Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-05-29
Extracts from a Speech Delivered at
the Capitol, in Nashville, Friday
Evening, May 10th, 1867, BY Horace
MAYNARD.

fhe Canit0I. i'm Nashville, Friday
Evening, May 10th, 1867, by Horace
Maynard.
Mr.. Maynard, after commenting upon the
of the convention held in the
same hall on the 10th of April last, which
resulted in the nomination Of Mr. Etheridgs
as candidate for Governor remarked that
since he had accepted the invitation to de-
liver this address, indeed this very morn
ing, there had appeared in the city papers
fayoring that nomination the report OF a
speech made at Cleveland, on the 9th inst,
by Mr.. John Baxter, of Knoxville, the
Chairman of their State Central Committee.
The speech is put forth as the lndlet-
ment and arraignment Of Brownlowlsm De-
fore the people, and is carefully prepared
document, intended, evidently, to give the
key note of the approaching campaign
Much OF it, the mere rhetoric and VERDI
age. requires little notice. Divested of the
abuse and denunciation, little offact or solid
remains.
THE ISSUE.
The question at issue is stated to be
q whether the State shall be governed by its
moral ,rorth and intelligence, or by despi-
cable oligarchy, composed of lean minorl-
ty of the worst men in the State let
this modest and comfortable assumption
pass, and proceed TO consider the man
points urged by this representative OF the
6 moral worth and intelligence.
GOVERNOR BRowNLow.
The first, and indeed the principal, is a
nersonal abuse of Gov. Brownlow. Except
the charge of @averice, made and repeated,
for the first time venture to say, the ad-
dress contains nothing new. 1t is simply
rehash of the vituperation heaped upon him
for long time by partisan opposition. he
needs no vindication before the loyal peo-
pie of the country, and especially the Union
men of Tennessee. At the frst attempt 10
reorganize our State Government, he was
the unanimous and spontaneous choice OF
every loyal heart in the State for Governor.
Repeatedly, and in confidence, have heard
him declare that he neither desired nor in
tended to stand for reelection, and | sup
posed that his mantle would fall upon dis
tinguished gentleman of military antece-
dents in this part Of the State. But the
Union men all over the State, in view-of the
unparalleled and groundless assaults, made
nominally upon him, really upon them and
their government, Of which he was the
head, determined otherwise. The issue was
SO presented by their opponents, that to
abandon him was to abandon their cause,
and they promptly accepted it. And, while
this new TRADE will excite no increased hos
tility, it will endear him to a still frmer
friendship.
THE LEGISLATURE.
Next the law-making power of the State,
Creatures in this Legislature, are assaiied
as false in their promises and false in their
constitutional obligations and are accused
of "robbing the people who had elected
them of all political power"
The chief specification under this charge
is the Franchise law. This, like abuse of
the Governor, is nothing new. 1t antedates
the present government and goes back. to
Gov. Johnson's military administration,
conducted upon the principle Of assigning
TO loyal men the great work of reconstruc-
ton and giving to all others back seats. .
/ shall not reargue the question. The Union
people understand it, and whatever moral
worth and intelligence" may say, they are
determined to adhere to- the principle. 1t
is but due, however, to the Legislature, to
declare that more upright, conscientious
and single minded body OF lawgivers never
assembled in Tennessee Burdened with
questions of the greatest delicacy and diff
Guilty, and altogether new, they brought to
their solution degree Of patience, ability
and honesty which will be more and more
respected, when the distempers of the time
have so abated that men can form an unbi-
ased judgment.
THE JUDICIARY.
The judiciary, especially in East Tennes
see, comes in for its share Of opprobium.-
Two of the three Chanceilors, and two Of
the five Circuit Judges, are appointees OF
Gov. johnson. One Circuit Judge was
chosen by the people, one Chancellor, Tenn
pie, and two Circuit Judges, Adams and
Butler, were appointed by Gov. Brownlow.
A charge is made in this speech against
some one of the FIVE Circuit Judges of head
ing riot to lynch rebel soldier. The
name is not given, nor do / know to whom
ailusion is made L have never before heard
of it. And | suspect when the facts of the
case are understood, if indeed there be any
facts in the case, it will assume quite anoth-
er aspect Under judiciary thus consti.
tuted, says Mr.. Baxter, /" it would be
strange if the grossest injustice was not
melted out" and concludes: "But | viii
pursue this subject no further Incidents
shocking to our sense Of right, might be
enumerated until the heart would grow sick
at the recitation of injustice, which, to our
shame, must be forever perpetuated by the
judicial records of East Tennessee" Doubt
less he feels so. He is lawyer, and natu.
rally synlpathiEes with his defeated clients
Possibly the "moral worth and intelligence
may entertain similar feelings The honest
loyal Union, fair minded masses, take q
different view Of the subject The unhand
some fling at the jurors Of the country must
have been made without reflection, and
therefore deserves no further notice
CONDITION OF EAST TENNESSEE
The alleged "rapine and murder and
monstroqs outrages in East Tennessee
are prominent count in this indictment
and of course charged to the credit of Gov
Rrownlow. Crime occurs there, as every
where else, among depraFed humanity, and
it is chastised by the law Acts of private
vengeance have been committed, very few
all things considered Fathers hanged,
mothers scourged, daughters outraged, and
the many other atrocities Of rebel rule were
enough to stir the blood of saints. Some
snormities have been perpetrated in certain
rebel localities, as in the recent case OF
Hobbs and his gang, in Sullivan county
that required the depressing hand of mill
tary power. To meet such exigencies in
the different parts of the State, the Legisla.
ture has wisely provided the militia and put
il in such state of efficiency, by the aid Of
Congress and the President as to protect
the people against bands of desperadoes, too
powerful for the ordinary peace officers
But, after making these allowances, l aver
and appeal to every East Tennessesan, that
never, in thirty years, have l seen so little
disorder among the people, SO little intern
peranoe, profanity, and personal violence
as is exhibited to-day wherever in that mart