Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-27
lNOHluAniOdteo'l
What Does it all Mean 7

What Does Ii all Mean?
Mr.. Editor During the past two months, the
people of Tennessee have been presented with what
choose to style class of State papers," under
the heads, "Senator Fowler on the Franchise y
with :; Observations by Ex-Gov. Foote; Secre-
tary Fletcher's Vindcation of Himself" Speaker
Richards Franchise Speech and Bill )" and Ex-
Gov. Browns Message to the Ku-Kux" My des-
ignation of these as State papers may DO open 70
criticism. As to that am careless My inquiry
is, What do they all mean? The message lie by
far the most able and patriotic of the class and
speaks well for the head and heart of its author
and, in one respect, constitutes quiet key to all
the former. Gov Brown discloses the fact that the
labors of those who have been seeking restoration
of the franchise have in all instances been defeated
by the hostile action of the Ku-Kux organization.
Now the question may be asked, have and do the
loyal people of the State and their representatives
acted prudently and justly in refusing to restore the
franchise whilst and so long, secret masked and
armed demonstrations are made through large dis
trcs of the State to the terror and loss of life of the
people, and manifestly by those of that class who
would exercise controlling power by the restored
franchise According to the tenor of their express
sions, Messrs. Fowler, Fletcher and Richards would
answer No TO the above questions; whilst the good
sense appreciation of Justice and of the proper force
TO be given to the laws of self protection on the part
of Gov. Brown will incline him to answer Yes
The game sought to be now played is a bold one
An effort to compel the people to act under the force
and fear of violence; and leading men, of what is
called the Conser vstive party, declare that these
acts of masked violence will continue until the laws
restricting the franchise Rnnulled and broken
down. If the authors of the " State papers re-
ferred to right in their conclusions they lead to
this that an element of society vicious and bad
as 20 be beyond the control of law will be harmless
if the restraints of law removed and that those
who ignore the forms OF law, and assume the right
to be supreme law unto themselves, will, if you
open the door to them and invest them with full
power make good c0nseTvators and administrators
of the law, we'll prime safeguards of the pub
lie peace. Such argument will do well for those in
whose special interest it is made, but for others
1t speaks not we'll for those placed on the watch
tower of public duty, but accords with the act of the
Shepherd who, to guard his fold against the wolves
breaks down his doors and invites them in averrng
that so great act of kindness would surely make
the wolves friendly with and to the sheep.
Messrs. Fowler and Fletcher have heretofore both
admitted that the restrictions the elective fran
chise were at the time made lawful expedient and
strictly necessary. The latter gentleman as late as
in November last, at the Republican jubilee in the
Hall of the House of Representatives, compared our
franchise laws to the necessary earth works and
block-houses of besieged army, and declared very
plainly that the time had not come for tearing them
down. Most of his hearers thought he then
right. What has since occurred to render those
block houses useless lie it because those against
whom they were built as q necessary defense have
changed from mere skrmishers to hand hand
1ghters2 Or does he simply mean to take back all
he said then and stick to and swear by what he says
noaU ? The public would like to know. In the ab-
sence of better dictionary the people will have to
let common sense make the definition and upon
those special Estate papers" the meaning will have
to be- that as the times have only changed for the
worse, the restricted, general thing, become
more hostile vindctive and swless, that the
sites OF the times have not changed, but that the
authors of those papers" have. Why have they
changed For the good of the country or them
selves Do they propose to surrender to the opera
tives and advocates of Kukluxism or do they in
vte those hosts 10 surrender to them? If the lat
ter which party apologies for past errors? or, in
all succeeding business transactions which side will
be entitled to the hOnors of the chair and the TespOn
sibilities of the purse.
If different state of affairs existed there might
be more colorado ground for to the authors
of those assumed republican papers; provided,
and always then, that Mr.. Fletcher would modify
the concluding paragraphs of his so as to be not so
thoroughly in spirit letter and proseology, like Col
Coyars numerous market house and pubc-square
campaign speeches
The different state of affairs above alluded to
would be this Let the masked bands of lawless
meu cease to exist as public terror in more than
half the counties of State; Or to say the very
least let the great body of that estimated So 900"
DISTINGUISHED Tennesseeans not only speak out
Brown has DONE but let them rise up in their might
put them down and suppress them, as they could do
il they would; then " State paper" especially for
the restoration of that law abiding and law enforc
ing class might not only appear, but would receive
the favorable action of the loyal people and their
representatives; but it is it will be it is.
glad that Mr. Fletcher has not the legal authority
to Ak the true definition of national Grant and
Colfax republican" as he seeks to do by making
exhibition of his own personal political outlines;
for it is manifest the definition, if it suited every
body else, would not be satisfactory to President
Grsnt-at least on his Mississippi levee platform
for it will be recollected that Gen. Grant recently
SAID to the Louisiansns, You (yourselves) must
remain under water until you show disposition to
greet aud receive Northern capitalists with such
feelings AS to induce and permit them to settle and
live among YOU That levee doctrine is about
right but it is exceedingly anti Fletcher in its char
acter and there is not much Fowler or Richards
about it. Ii is mostly Grant and Colfax.
But let US approach our inquiry little closer
The object of the papers referred TO, except Gov.
Browns, is maniestly designed to hammer out or
knock off enough material from the Republican
party to make organization with enough force to
give the color of dignity TO a nomination for Gov
ernor at the August election, for the benefit and in
the interest of the rebel-democrate party Let Re-
publicsns be on the lookout and guard carefully
those preliminary flank movements The days of
vigilsnt care have not yet passed, but are now at
their noon-tide glow. Justice"