Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-18
AN ADDRESS
To the LOYAL People or Tennessee.
Greeting:

erecting:
Fr14ow.C CITIZENS Unable 10 appear upon The
hussings and address you in person, as / would
much prefer doing, and desiring to submit some
important considerations for your attention, mus.
avail myself Of the press. In doing this have but
single objeet-the good Of the country through
the success Of the Republican party.
] am no candidate for Office. / shall not be-
Through the bsllot-bcz, in August last, and more
recently in the General Assembly, through your
Representatives, you have conferred upon me The
Two highest Offices in the gift Of the State The IN
precsdented majority OF the former re-eleeting me
Governor Of Tennessee and the decisive vote in The
General Assembly, by which was elected 10 rep
resent this State In The Senate Of the United States
Gs complete evidence that my humble efforts in re-
storing and maintaining The government OF our "a
theirs are approved, are certainly very gratifying.
Thee Offices bestowed with such remarkable oheer-
fulness and unanimity, I'll the measure Of my am
bition As S compensation for any lsbors and sac
rifoe, may have rendered in the common cause
Of our country, they are ample. But they bear an
other and a higher Specification. They are not
imply nor chiefly honcrs or compensstiens. Thew
impress gpon me your estimate of the value and
Importance Of those enduring principles Of right
and freedom for which We have together-and not
10 vain-bsttled against the banded and armed enc
niea Of free republican government More, per
hsps, on account Of my fidelity to these principles
than fer signal abilities have been thus oonstitu-
ted one Of your leading Office betrers and entrusted
with the maintenance and preservation Of our civil
and religious liberties. Be assured fsllow-citizeus
it shall be my earnest endeavor 70 the utmost e1-
tent Of ny abilities 70 fulfill the high trust you have
committed 70 my hands.
In the conscientious discharge Of my official trust
/ may have given offence 10 some Of our Radical
friends in different psrts Of the State have been
urged to set asido certain elections and to dismiss
certain officers whom ] had previously commits
stoned From lack Of the requisite authority in the
premises, have been compelled 10 decline doing
so have also been solicited 10 a number Of ooun-
lies 20 set aside the registration, which for similar
reasons, has been found imprsctiosble The allu-
tons are made 10 vindioate my own action in the
csses named, and 10 say that such action, however
uppleaaant or inoonvenent 70 certain parties 1t the
time, cannot Justify them in crisis like the pres
eut In being ukewarm in the support Of our cause.
From several counties IN Middle and West Ten
uoss-e have received earnest appeals 20 send COM
panie Of the State militia 10 suppress the operations
Of lbe Kuklux bands-roving organizations Of ma
rauders and outlaws-to whose lswless deprodations
some Of the loyal citizens have unhsppily fallen
viotima / have been unable 20 afford them this
relief. for the reason that have had no militia at
nv command. The Legislature with view 10
economy, repealed the military law. Supposing
they Understood and fairly represented thewishoof
their constituents, hsve interposed no objection.
I now doubt the wisdom snd propriety Of the action
Of the General Assembly as TO the military.
Whatever injury may accrue in consequence, 70
loysl men in those counties, ! am unwilling that
the responsibility shall rest upon me. 1t must lie
upon others. Since the above was written, few
dsys ago, the Legislature has enacted military
bill the provisions Of which show that however
we'll disposed the majority may have been who
voted foz IL the trainers oFiginators Of the bin
certainly designed TO defeat the purposes for which,
On lie face, il shows it was intended. In my iudg-
meni, these outbreaks and violence towards loyal
men are only a sample on small scale of VIVA,
,ssuld become general throughout the State should
the rebel party In any event gain the political as
cendsncy among us
From the number and character Of the letters
incurred IN upon me from al parts OF the State, in
regard 10 the appointment Of County Commission
,rs under the provisions Of the law TO indemnify
lo,sl citizens for Losses sustained during The war
an ssissod that in many Of the counties dissats-
faction viii prevail IS 70 the appointments made
When those provisions are considered, all will
gnsrate me from blame in reference 10 those APP
nointmsnts The law directs that the Representa-
i've, from the several counties shall designate the
Commissioners 70 me, and that shall commission
sheu. 1. will be seen, therefore, thai l have no
ether agency in the matter than simply 70 execute
he orders Of the General Assembly These stste-
rsnss are net made to impuie blame, but oHly 'e
prevent Misunderstanding.
Rurao-s are extensively current that number 81
fraudulent State Bonds are in circulation. This s
done BY interested speculstorA ami partzans 70 IN
lure the credit of the State Bonds and reduce their
market value and also TO bring the character Of the
state government into disrepute. For these ~
morr there s no foundation, whatever, IN fact The
State bonds are numbered and signed by tne Bee
rotary ef State and BY the Comptroller Of the ssste
in their own handwriting. Ny name appears to
each bond IN the handwriting Of ray private secre
tSEy. Specimens Of my sigtature by him, sttesied
BY The Comptroller and Secretary Of State, are fur
nlshsd to the banking houies in New York. Inc
whole story il fabricsiion-she work OF speoula-
ton and bad neE seeking 10 snjure the credit OF the
State and 70 deprecists the price OF the bonds
have not hitherto attempted &c rePel tbe mAiig-
nAnt ssEAults made upon me in and out Of the Leg
stature, by few pretended Republicans Of small
cAlibrs. have kept my eye rather, upon the more
eoWGrcly yet prominent individuals who have ~
sfisatea these vile assaults, al a time when they
knew was physically unable to reply TO them with
tongue OF with pen The time has now arrived,
when, in my Judgment, should notice them. This
propose 70 do BY the pen rather than the tongue.
The Loyal people Of the State well know that from
the commencement Ct the late rebellion, have
breasted the storm met every issue boldly and firm
" and shrunk from no responsibility devolvng up
on me- II Is equally well known 70 some chat some
Of those who have led OF in these grcss assaults
upon me are men who have skulked al danger, va
oillstinR between the contendng armies to avoid
on the one hand CONSUMPTION by the rebels, and on
the other 70 escape service in the Union army il
defense OF the Gag. Thus they have alternately
claimed 70 be Confsdsratez and Union men. Some
Of them when pressed by the eonscripting officers
actually applied 10 the rebel authorities for COM
missions to raise troops for the rebel service do
not propose 70 remain quiet and be hunted down py
that class Of men. appeal from their envious AS
pensions TO another and better class OF citizens
submit the facts 10 the loyal people Of Tennessee
Let them judge and pronounce between my a'sAi-
auis and myself I am willing that the Judgment