Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-21

actsr of the man, or because they expec
! in this manner to drive people awsy
from his support and hence the Nash
vile Banner, in an elaborate article
which appeared liz its issue of August Ia
says that ANDREW johnson had IS much
influence in the defeat of prescription in
this State as he had to do with the
eclipse of the sum-" Does the Banner
mean to say by this, that this man,
whom he says is possessed of heroic
qualities" of courage and endurance as
revealed in his unequal contest with the
Washington oligarchy, did nothing in the
great conflict (which has proclaimed
freedom to all Tennesseeans H' Does
the Banner so soon forget the state of
affairs in Tennessee when the ex-Presis
dent returned to his home in GreenYille?
Does he fail to remember that at that
time tyranny and prescription had been
carried to such extremes that the whole
State stood silenced by fear, overcome by
oppression, and almost hopeless OF the
future? He cannot surely forget that
glorious day when Andrew johnson was
greeted in the capital Of the State, by
thousands upon thousands Of the oppress~
ed and downtrodden people of TennesS
see, and when that man, whose life has
been a series of brilliant successes" by
his powerful expositions OF the corruption
and misrule of radicalism in Tennessee
and throughout the Union animated the
heart of the masses and gave renewed
hope to the downtrodden people of Ten
nessee; and how, in all parts of the State
sometimes in the face of threats, vio>
lence and mobs-he stood, unawed and
unmoved, in defence of the same princi>
pies, for and IN defence Of which he re-
ceiVed the constant support of the Re-
publican Banner during four long and
somewhat weary years."
But the Banner feels that he has fully
acquitted himself of any obligation to
the ex-President for his defence Of cons
stitutional liberty. The question arises
here, what higher claims to public favor
can any man have than his faithful de-
fence of constitutional liberty, and more
especially in the times and under the
to which allusiOn was
made by the Banner? 1t is well known
to the Banner, and to the country, that
during the four years alluded to,
corruption, prohigacy, and total
disregard of constitutional obligations
reigned without fear or shame,
and almost without rebuke, save
what came from Andrew johnson, whose
greatest crime in the eyes Of the Banner
seems to be that he would be Objectior'
able to General Gran. and the Radical
members of Congress. Certain it is, he
is not Objectionable to the Conservative
portion of Congress, or of the Northern
masses; and if it be truly desirable to
send man to the Senate who will not
prove Objectionable to Grant and Con-
gress, it were better to send Stokes
at once, and then we would give
perfect satisfaction TO the persons
and powers mentioned. How
his election would invite further I'm
fractions of the constitution" it is hard
for us to see, since the Banner admits
that "fOr four long and somewhat weary
years. he supported him on account oil
his heroic defense of the constitution,
and since he would be in direct and open
and violent (if you please), yet able and
powerful opposition to the President and
the Congress, who have claimed to set
the constitution at defiance and legislate
outside of it.
We are totally adverse to wrangling
with the Banner, or anybody else, over
this senatorial question but we ask for
Justice to all the public men whose
names and whose labors have contribuN
ted to redeem our State from misrule
and tyranny, and foremost amongst these
we rank Andrew johnson; and we do
not hesitate to say that, in our opinion,
he could better represent the State IN
the United States Senate than any man
vet named in connection with the place,
and that if elected, we should expect
him to give offense to Gen. Grant and
the corrupt Congress, by resisting its un-
warranted strides in the direction of abs
solute power, and in exposing the cor
ruptions which stink in the nostrils OF all
honest men and patriots and we hest :
tate not further to say that these are the
sentiments of large majority OF the
people who supported Gov. Senter in the
late election.
IF others who are named IN connection
with the office are less Objectionable to
Grant and his Radical friends, it is be-
cause they are less able than the ex-Pres-
ident, and less disposed to make war on
the miscreants who rule and riot at the
national capital. However true it may
be (but we deny it, that the name OF
Democracy is suggestive of secession,
war, subjugation and ruin" certain 1t IS
that the name of johnson has no such as
ISOLATION. True to the interest of the
people before the war-deVotedly at
taehed to the Union, Mr.. johnson
adhered to it under all circum-
stances, through prosperity and
adversely: through glory and defeat; and
when the war ceased, and is object was
attained, he ceased his war on the SOuthr
ern people, and through four long and
| irving wears battled for the constitution
| with the same zeal and ability with
which he had struggled for the Union.
Though prosecuted and maligned, threat
ened and insulted, arraigned and i'm
peached, he stood fearlessly by the con-
| stitution of his country and did more to
avert the wrath Of the unserupuloui
tyrants of the North against the Southern
people than any other man.
And now, forsoOth, by that very wal
for constitutional liberty he has incurred
the displeasure of Grant and his tools
the people of Tennessee must turn thelr
backs upon him, and confer their honor
upon some man who will please thes
enemies of freedom.
But the people will do no such thing
Andrew johnson has stood by the peo'
pie, and the people will stand by him II
spite of all those whose prejudices impe
them to advise a contrary course.