Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-08-20
THE TENN ESSEE LESSON.
From the New York Tribuns. ]


There are two distinct objections 10 the
policy of perpetualing the de reimbursement
and exclusion from office of those who were
prominent supp rters of the late Rebellion
|. IL Is unjust aud unwise. THAT is our Oh
jection.) 2. II is impossible. 1--WE think
this should be conclusive with men like Gen.
Butler, though lot with those 50 invincibly
wise in their own conceit as Wendell Phil.
lips.)
Tennessee was reconstructed during the
agony of our great struggle, not by Con.
gress, nor by any Federal authority, but by
her own lighting Uniouists, led by Andrew
Johnson and ParsoD BrOwnlOw. These had
been persecnted, hunted, haTrassed by the
Rehels-had seen their uuarmed neigh burs
aud kindred shot 10 their own dwellings
| and duorN arts for 40 of use but devotion
to their country and they were naturally
in Ro amiable temper. Ga gaining the
upper hand, they proceeded TO deal with
| Rebels as the Rebels had dealt with them,
aud woulh have conliuued to deal had they
r, tanned their ascendency. They recon-
slructed their State on the principle enun-
ciated by Andrew johnson; "Loyal men
White or b ack, shall rule America ="
though il was not ill some two years since
| that they conceded to the Blacks the Right
| Of Suffrage. Aiter A. j. was called to
| Washington, they chose BrownlOw Cover.
nor, with Legislature to match as they
had previously, under A j. manipulation,
| chosen Lincoln and johnson Electors for
S6I; but Congress refused to count their
votes. In short, no jug handle was ever
more completely on one side ihan Tennes,
see so loug as The Rebels were vigorously
excluded from the registries Of legal voters.
But this was altogether too good flor
| a., k., ntr..A ttA 1.aN al.
able break mp came this Summer. Parson
BrownlOv, elected to the U. S. Senate, va.
Gated the Governors chair on the LIST Of
March last, and was succeeded, pro. tenn,
under the Constitution, boy De Wit G 5 N
| tsr, President Of the Senate-also an East
Tennessee 10y alist aud Republican. A new
Governor, as well AS new Legislature, was
required to be chosen by the People at the
regular State Election in August, and a
Republican State Convention was called
to designate the man. This Convention
quarreled and split--as Conventions are
apt to do when their choice is presume d
equivalent TO an election-the larger num-
uer Of delegates nominating Col. VIM. Is,
Stokes, an East Tennessee Representative
In Congress while the minority (who
claimed to be made 80 by dishonest returnsl
presented acting Gov. SenteT. SO they
famous performance Of the Kilkenny cats,
But Srnter had Inherited from Brownlow
the power Of changing at discretion the
registrars Of legal voters and, as bis pros
pect OF obtaining q majority of those al
ready registered was very doubtful, he soot
! began to appoint registrars. who were (DoI
unnaturally) intent on making y0tea fol
Senter. Ia little while, the Fifty Thous
aud who had been excluded from the reg
, istries because Of their alleged Rebel an.
. tecedents, began to understand that mat
: tiers were goiI & well for them at the regis
| l,tries, and swarmed thither Ia regiments
; Senter on the stump every where proclaim
1 ed his conviction that the time for genera
I enfranohisement had arrived. Even Brown
p low, strongly fAvoring Senter, came neArl,
{ up 20 this mark. OF course, those VIII
I needed Reconstruction were Tor Senter. q
5 Was very natural. The rulings of tho reg
istrars newly appointed by s. inter- becam
= day by day more liberal, though the defes
D Of Stokes was long ago certain. Nearl
e every new vote WAS against him; Il Ia que
Q tionabls that heTeceiyed a majority Of thos