Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-02-20
From the Gr.snsrIIl., trsnn.,l New Era.

| Mr.. EDITOR; In my Hrst communication to thu
loyal voters of the third Senatorial district stated
that was for a White Mans Government, and fo
| the colonization of the Freedman. This would still
be my policy if it were not for the present state o.
| things in Tennessee, which threaten 10 place tht
power of the State in the hands of the party that
recently attempted the destruction of the Govern
ment and the repatriation of every loyal citizen
the State. This party still assume that they have
political rights and clsim--regardless of lew-tc
exercise them at the BALLOT BOX, as though
no crime marked their escutcheon. They, IN fact
know that they have no political immunites, and
would, without scruple, usurp the power Of the
State if it were not for the restrictions and checks
hel1 ever them by the loyal majority in the Gener-
al Assembly
The rebels may, for shsrt time, run riot, assas-
sinste and murder loyal citizens and Freedmen,
under the sanction of a fsthless and inscriptions
Executive. "But their end must come" The stern
Republican majority in Congress will, ere long,
place the Office of the Executive in truer and safer
hands, and the patriotic and fearless Governor OF
Tennessee will that the laws Ito suppress trea-
son, assassination, murder and rapine) are faith
fully executed, as well as all other enactments to
secure the power of the State to the friends OF the
Government and the protection Of its loyal cit
liens.
am lin the position / occupy) standing upon
theswatchtower of your rights and liberties, and
when l see dangers threatening your overthrow, /
will sound the alarm. In such an exigency as exists
at pIesent-which is to enfranchise the Freedmen
give the power of the State to the enemies of the
Government, to the sacrifice Of all the blood that
has been shed in its defense by Union men-I yield
my own views and take every responsibility to Sc
cure the general welfare
The freedmen came to our aid on the field Of
bloody strife It again becomes necessary for them
to aid us at the ballot box, to save US from the
hands Of the same enemy that murdered our ia
theirs, husbands and sons that plundered our homes
and reduced our families to misery and want. To
show enity to such foe is to invite repetition OF
all the cruelties, privations, losses and suffering
through which we have 50 recently pasted. In con-
frmatlon of this look to the daily accounts OF the
assasi1ations, murders and outrages committed on
loyal citizens in many sections of the Southern
Territory, where the Rebels out-number the Union
men.
l am utterly at loss to know from what source
Except outtdlcry) the party recently IN hEbEL-
LION against the Government, claim the right to
have part in its administration Until President
johnson espoused their cause, to accomplish pur,
pose or his own ambition, which, (if his policy had
been successful would have sacrificed his old friends
that stood by him when he maintained the cause OF
the Union, and on the faith of which they placed
him in powsr.
How fallen from his former position by his pollt,
ical strategy. He has entrapped himself, injured
his allies and delayed the restoration Of peace
powerful and united nation.
1t is remarkable that men will never learn WIS
dom. The people lately in Rebellion, although
many Of them had by their treason TO the Govern
ment subjected themselves to the severest penalty
of the law. have been permitted to remain in the
country and enjoy their estates unmolested Yet
they still manifest bitter hatred toward the Gov
eminent and the loyal people thereof, and pretend
a remarkable devotion to the Federal Constitution,
the instrument that they so recently combined to
destroy. This discrepancy in professions and se-
tons give great reason TO doubt their sincerity and
makes it necessary for the true friends Of the Gov
eminent to guard party that Is capable OF infinite
mischief 10 its stability.
Truly, fellow citizens, viii state in conclusion,
that have been tho strenuous advocate Tor the
abolition Of slavery for thirty years / am also IN
favor of their colonization; but while they remain
in the country every effort should be made for their
Improvement By the result Of the war they have
been thrown on the country without resources o
any kind, and If is the duty Of the Government to
seethat they are cared for and that shey are made
to progress in every way that will entitis them TO
rank and usefulness in every department OF civil
lied life II they are 90 rensin among US they
must feel that they are freepen 1t viii stimulate
them 10 make themselves the squAl OF the Write
race in political life at least Society viii give
them their status in social life No danger that
score whatever in giving their Franchise. an
free 10 say that would greatly prefer their eoion-
ration. But when such al exigency exists as ST
present, lay down my OWE views for the public
coed.
Most respectfully,