Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-13
BROWNLOWISM.

Fletcher inspires ApOslates 10 Hang
the President Ia BHigy-A New Way
Of Celebrating the Anniversary of
LfBerty-Tbe Fourth in Grainger
Comfy.
Correspondence of the Union and Dispatch.
RUrLEDGE July 9th, 1867.--It was gen
erally announced that the great Fletcher,
whom you call Governor, was 70 address
the people of Granger and the surround
ing counties, on the current themes Of in
terest To get big crowd, the Radicals
gave oct that the occasion was not TO be
party one, and all, irrespective of party,
were cordially invited. A large number
came. The object was to form the whole
body in procession and march them di-
rectly into the Radical ranks This proved
to be failure, as by actual count, the pro-
cession was composed OF, FIRST the colored
band from Knoxville; second, lady on a
wagon intended to represent the Goddess
of Liberty, and thirteen little girls repre-
senting the thirteen original States IAN EN-
blem Of State rights that was not fully APP
preciated "a eavalcade of borsemen fol-
lowed by band Of black footmen, and then
white tootmen, Of all ages-in all some
three or four hundred.
The exercises were opened by three
cheers for the Radicals of the Union, three
for Brownlow, and three for the speakers
Of the occasion. Fletcher received all
these cheers. Col David Nelson. who was
a fighting Unionist, paid handsome
tribute to American liberty and its ami
versary. J. NJ. Meek, member of the
Rebel Legislature of Gov Harris, fol-
lowed in Radical harangue Thea came
Fletcher, in a bitter, denunciatory and
bloody Radical homily. He spoke Of Ad-
miral Semmes, the Alabama, Gen. Forrest
and Fort Pillow, and many, who knew his
proclivities in the early part of the rebel
lion, thought he may have been with For
rest ard Semmes. Others, who knew him
better, wore satisfied that he never encoun-
tered such dangers, aud was simply giving
the second hand views of an apOstate
His speech, though highly inhammatory,
basely pretended to be conciliatory. This
fact is shown by the scene which imme-
diately followed its close.
One A. Griffith, Captain of Brownlow's
melish rose and said they had heard
great deal Of Andy johnson, and he now
proposed to show him. They then pro-
duced an efiigy, which they called that of
the President-csrried it around uplifled
over tho heads of the people then dragged
il in the dirt-neEt paused and stamped
upon it, and displayed every sign Of indig-
nifty, contempt and violence towards the
efigy. Some OF the same men, Rebels, who
hung him in efiigy in 1861, were engaged
in the like business on this occasion. This
was a very fit part Of Radical celebration
of the birth-d day Of liberty, federation and
Justice. AT least, il seemed to strike
Fletcher and his followers in that way.
Another illustrative incident occurred,
which is worthy of mention. In 1861, a
noble and brave Unionist by the name OF
Jones, when secession was running ram
pant, raised the flag Of the Union. A lot
Of noisy Rebels gathered, cursed him, and
threatened to tear it down. He defed
them, and afterwards joined the 4th Ten
nessee Federal Infantry, and fought as an
Unconditional Union man. He is now a
Conservative, and again, on the 4th,
1867, hoisted the same flag which he had
raised in 1861, and under which he had
fought The Radical crowd more rebel
lious and revolutionary than in 1861, now
! threatened to tear it down. Some of the
same men who were for taking it down
then were in the crowd that threatened to
| take il down now. But Jones had heard il
| thunder before, and defied them, and the
| conscience-smitten towards let it alone.
Such was the Radical celebration of the
Fourth in RutIedge, under the auspices O
Col. Fletcher After getting the benefit o
the music from the oolored players, the IN
| grateful scamps abused the band as worth
less performers, and said, while they charged
| $50 for their services, they were not wortl
S25. Il was the worst band, they said
they ever saw They will estimate tn
tOteg Of the colored people in the same wa,
after they get the benefit Of them.
w. X. d.