The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-24
Mr.. Johnson at Knoxville.


Mr.. JouSsoN is electioncering for sena-
torship from Tennessee. EMERSON EThE-
RIDGE is bitterly and actively opposing
him. Mr.. JOHNSON was scrcnaded recently
in Knoxville and made speech. lie COM
mcnced by taking view of our Govern
mcnt. 1t was q popular Government.
There were two kinds of government. One
absolute, in which power is lodged in the
hands of one man the other popular, IN
which all power was lodged in the hands OF
the people. But the Government we have
had since the war was somewhat removed
from the popular form. 1t had been swing
ing from one extreme to the other Of both
forms. he illustrated by referring to Ten
ncssce. He contended that even now an
attempt was making to merge the Govern
ment into dcspotism.
Mr.. JOHNSON argued that the public
debt was chosen rs the means oil building
ND an empire. Men in power declared that
the debt of 81, 600, 900 was contracted
"to preserve the republic" and now it was
assumed tnas VIC HllIst SohNele VIZ NP"'''~
into an empire to pay the debt. Mr.. JOHN
son exclaimed, "My countrymen. before
I" God and this people tonight, would
rather that the republic was preserved and
"the debt let 60" Loud cheers.l
So this is Mr.. JouNsoS's card; and 1t
was warmly responded to by the mountain
population of East Tennessee, where the
Union strength of the war was found.
Mr.. JOHNSON declared that the fifteenth
amendment was a stride towards empire.
1t took away the power of deciding who
should be voters by the States and lodged it
with Congress, which thereby became sove-
reign He pronounced that amendment to be
in violation of the Constitution, which, with
reference to amendments, says "proyldcd
"that the Constitution shall not be 50
"amended as to deprive any State OF its
"equal suffrage in the Senate The Go
vcrnment now says to Virginia, until she
ratifcs the fifteenth amendment she shall
not be represented in the Senate.
lie cxciaims: Away with shallow cries
for party Let US form party strong
enough to save the Constitution and the
country!
The two following paragraphs gro in Mr..
JoHNsoN's best style, and will take with the
people:
..t "TnE B0NDHoLDERS.
"Where is all the gold and silver in the
country! Our paper money is from thirty
to forty per cent. discount. From lS49 to
1852 there passed through the mintS, re-
ccivinc the device of the Government, over
$500 900, 900 in gold and silver coin. The
largest amount of paper i'll circulation at
any time was 500, 900, 900. Where is this
gold and silver! As the paper money has
been pushed out the gold and silver has
been taken into the safes and the vaults OF
the men who control this 50 500, 900, 600
debt When the paper money vanishcs into
thin air these men will demand, seize upon
and control, the property of the country. 1t
is the best continuance ever made to make
"thc chaff Of the king better than the poor
mans corn" 1t is cracking the nut, taking
out the contents, and throwing the shell to
the people.
"a COMPARISON.
Glow does this matter stand Take the
widow of soldicr-what money do they
pay her in? The bondholdcr goes to the
Treasury, presents his coupons, and is paid
III gold and silver. At the next desk the
poor widows pension is paid in shinplas-
tcrs. She goes to market and pays dollar
and n half for dollars worth. He buys
dollar and half's worth for dollar. l
tell you to place the right men in power.
1t the deliberate design of men at the
head of your Government to change its
character. Unless you get back into the
safe mooring of the Constitution within the
next four years you arc gone. You may
Talk of narties hut this is the GREAT uucs-