The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-02-19

sented the use Of the following letter
from Secretary Fletcher, to friend of
his at Shelbyville. 1t was not intended
for publication, but as it contains the
views and convictions of the writer, il
has been deemed not amiss to give them
to the public: t.s
SECRETARY OF STATES OFFICE,
Nashville, Tenn, Jan. 20, 1869.
DEAR SIR: thank you for your let
Ter approving my published views as a
middle ground platform on which all
may stand who desire a pacification of
the country, and restoration of the, old
era of harmony and coed will among
our citizens.
Thirty years of agitation and four
years of q great civil war and now four
years of malignant government have
sadly idemOralized the country. A dis
regard of the Constitution and laws by
our rules, the enactment and enforce
ment of laws originating in passion in
stead of principle, and the appearance
of masked mobs and Of repeated asso.
Citations are all the outcroppings Of that
deplorable decentralization. These trou-
bles will never end while either party
trolling minds of all parties must make
concessions, meet on mutual ground, as
certain the true principles of govern
ment and proceed from principles and
not from passion. For four years have
looked on with an anxious eye at the
progress of affairs in this State. The
memory seeks in vain for some measure
looking to the permanent prosperity of
our people. AS native born son of
Tennessee, have grievcd over the con-
ditionof our people. am ready to
unite with any and all persons in an eff
fort to restore peace to this distracted
commonwealth. But am not ambi-
tious and do not desire prominent
place in the foreground ofany movement
1t has been mortifying to me that self
ish men (and their name is legion) attri-
butte my late publications to lust for
Office. These men, judging others by
themselves, are wholly unable to un-
disinterested motives, believe me to be
bidding for some Office. My motives
are two-fold. First, and principally. to
point out and give impetus, if possible,
to true national principles in the Re-
publican party in this State and, sec.
ond, to point out and protest against
those usurpations which are rapidly
causing the State Government to de.
generate into miserable despotism-
hoping to justify my friends in the sup.
port they have given me. The respon.
sibility of such a step was great, as YOU
may have observed. Mere dissent tC
the official acts Of the Governor is pro-
nounced by the Knoxville Wig az
"treason against mankind"
| | desire no office. | desire only to bt
allowedt@plcad for the restoration o.
pcact and the administration Of tht
Constitution, the repeal of obnoxious
laws, and the faithful enforcement O
all the laws until they may be regularl!
repealed. .... -......
In speaking of the existing admins
tration, have used strong language.
dot thereby intend to be understood a.
questioning the validity and excellency
of our present State government. be
lievc it to be as legal and as much en-
titled to our obligations as before th,
war. In short, that it is as Legitimate
as the government of England or New
Y ork, and is government excellent il
form. The Franchise Law, in its per
petual and unconditional featWses, ant
the machinery Of that law, is al that
condemn in our form Of government
The great evil is not in the spirit of til
government, but in the usurpations O
the Executive Department, and the pas
Isage Of partisan and class laws calculat
I. ed to irrtate and infame instead Of t
heal and improve the decentralization O
the country in its social relations.
The most fearful feature in our affair
is that militia is considered the panace
for all social evils. Militia are intende
by our Constitution to quell Insured
tion and rebellion, but individual case
of murder, however frequent, does nc
amount to insurrection or rebellion
We have had simple lawsuit decide
in the city of Nashville by the use @
militia. 1t will take but a step more t
introduce this agency in the collectio
of debts and the assessment of damage
and as a means of carrying elections.
am amazed at the silence with whic
the people submit to these wrongs
When the Governor, q little over yea
ago. in we'll considered State pape
announced his determination to appoin
all the officers of the State or not, as h
pleased, expected to hear one unani
nous protest from all parties and frol
the General Government. But instea
of that he was quietly elected to tn
United States Senate. 1t is true this us
sumed power has since been exercise
only in the cases of Judges and Attol
neys.g general and few county officer
but nevertheless, the power is assume
and submitted to and operates CON
plete change of the Government from
republic to dcspotism.
If the Governor has power to appoir
the judicial, he has power to appoiL
the legislative and the executive officer
for the warrant the schedule) unde
which he acts applies to all alike. In
late number of the Governors pape
this power is reaffirmed and proclaim
ed. But it is commendable in the pee
pie to be quiet and submissive, whe
resistance would only entail upon theI
additional sufferings. They must wa
until their wrongs have attracted TIL
ear of the General Government, whic
stands bound by the Constitution of tn
United States "to guarantee to them
Republican form of Government"
Sooner or later this will be done. TIL
weighty matters now upon the Pres
dent and Congress have only divertc
their attention. have an abiding fait
in the justice of the nation. That ju
; ticc may be slow, but it is certain.