ship of State in
loyal hands, and let her sail on she has begun
Frown upon every effort to put her on the opposite
tack. Indulge in no false magnanimity which shall
be hideous cruelty hereafter to yourselves and your
children. Avoid the example of Kentucky, as you
would the approach of death; and year by year,
you viii hear the sentinel that stands upon the
watchtower of your freedom, proclaiming, All is
well US.