Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-07-24
Behold the mani

The following reasonable and seditiou
letter will show how therebels of this Stat
came to select John G. Gaut as the chair
man Of the executive committee. 1t vii
I, be seen that Gaut is " the right man in u,
right place He was a rebel in 1861 an,
he is arebei to-day, of the bitter. unreleht
ing kind The letter is as follows: IS
| JUDGE GAurs LETTER To A. S. coLYAR.
CLEVELAND, TENS, December Ia 1861.
A. S. C6lyar, Esq.
As in times past, we have csnvassed as
we'll as conversed together, touching ou1r
political troubles, | take the liberty Of
writing to you on that subject again. On
about Che first of last week We received the
late messageof Lincoln to the Federal Con
gress. That message, as / understand Il
Enthusiastically shows that it is the intention
of Lincoln to subjugate the South and TO
emaneipate the negroes and cxterminate
African slavery in. the slave States. His
message is, in substance, Recommendation
to Congress to pass laws to effect that object.
with an Implied promise that he Will try to
execute and carry out that object He has
cheated and deceived the laval citizens af
Missouri, Kentucky and MARYLAND as wpll
as thousands elsewhere. opposed seDara-
tion, and voted against it because / believed
Lincoln intended to try to administer the
government according to the constitution
giving to the South their lust, Iegal and
equal rights underth constitution; in other
words, that 1T was not the intention of him
or his admlnistrationIin the least degree to
interfere with the slavery question or the
rights of property in the South.
Therefore believe it was wrong to break
up the government of our fathers, which
l revered until Lincoln had done some acts
showing an intention to deny or deprive
the South OF its inst and constitutional
rights. l never had any respect for Lincoln
or his party, or the Northern sentiment
neither did / for Mr.. Buchanan: but Ifelt1
it to be the duty of us all to acquiesce in
his election, and submit to the laws and the
constitution, and try to correct the evil at
the ballot box, and SO / felt about Loncoln.
But Lineoln's conduct, as well as his mes
sage, and also some late resolutions intro
duced in the Federal Congress, clearly
shows that it is the intention of Lincoln
and the North to subjugate the South and
emaneipate the slaves. They show further
to my mind that an attempt will be made
to arm the slaves to slay their masters.
Lincoln deserves universal condemnation.
contempt and exeeration for his unmitiga-
ted deception, hypocrisy and dishonesty. |
His message is shaped to suit the peculiar
views of the European nations, and is a
bride held out to them to join him in an I'M
holy crusade to rob the people Of the South |
of their rights and liberty, and emancipate
their slaves. After the election of the 8th |
of June last when we were voted out by a |
large majority, / felt it my duty to ac-
quiesce in the will of the majority, and so |
advised others. | strenuously opposed any |
division of State, or any rebellion, or resist |
ance to the laws of the State, or Southern
Confederacy. AS | had to hold my courts |
under this condition of tho public mind,
and try the lawsuits and quarrels of all par
ties | believed could best accomplish the
discharge Of my duties and avoid censure
and criticism BIZ avoiding public speaking
by keeping out of all the public assemblies
and remaining quiet-talking but little.
But confess to you with regret and morti
fication, that as well as tens of thousands
of others, was cheated and deceived in the
Federal administration as TO their real and
true intentions and designs, and now, | be-
lieve and unhesitatingly declare that it is
the duty as well as the interest Of all, every
man in the slave States, TO resist Lincoln
and the North with all his means, influence
heart and strength. In other words that
there be no division whatever, but that we
stand together as one man in the South to
resist the North-their invasions and ag-
gressions; and such has been the effect of
Lincoln's message upon the people Of Brad
ley. Those who have heretofore been cali
ed Union men have gone clear over and
commenced volunteering, and during the
past week, am informed, that seven new
volunteer companies have been made up and
more will be made up the ensuing week
Itlooks like but few indeed will be left
at home. I was at Athens last week and
the message of Lincoln had charged every
man with whom / conversed, who had here
tofore believed that Lincoln did not intend
to interfere with slavery or the rights OF
slavery, and all expressed themselves de-
cidedly on the side of the South.
(Signed) m JOHN c.. GAUT.