Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-04

would be ABBOTT the last man that would recon- Ine1e
or accent Of any terms for reconstruction that wonio
not offer fun security for the future, even II you
might be persuaded By myself and others 70 waive
an indemnity for the past.
was grisved and Disappointed, while showing
nv respectso YOU as President Of tke United States
20 fad mynslf listening 10 what appeared TO me an
IN 7rise and unmerited conaure Of the measures
which e large majority Of the peoples representa-
tves believed 20 be right and the mildest measures
for recopstruction that could be adopted with any
chance Of establishing aE.iee, OF OF promoting the
general welfare. -.
I with tbougsnds Of othors who labOred to aid the
Government in putting down the rebellon, would
have rejoiced if Congress couldh have found all the
yeportH OF the continued persecution OF Union men
throughout the South 70 be groundless and false.
The whole Republican party would have reioieed
II Congress could nave found il safe 20 admit the
members offered from Southern States ct once 10 q
fua share in the Government.
This being my wish, does not authorize me TO
denounoe the msjority Of Congress- and accuse them
OF being Radicals and traitors hanging Oh the
skirts Of q Government which they are trying 70
destroy"
It was said Of oldthe sin Of iDgratitnde is worse
than that Of wtchcrafs.
To my mind, our nation must live IN vsEiastlng
infRmy Il we fail TO secure full measure o. Ju1tye
20 an unfortunate race Of men, who we're oFlg
hunted down in Gkeir own country anu CaILi01 %
and sold like beasts into an abjeot slavery win al
The eBsls1ea rseo has tbs strongest possible
claim for kindness as well as justice, at the hands
~ fIe people and Government of the whole coun-
try ana more especially from the people Of the
south. These unfortunsJe slaves have done great
portion Of the labor that has fed ard clothed the
whites and blacks of the Southern country.
Az true as the lsborer Is worthy Of his hire, 40
trus "a It that We, az nation, cannot withhold Jus
tice and equal rights from race of men that has
fought and bled and labored 70 defend and protect
the Union OF States in the hour Of our nations
grebtest extremity.
The enemies Of our country and Government are
now trying to persuade the community to believe
that q war Of races would result from giving the
black man the same measure Of justice and rights
which the white men claim for themselves.
This will be found 20 DO groundless fear. Our
national danger viii always result from unequal
and partial laws. We cannot mako laws which
viii opprsss Rnd keep in ignorance the poor, with
out bringing on ourselves and our country the just
Of righteous God, who viii reward us
as a nation according to our works. indulge the
hope that you will see before it is entirely too late
the terrible danger Of taking counsel with Northern
men 10 sympathy with rebels who fought the Gov
eminent with sl the earnestness Of desperation to
accomplish the destruction of our Government, in
ltesd Of taking counsel with those friends who
elected you-frieads who have been and are as de
trous you possibly be 20 secure the adoption
Of every measure calculated 70 promote the sub
EaDtis welfare Of all parts OF common country.
With my best wishes for yourself and the pros
perity and happiness Of the nation,
/ remain, truly yours,
PETER CooPER,