Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-04
Of ibe Philadelphia Pres.
Letter from Occasional"


y
bevejusl left the House II Representatives, after
hearing the closing argument of Hon. Thaddeus
Stevens, Chairman of the Committee Of ReconatrnCs
ton, in support Of the resolution impeaching the
President The will never be forgotten, either
By the actors On the door or ths spectators in the
galleries There is nothing In our own history that
can be compared TO il; and as everybody Of note
seemed 70 be- present, doubtless some of our crest
artists of the pen and pencil viii give us seasonable
descriptions ind pictures of the whole proceedings
And never was there theme more tempting to the
candid observer Of human events and 20 the inqu-
rer into the philosophy Of these changing and in
structives times.
Mr. Stevens presented bis argument, and asked
Mr.. Mcpherson, Clerk Of the House, 20 read II
which he did 50 distinctly that every eat could
catch the weightv words Of the aged patriot who
though eDfeebled IN body, : ssil as nrtn and liked
IN bis great convictions, and s resolved upon the
Aeaansity 81 NsfpE sers-e szs 90 se@eEe dfsesses
as he Was twenty years ago. IT must speak for It.
self aud yet, worthy az Il was Of the subject aud
the time there were some other arguments poured
into this magnificent running debate that viii be
preserved and treasured In after ages among the
finest contributions 10 parliamentary records.
While Mr. Mcpherson was reading, the Old Com
moner, who is most frequently seated on Che left Of
the Speaker so to understand the business of the
House. and TO be heard easily by the presiding
officer, was an object Of general interest," and the
respect with which his warning words we're listened
| 10 seemed % impress him There were few who did
L
| drew Johnson denounced Mr.. Stevens and Mr.. Sum-
ner as traitors" and intimated that they were
gagged in plot 70 assassinate him and yet now t is
johnson who is Osllad 30 tia bar by Stevens while
Sumner lie waiting to set as one Of his judges No
body talks Of killing Andrew johnson; and a.
though the atmosphere full Of IunoTs that there
are good Democrats waiting to initiate John Wilkes
| Booth by numbering the Radical leaders, (see the
J late numbers of the national Democratic organ, the
| La Crosse Democrat yet do not doubt that the
! n, A in
sll who have led in it viii live honorably and long
| in the land.
The general order while the ayes and noes were
being called proved that sill sides felt that Andrew
| Johnsons hour had come" The Democrats were
not boiEtarous and the Republicans did not demon"
etrste their profound Joy as they looked forward TO
the general deliverence from the grevious bGrdens
he has laid 80 heavily upon the popular heart The
| result was announced by the Speaker without pa
rado, like the passage Of any ordinary bill, and the
crowded galleries separated without applause or
confusion leaving the House to settle the business
of appointing the COMMITTEES to sustain their aecu-
| sation before the Senate
You viii see We have not lost vote. Every Re-
pnboan was at his post eager 10 discharge his duty
Those who have hcsitated found cordially act
ing with those who have always advocated impeseh-
meGt; and the House is but copy and reflex,
and az echo Of The country at large.
II is an interesting study TO The hundreds of thou
sands Of Democrats who have cut loose from their
70 that organization, and now among the influential
adversares Of the Presidential APOSTLE all of them
tho indexes to that public opinion which points the
wsy to future Of unparalleled prosperity and
power
ror-strioken before the popular upheAval calls
upon the people $50 rise In their might and majesty
and eject the Goths and Vandals who have desecrs-
ted the temple Of freedom by their foul deedsn-
UIet the people therefore Il continues the
. 7 hn MAJ an hat
the frst blow may come ike thief in the night.
Let tho alarm be sounded from ocean 70 ocean, that
our Liberties are in danger of being oveEthTown BY
q base conspiracy, and Jet meetings % forthwith
called in every city town and village, that oxprcs-
siOn may be given % the indignant voice Of the ma
ton and that the people may prepare 70 protect and
defend the Constitution for the vndioation Of which
patriotic President is 70 be impesehed and de-
2 posed"
But alas the spirit thus called By the editorial
Glendower Do not respond. The worst Copper
heads stand appalled, before the result Of The psrHay
Of their Presidential instrument and all over the
land enthusiasm aud determination are found only
, among the Republicans. Having lost the confidence
! Of the whole army by prescribing in turn all the
1avorite military Chieitains--having Jailed 20 con-
! ouer from the Republican party Of the House q
single vote with the advantage Of the whole pat
ronage Of the General Government-havingg ground
under new expressions the loyal men Of the South,
D and subjected even the rebels 20 new distresses--
having FRUSTRATED labor and capital in every part Of
tho land-having Distracted every law necessary 10
the general welfare-wh0sa interest il Is to stand
forth in defence Of men proved BY their own acts
il not BY their own ccnfessioni e &c worthy only
e Of condemnation
. II they look 70 The South for help they will ind
that the demand f9T impeachment GENES ss loudly
j. from ihs loyal mon shere, Is from tho more pros.
porous North and if they turn 70 the old free States
o they find nearly every Governor Republican, and
most Of them officers who fought b7hTely Cor the old
aaE 10 tho rebellion. Gesry Of PeunsylvRuias Ward
: Of Ncw jersey, Fsnton Of Now York, Burnside Of
khoao Island, Bullock Of Massachusetts, Chamber
4 lin % Maine, Smith Of Vermont Smyth Of New
4 Hampshire, Fairchild Of Wisconsin, Grape Of
n Michigan, Ogesby Of Illinois, Merrill Of Iowa,
e Foreman Of West Virginia, Brownlow Of Tennessee,
e Hayes Of Ohio, and Baker Of lndnna--theso are
IS al Rspablicans heart and soul with Congress IN us
8 Present movement and sending here thaiF words Of
grateful cheer % the faithful representative Of the
u pe'plo.
> How many Of therr9k and hle Of the Union army
q vii respond y the appeal OF the rebel politicians,
% with Grant sherman, Sickles. George II. Themss,
e Pope, Swayno, Candy, Schoaeld, Logsn, Mesde
j. ana hundreds Of their recent leaders ranged The
. side Of C0ngreFs. How many Of the Boys in Blue
= OF Pennss lvana willing 10 train In the ranks
o. the sympathizers With treason How maly 81
= thu Ssesd Army Of The Republic, whose vast OF
b. genlzaion srstnhes from 70 sea- reaching ints
Iu every hamlet OF he nNffou--horg many tbs