Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-09-11
Then and Now.

The friends of the President who so fercely de-
nounce the result of the recent election in Tennes-
see evidently have forgotten the origin of the pol
icy which secured that result or hope that every
body else has forgotten it. As bad as Gov. Brown
low has been painted by them and however many
arbitrary acts ne may be required to answer for he
has abundance of precedents for them, and has been
simply carrying out the policy adopted by Andrew
johnson as Military Governor of Tennessee
Neither President johnson nor the editors of Dem
ocratic journals would much relish the serving up
at this time of the opinions entertained by them OF
the Governor of Tennessee in 1864. As Military
Governor, Mr. johnson came in contact with the
worst elements of the rebellion and he that not
only was the black not safe when within reach
Of their malice but that there safety for the
loyal white population except in deprYing rebels of
the right of suffrage Then it that he was will
ling to be the Moses of the black race, if only in
raising them to the privileges of citizenship he
could thereby safety to himself and his white
feow-citizens who had been faithful to the Union.
Under the policy suggested by President Lincoln,
that the loyal citizens of rebel State, even though
numbering but tenth of the voters, should hold
the power of reconstruction, Governor johnson or
ganized his government and the growth of it has
been from that basis, loyal men taking good care
that it should not fall into the hands of their
mics, as in Kentucky. Without now discussing the
justice of that policy, let what the friends of
the present President thought of him when in that
trying position, surrounded by the enemies of the
country.
paper in this city, not content with charging
Gov johnson with being despot an usurper and
an oppressor took occasion to throw its venom upon
Edward Everett, by the statement that he "can
formally prostitute his reputation by urging the
election Of such rcksters to the seats occupied
by Washington and Adams That class of Dem
ocratc papers, which were always so tenacious of
the doctrine that no State was out of the Union
were very fearful lest the vote Of Tennessee, the
rebels not being allowed to take part in it, would
be thrown against Gen. Mcclellan and that the vote
of that State might decide the election-slthougb
as it turned out he was in no such danger of election
that they need have cared about eight ten votes
more less. They were consequently very much
incensed against Gov. johnson, and apparently
more SO against President Lincoln because he would
not intervene in the matter even though in conflict
with their favorite doctrine that each State should
decide for itself the question of suffrage. In this
case to be sure Intervention was called for not for
the purpose Of allowing all the inhabitants to vote
regardless of color but to the power TO rule
to "a once free and proud people, protesting against
their own Acknowledgement by the agent of Abra-
ham Lincoln" as was stated by delegation who
solicited Intervention at his hands.
The same journal of this city to which we have
referred above used to speak of "this Johnson the
so-called Military Governor" Of his "villainous
scheme" of his Uncomfortable intensity of crimi-
nalty and shame and of his +" having the example
OF hlhcoIn II openly, snanetully and forclDly
electoneering for himself = and of President Lin
coin it was said in connection with Gov Johnson's
acts, that "nothing has yet been made public which
SO clearly evinces the vulgarity, the presumption
and the dishonesty of the President" These are
but specimens of the habituai style of speaking of
the President and Of Gov johnson and it is diff
cult to say whether the President was abused the
most because Of his unwillingness TO interfere with
Johnson's acts because of his exercising authori
ty which was said to belong exclusively to Congress
but tho use of which is now so commendable in the
executive. The tyrannical conduct of Gov John
son was even made the theme of an address to the
people by the National Democratic Committee, and
list OF grievances was made out against him as
formidable as that drawn up against George the
Third, in the Declaration Of Independence That
was only three years ago. but then three years have
sutEeed to transform Mr.. johnson from Moses OF
the colored race to Moses of the democracy-a
Moses, however, whom his own followers will for
bid to enter the promised land if indeed they should
ever come in sight thereof.-Bostos Aduertiser