Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-25
Tor IN Thlg.
Theory and Practice IN Ree0nstruc.
ff0u

Theory and Practice IN Ree0nstruc.
ti0n.
A few days after the surrender Of Leo and John
ston. was in the company Of 3 nusnber of Q. S.
officers, representing quite number Of States, when
the leading topic Of thought AID conversation WAS
What shall bs done with the States involved III the
rebellion The sentiment was generally expressed
that bat little difficulty would be found In reorgau.
izing and restoring tse Union proper that the des
perate failure Of the insurgents would lead to un-
qualified obsdisncs to the laws and demands Of the
Government; ana that those who hsd been most re-
beilioas would, for their own personal good as well
as thst Of the country, be most sctive in showing
good faith to wipe out the wrong they had commit
ted. was a listener until ny opinion was asked
when expressed convictions, Of which then felt
conscious, and of the correctness Of which have
not since, nor do now, doubt-namely, that the
rebellion had been deeply seated, long nursed we'll
nurtured and deliberately planned, and that its ad-
herents would be hard TO conquer and snbdue,
though disarmodi aud hence the ooly sure mode Of
reconstruction would be to provide each of the
States in rebellion with an egicent military gov
eminent conforming Ear as possible to the forms
of civil government, but well supported. and en-
forced By the military arm, ard 50 continue until
the popular mind and heart were educated and
moulded to loyalty that this end might be reached
in some Of the States in few years, and in others
It might be the work Of half life time; bnt that
until the popular feeling was not only submissive,
but attached as g supportive to the Government Of
the United States, The fe liberty and property Of
the legal people niust be protected BY system of
government nnder the active control Of the Con-
gress of the United States
l woald ask the question, is this not practically
true say practically, for the past two years have
been those truly made Of practical events Let US
take Tennessee for example, aud Missouri, too, If
you please. Eore We have in point of fact, the
most efficient snd thorough radically republican
government in the Union a State Government
standing in the great moral foreground far in ad-
vance of its ssterhood and with all the elements Of
success, so far IS its machinery is concerned and
from its Governor down NAMED by as resolute set
of walk the soil Of earth but still It is found
necessity indispensable to use the military arm Of
power, not only under militia organization, but fire.
quently the active force of the regular u s. army.
Why2 Simply from the fact that the elements of
the late rebellion though smal compared with other
Of the States rebelng, is here in its force not alone
In dsguise but stalking forth in the broad light of
present history and making itself known rs pow
era power which, with all the vigilance of civil
and military officers, both destroys and endangers
life and property AS an illustration there is Sc
cret organization various parts Of the State called
Kuklux," who, TO give them the benefit Of the
most favorable eonstruc ton they place upon them
selves assume to take the Law into their OWL hands,
and do for themselves and friends what they say the
State Government ought TO do for them, or what
they assert they have right TO DO In other words
they claim the fullest rights liberties and powers Of
perfect citizenship denying the power and right OF
the General and State Governments to Abridge their
rights and powers because of their treason and re-
beion and hence, what they assert they ought to
be permitted to do as rulers under the law they
boldly assay to do above and IN spite Of al law.
admit that the active partizaas Of this clan are not
greatly numerous, but safacieatly so to do much
mischief and whilst large number of those who
we're identified with the rebellion deuounoe and
heartily condemn the Kuklux, yet anosher large
number say nothing openly, and, perhaps, do moth
ing, but ehuekle over the movement and privately
and inwsrdly say all right and would rejoice to see
the Kukluz become the ruling power of the State
But in this connection lei ne say, tho rebel Kuklu1
in Tennessee ars missing the mark. They are bu
whetting dagger to be driven to their own heart
and those Of their friends for with the presen
controlling loyal force in Tennessee and its RAPID
influx of true men from other States, such little re
bellions will DO swept from the State or ground t.
powder. The loyal radical government Of on
State is no child's play, but the work and power o
determined men.
alluded TO this state of affairs here and now bu
as an illustration Of The truth Of tho seutimen
which set out with And If Tennessee and Mis-
souri,, with their powerful loyal element to com
menee with, arc only able to man their vessels witt
the timely aid Of the military what may be OK
pected of the other States which, if they start on
now, must struggle with vastly increased dificul
ties. It may be possible that if even Tennessee AM
Missouri had remained few years under an active
efficient military government, opening thoroughly
every county to the safe and secure influx Of emf
gratis, that ten years hence would have found us
States on safer ground, aud the citizens more unan
imously loyal; and hesitate not 20 say that th
States of Kentucky and Maryland would be greatl
improved III every FesPeSe iVOA'uS AOs Ouly W bH
public good but to the best interests Of every pr
vate citizen, by few (and possibly not reryJsio
years schooling under thorough military govern
ment supporting and enforcing the civil form an
administration.
What is,most TO be feared is the advantage
sought and taken by the rebellious element in th
organization Of political parties, having one sig
on the hand and quite different one IN The hear
IF we may safely Judge of the character Of th
tree by the quality of Its fruit, unfayorable d.
eision must be made as to large mass of the reb'
element. How scrupulously they hsye avoided giV
ing public aid eountenance and support to our rs
publican governments State or Generali The
have only done SO when they could not help them
selves a forced tribute is worth but little if an
more than the name. It may, know, be we
! pleaded for them that they have had bad leade
! for the last two years, Lorenzo Thomas Johnso
. of Washington, d. O. but it simply proves an in
portant fact, namely the course they i7itting
!, CO. After all, It may be blessing TO the countT
that so good an opportunity has been offered TO II
veal the fun impressions Of the moccasoned fee
! Now, the American people have full field OF ph'
, tograpbs. Let them look well 70 the picture ga
lerv and it is TO be hoped that the American Coz
press will abate nothing in its determined vigor an
its will and acts to protect the loyal citizens OF
, covarnnopt on every foot Of soil over which ]
! hammer floats and that rs work OF reconstructio
I'll IL spcb a. to stand The severest tests Of stoT