Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-04-10
JOHNSON AND DEMOCRACY.
What the South Owes Them.--BIIght-
Ing Effects or My Policy" as seen
By one Of A. J.'g Southern Friends,

" VAO VI ne Oa - 0OAtHCAA
From the Macon, Ga Journal and Messenger March g.
Andrew johnson has at last yielded. Thank Goo
Tor I'll be has done US an immense deal of harm
crippled us when our armies were in the field; re
jeeted the terms Grant and Sherman gave us ; and
then at last has kept sectional hate and luminosity
stirred up against by his unwise course and his
foolish conflict with Congress and Northern senti-
ment.
And now we hope President Johnsen's opposition
to the Government viii cease. He has opposed it
so long snd induced orr people 70 oppose II 80 long,
holding out to US the false idea that he would do
something for u.s. that he has done us infinitely more
harm than all other men and ali other causes CON-
bned. But for him we would long ago have been
admitted into the Union, and upon far better terms
than we shall now be able TO obtain. He has been
the most effective enemy We have bad.
In the first place, his influence was great in ar
rsying the border States against us. &c was one
OF the most earnest supporters Of the war waged
upon us. he refused US the terms given US by the
generosity and msgnsnimisy Of Grant and Sher-
man; and last, though nos least, be has, by bis
course kept Northern prejudice and hatred con-
SANITY excited against US. Save as from our friend
johnson.
Commencing his career as Vice President by an
excessively postprandial speechsfterward, as Pres
ident dugng in such spouting TRADES TO the pop
uAnce Of the Federal capital should not be used
even upon the hustings-going upon his Western
tour with engine OF vituperation, whose hose be
frenzy Of the Northern people against South erners,
whose cause he pSofesssd 10 advocate. Had been
our most bitter enemy he could not have pur sued
course calculated 10 do US more harm.
Further than this, his conduct has always inspired
the Southern people with the hope that be has in
tended TO defend rights at the point Of the bay
Onet Andrew III was compared tc Andrew L.
Tennessee had given us Old Hickory" who crush
cd notification and removed the deposits" and
Tennessee, It was hoped, had given us Andrew II,
Al. u. -
was 20 be our Cromwell, who would dispense the
Rump Parliament Of America.
In the meantime, though, with all his proclama-
tions, he has never removed martial law from the
South and never restored to our people habees cor
pas, nor has he released Davis from Fortress Nom
roe.
It's difficult 20 determine whether President
johnson has exhibited the more political pecua-
ton or the more political folly. his course has
certainly been good ground for inducing the South
ern people to hope that be intended 20 WELD the
sword in their behalf and we think yet that there
has been at some times such idea lurking in bic
bosom But be hestated, he dSllied, and proved
himself a bastard; he doubted, and is damned
Thank God forit. The spell is broken--the illusion
gone Andrew II lacked the nerve to do what
Andrew i would have done. The Southern people
are undecsivedi let them profit by their dearly
bought experience
Our noble President after believing in the cities
Of the West like one of she mad prairie bulls Of
that great section, "roars you as gently any
sucking dove" All tie thunder which he poured
against Congress from the Olympus of the White
House turns out 20 be PickwickiRn thunder SO far
as Congress is concerned, but it has rBcoiled with
deadly effect upon the Presidents Southern
friends
Andrew johnson, in his veto of the military BILL
ssys this measure is without precedent and with
cut authoriy-in palpable conflict with the plaines
Provisions Of the Constitution and utterly destuc-
o.of1 end ur
ny Tor which ancestors on both sides the Allan
&c shed so much blood and expended so much treas
ere- After painting the absolute monarchy" and
military despotism" in each of the FIVE districts
oShned by the military act At the South in such
4riul colors as TO make the blood curdle in the
Vs and strike terror into the heart Of every man,
woman and child white or black found living M
osf nose "despotsms; - after exciting the South
80 people almost 10 acts of open rebellion against
ne provisions of the military act be now turns
round and tells us he hopes this menstrous recon
Hruction act" will have the affect Of alternating
much Of the bitterness caused by the war AID be
VIII faithfully execute" what be says is z sub
version OF the Government and Constitution WI ich
ne has taken an oath 70 support and defend And
such d President Johnson--such the man who has
lcfed US on 70 cur destruction.
Let us have done with all this knavsrv sas eoIlv
Wsprefsr trusting our fate 70 opan enemies 10 trst
ing i 20 false friends. We prefer old Ben vVsSs
old ThAd- Stevens and old Horace Greedy 20 Johr,
son OF tennessee ana Jonnsoho q AAryidnd. True
the President has talked finely in our behalf and
90 has tho " little villain Of the Times. But as
Raymond has always voted against Us, johnson
has 1T least not acted for us Let him go his WAYS
The South can trust him no longer. We must fine
other guarantOrH Tor safety, and that eafety We
must find with the Republican party OF not At all
President johnson has no strength moral, politca
or physical BE represents nothing and he repre-.
sents nobody Let him 60, like the Confederate
note"
10 represents nothing on Code earth nov,
And nought in the waters below Il"
But we have TO complain of The Democratic par
ty North as much as We complain Of Presiden
johnson. Next 10 the President weowe our presea
troubles 10 athe unterrifed'-the uiron ribbed De
mocracy." In the first place the Northern Demo
crHt always agreed with us In our ideas concerning
secession, and often encouraged ne 70 exercise cul
night Many Of them declared that the South could
De eoerced only oyer their dead bodice And Il wat
70 but moi in the sense IN which they intended ns