Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-06-26

self The Conservative OF heDei canol0Ate LOT the leg
stature from the floatig district composed of the
counties of RpIk, McMinn and Meigs. How with
the record Col witt han made, be can endorse the
principles of the Conservative PLATFORM is matter
which is hard to understand by any loyal man, and
unlocked for hy any rebel. Why he suffered him
self to be lead By Casw,ll Hutchinson Ian original
rebel, as am informed, Of Meigs county, and 9TH
ers whose loyalty has always been doubted is TO US
inexplicable Col. Wit was, from the beginning Of
the late rebellion 10 its close, Incorporating
Union man, and Arm supporter of the administra-
lion and policy Of President Lincoln, whom be
ardsntly supported il the last Presidential election
He endorsed The emancipation proclamation, was in
favor of melting out the severest punishment 70 lead
ing traitors, wss in favor Of their Acknowledgement
and the eoh6scation Of their property. All this he
advocated until the meeting of the great Demo-
cratic Rebel-C Convention at Philadel-
phia last summer, after which he declined in his
support of his former principles until the meeting
of the ls.e rebel Convention at Nashville, when he
sold out 20 those whom he had met as enemies upon
many bloody battleields during The last three years
of the rebellion.
Upon his return from Che army in 1865, DR..
Copeland, of Polk county, held the position to which
Col. Witt now aspires. DR.. Copeland having voted
against the dsfranchise bill before the Legislature
Col. Witt, las we are informed by many of those
who signed it,, drewup and signed petition TO DR..
Copeland, asking hH to resign his seat in the Leg
islature giving, as reason among many others, that
in voting against the bill DISTINGUISHING rebels DR..
Copeland disregarded the principles and wishes of
the loyal citizens whom he represented. But now
Col. Witt endorses platform which declares in IA
vor Of the immediate restoration of all rebels in the
State Of Tennessee TO all the rights and privileges
of her loyal citizens and patriotic Union soldiers
many of whom were imprisoned and starved ain the
bells" a Andersonville and Belle Island q o con-
sistency what jewel"
Ia the summer of 1866, COL Witt visited Wash
ngton City and returned, telling those who had for
some time been advocating the paying by the gov
eminent of loyal men for their negroes, that they
might cease the advocacy of such measure-that
it was preposterous and would never be DONE
Whais said he after we Speaking of the soldiers)
have been forced from our homes served three years
in the army, and lost all we had now taxed to paw
for the negroes l tell you we will never submit
to it.
But he now says, am opposed to any amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States and
of the State of Tennessee but wants them as thew
were. This would restore the institution of slavery
or enable the former s)ave-owner (of whom Col.
Witt was onel to recover pay for the negro. In
1866, when fresh from the war, he was opposed TO
this, perhaps because bis OWE suferfngs were fresh
in his view, or the mangled and bloody forms Of
rvofh HE -.
whom he now proposes TO place in power, were fresh
in his recollection. Or it may have been that at that
time be saw no chance to get pay for his dear mig
gers" the treason of Andy johnson not vet having
developed itself and rekindIed the spirit of the
South in opposition TO the just and equitable de-
mands of the government. He thought it most pru-
dent 10 remain with the great Union party, who had
saved the country; but with the attempt to resusc
tate the old democratic and rebel parties, he saw
coupled chance to get pay for his negroes, and i'm
mediately commenced denouncing Congress as a /
body of usurpers and tyrsn.s. Even the State Gov
eminent of Tennessee, which he had helped to re- |
organize and set foot must come in for its share
OF abuse thus denouncing his own acts and meas
ures TO which he fairly committed himself after the
mos candid reflection aad mature dsliberation.
Even his old companion in arms, General Stokes,
whom he once wished nominated as candidate foz,
Governor of the State, is now being denounced by
him RS corrupt politician and INSCRIPTIONS dema-
gcgue; but this is the way men used TO do when
they turned rebels The first act was to abuee and
denounce his former Union friends And such is
the course they now pursue Col Witt now de-
nounces Congress and Gov. Brownlow; accuses
them of reckless and extravagant expenditure of
the public money; complains that they have ruined
the country by exorbitant taxation, but is still will
ling to tax the people a billion and half more to
pay dsloyal .slaye-owners for their slaves From
what have already said, il may be seen that he
seeks not his country but bis own sordid interest
and is firm in principle longer than il subserves
his individual purposes and aims. First, be is for
changing the Constitution of the United States and
Of the State of Tennessee, so as to forever forbid
and exclude involuntary servtude except for crime
Now be wants the Constitution as it was, which
would again incorporate The institution Of slavery
He was once for the extreme punishment of leading
rebels, but he is now reconciled with them-tbey
have promised him office and pay for his negroes.
He was once in favor Of the confscation of rebels
He now says they have suffered enough. !
he was once in favor of DISTINGUISHING rebels He
IS now for restoring them TO "all the rights and
privileges Of free and complete citizenship He
once petitioned Dr. Copeland to resign his seat in
he Legislature for an act that he now SAYS was
light. He was once the friend Of the Union party.
BE is now in the embraces Of the rebel party.
Where is his consistency and what man of settled
policy Of either party vote for him The Union
nan can't support him. He has deserted their prin
,ples DR.. Copelands friends can't reasonably sup
oort him. Yet they can now make tool Of him to Z
10 their dirty work, which they are ashamed Of and
AVE too much pride Of character to do. Many of |
hem win not even be willing to stoop to ask him {
0 do even that for them. They prefer rather to {
ave a man TO perform that dsreputable work upon
whom they can rely. Hence l can't tell where he |
will get his support, except down in Meigs, among
few hireling Copperhesds and -worshipsrs, I
nd they principally in bis own district and even !
here, am told, he viii be beaten. If so, then 9
truly will the way OF the transgressor be had" :
nd before he gets TO the Legislature the loyal pee
lie whom he has has now betrayed will make his .
Jordan hard road to Iravelp If he will now =
enounee his past glorious career as Union man
nd Federal officer we can but cut loose from him,
will most of bis old regiment They are not will
ng, after following him as leader for three years
bloody war against The enemies Of the country, r
YER whom hey triumphed in the field, 70 fol- s
w Col Witt into tbs rebel lines and there surren-
or the fruits of their iriumphs upon the held.- v
About face is part of tactics they never under y
God when in the face Of the enemy. The position s
Col Witt and all other soldiers ID its support, "
irtually Acknowledges that the rebels we're right
ere but pirates and freebooters in the war against
lie rebellion VIII any hcnorably discharged sol e
Ter consent to be thus placed before the country fl
June 9Th Ton @
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