Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-08
THE KNOXVILLE WIG
Knoxville, Tenn, April 8, 1858.
A Remarkable Letter.

The following powerful letter 10 Andrew John
Son was written by distinguished clergyman o.
Washington City. II Is remarkable for the clear
pes with which The Presidents duty is pointed ou
snd for the esrnestness with which he is implored
b lift himself up 20 Che height Of the great occa
sion, but the most especially for the almost pro-
phstc words contained in the last paragraph but
enc. Il first appeared in the Washington ChroBi-
III Of the gsth, embodied in communication Of
Co Fornsys:
WAsHEoroN, February 10th, 1866.
h President Aadrev JohHson
sIR:-Some days ago, at the close Of our inter
yisw, spoke of a desire 70 write you before long
o. tho vital subjects OF the day, which intlmation
rou we're pleased kindly 10 receive. Ny idea then
vas 10 make an attempt TO give you what believ-
81 % be the Christian conviction Of this nation, so
lar as understand il, in regard 30 your duty and
he duty Of the Government towards those who
have been in rebellion against the United States,
and towards The colored race which Providence has
planted In our midst
But while have not found time 10 carry out my
Intention according 20 the first idea, feel an urgent
md unaccountable impulse this morning ~ address
you al once and 10 place before yousuch considera-
bonB have strongly taken possession Of my mind,
D thinking Of and praying for you as ] have done
during The week past.
FiTst. There must be an indication Of our Gov
sfnment againt the rebellion by course OF penal
iustice ii This fails We cannot stand as nation.
II il for yo % sec 20 10 that the Consttution is up
hsld and the laws executed in this respect. If you
asvsr one hairs breadth from this line OF conduct
YOUR trouble may be postponed for season, out Il
III CONF, and will DO only the more terrible and
consuBsing when It does come.
Second. There must be equal and exact Justice
Zone 10 the freedmen 90 the extent Of yiping out
any distinction OF color in the enjoyment of the
Franchises Of citizenship Further than this it is
Dot necessary 30 60 but up 30 this the people of this
tountry must come sooner or later, and there will
BE- no solid or lasting peace among us until that
time.
Third II huch are your own convictions, why can
you not rise up 10 this point and say 90 this nation
from your high place that such your convictions
and that SO far rs it is possible, without transcend
ing your constitutional power you will have 10 la
Dor 10 accomplish these purposes 1t seems to me
ihht you might do this regardless Of all oompica-
tons Of The past the present. regardless of what
you yourself may have said or done heretofore
which could be adduced 90 the contrary, no matter
bow bitterly you may be denounced for doing this
BY those who viii oppose you in IT,
The great question of this hour and for the future
ID our country is, viii tho PrnsidAni af cha Uniied
States administer justice TO the whole people, deal
Ing out 20 each far as lies 10 his lawful and pro
per power, the portion that belongs 70 them-to the
white and the black 10 the loyal and the rebeiousG
y
bad in this land 10 do an immense good to your
nation and indirectly 10 the whole family Of man
bind. Will you can you rise up 70 this grand occR
tion2 Il s the most solemn con viction of my soul
That if ySu viii, if you can God will be with you,
and protect you through il al. But if you allow
yourself 10 be brought low--if you become bewil-
dsred by the thousand dissertations Of human pas
sion or prejudice which now dsrken around your
psth--if you become weak through fear Of threats,
of exposures, or through the Establishments aud Sc
ductions Of mans batteries and promises, that
you virtually fail 10 meet The responsibility and
iulfll tho duty which the God of nations has as
gned 70 you in this great day, then not only you
yourself viii sink under the weight of your own
nfaithfulness but oalamties tenfold moro dreadful
ihan any we have yet experienced viii fall upon
5his country.
Nay more, and this is the presentiment which has
faunted me for days together and which seems TO
be like the solemn warning of melancholy fate
snd Il is in fear which takes this fhape, namely
That you will not be removed from your high Of
Zee as your predecessor was, by assassination, but
you will Be subjected 10 a fate worse than death
ihe open and everlasting disgrace which viii, in
fome way or other, how l know not, but iviu ~
soric s0ay arise in The inscrutable Providence of
BOD. sesra 20 sec the chssm already opening st
your test. oh, while II Is time, pray you, honor
"a sir, withdraw yourself from the abyss Look up
7lone % heaven for help--the Lord Jehovah viii
1,rengthen you from on high.
Now may add a single word My only motive
addressing you is one Of personal friendship but
pore than All 10 utter in your the voice Of what
believe 70 be the Christian admonition of this
Country in this momentous hour Of trial. And if il
Fss Tie custom Of an ancient monarch 70 employ a
herald who should daily remind him Of bis mortal
BY, am sure President of the United States viii
Rndiy receive a friendly but frank and solemn
warning from one Of his fellow-citzens, however
humble
With sentiments OF profound consideration.