Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-07

Do you suppose any loyal man in that
Legislature wanted Andy johnson to send
United States troops here Hadn't every
one of them pledged himself to fifty OF
sixty constituents to get them commis-
sions in the militia2 Didn't they know
that every soldier sent here would be q
rebel-a hell deserving, Godforsaken
Democrat?
"They have just ruined the militia
business. That's what they have done.
my loyal East Tennesseeans are not
| going down into the middle and western
counties, and then be deprived of the
legitimate spoils Of war by force oil
| Democratic United States forces.
That wasn't down in the programme,
Ally"
Here old Proc. paused, completely ex-
hausted, and motioned for glass oi
water.
He took swallow or two, and in a
more cheerful tone, said
) AFTER all, Ally, things are going we'll
enough, and need not worry over the
stupidity of the Legislative asses"
asked him how the State would 60.
He looked at me in amazsment
Mr.. Gator, l am really surprised that
you, of all men, should ask such foolish
question as thai"
hsstsned to apologize, saying knew
what the general result would be, but /
wanted to know the particulars.
This modified the old man, who is get
ting somewhat irascible in his old age,
and has 80 many people bethering him
continually, that his temper is none of
the sweetest.
Well, Ally" said he "the commits.
sioners of registration, as general thing,
are getting to know their business pretty
well, and report to me regularly. have
instructed them to register few Demo-
Gratis in each county, just enough, you
know, to exhibit to outsiders as q speci-
men of the lberality of our laws.
If, through the ignorance or disloy.
atty of the commissioners of registration
the Democrats get a majority in any
county, the fact is at once reported to me
by the Secretary of the League, and of
course have to dsfranchise the county
at once.
Zone or two counties shall allow to
go Democratic.
For instance, you know we always
say that whisky and Democracy 90 to-
gether, and in order to make this asser-
ton good / shall allow Robertson county
to go Democratic.
II don't want to be hoggish, Ally, and
there is no sense in taking a sledge ham
mer to crack goober, when you can do
it just as we'll with your fingers, and,
(Which between you and me is the gist of
the matter run no risk of smashing the
kernel.
"If didn't allow any Democrats to
vote, Ally, it might be used against me
up North, and would certainly lead to
divisions in my own party.
II am afraid, anyhow, that they
haven't got sense enough to run the ma
chine right when am gone"
Greatly pleased by the broad states
manship displayed in these remarks, and
acknowledging the instruction l had de-
rived from the contemplation of his vast
political acumen, ventured to inquire
how the Presidential election would go.
ITO tell the truth, Ally" said old
Proc, am not quite certain. If those
internal fools in the Legislature had let
well enough alone, we would have had
enough rebel outrages in Tennessee by
this time to have swept the North like
whirlwind Nop, / cannot tell how the
election will &c"
o" You don't imagine that Seymour will
be elected" said.
NO." be replied, because if the 0c.
tober elections are not satisfactory, Con-
gress will have to meet and do some.
thing"
"Whst can they do?"
That's exactly the trouble, Ally, /
don't know and they don't, but something
has got to be done.
Il can manage Tennessee well enough
il they can manage the North"
By this time the old man appeared to !
be weary Of my society, and left him.
He is the only statesman of our grand |
loyal Radical party who realizes the stu
alton in its true character, and has-the |
nerve to use the means which the occa-
sion demands to insure victory and su-
premacy for us
Our friend Stevens, now no more, was
a mighty man in our party; but l hon
estly believe old Proc. his superior.
Stevens talked well about the manner
in which be would execute loyal policy,
but Brownlow has not only devised a
policy, but be has carried il out in the |
face of sll opposition, with frmness that
has never been surpassed.
regret to see that certain Of our So
called loyal journals Of the North "a To-
cality, by the way, where true loyalty has
never been known, and, Of course, can
not be properly appreciated), the mani
Of A disposition to repudiate
Brownlow.
In 80 doing they only repudiste loyalty
itself
The more the matter is argued aud in
vestigsted, the clearer It becomes that in
Tennessee alone can true loyalty flourish,
and that Brownlow is its chief defender
Only By his policy can loyal meu,
being, as they always must be. in minor
Ity, rule disloyal generation.
Sor this reason ! AN proud TO be his
frieud and confdant.
Yours lovslly. Ally GaToR