The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
Hon. A. j. Fletchcr---The Diss0lv-
ing Dynasty.
SECRETARY or STATES OFFICE, !
Nashville. January 9, 1S69.(


SECRETARY or STATES OFFICE, }
Nashville, January 9, 1866
To the Editor Of the Press and Times:
am so much accustomed to injus-
hce and Misrepresentation of late that
u simple word spoken justly of me in
q newspaper is most gratefully appre-
|ciated therefore thank you for the
statement in your paper of yesterday,
that am "a Grant man and a national
Republican" No man has any right or
authority to speak of me otherwise than
as sincere and thorough National Re-
publican. That great party may have
committed excuses in the prosecution
OF great war, and in the management
of the still more difficult question ofre-
construction errors were unavoidable
and to be expected; but it is the party
that saved the nations life, and the par
ty to which we must look for the paci-
ficati OH of the country, and for protec-
ton 10 the loyal men of the South, and
| therefore give it my hearty support.
Not withstanding the above has been
uniformly and invariably my position
/ have been of late denounced as a
"Copperhead," conservative" and
LTdltOT " InC party koO COuStdub d'lu
persistent have been these charges that
many members of the Legislature who
voted for me for Secretary of State have
.ielt it due to them that should make
some explanation and defense. Regard
ing my recollection as sufficient de-
Tense, and not being an aspirant for
further promotion, | have SO far de-
clined to ask the public attention to my
party status. But justice to my friends
may require further explanation.
Permit me just here to say that /
have never spoken or written word
or performed an act with view to the
gubernatorial nomination, nor do in
tend to do so. Regarding such nomi-
nation as most unlikely, have not con-
sidered the question of acceptance.
The trouble in my case grows of the
fact that l have not been able without
doing violence to my convictions of
right to approve much of the policy of
the present administration of the State
government, especially of the eXecu-
tive department. The commanding po-
sition of the present Governor as the
popular head Of the party in the State,
and as the source Of power and patro-
mage, has surrounded him by class of
admirers who dcnounce every man who
dares to differ with him even in matters
of detail as wanting in party fidelity or
as ''going back on the party" The kind
personal relations which had existed
between the Governor and myself from
my boyhood, and the intimate official
relations which, by law, existed be-
| tween our offices made me extremely
reluctant to differ with him in his views
of State policy, or to dissent to any of
his official acts.
AS a consequence, for long time l
acquiesced in many doubtful measures.
But in the fall of 1867, His Excellency,
upon entering upon his second term,
sent in his message asserting his right,
under the schedule to the amended
Constitution, to appoint fall the officers
Of the State, both civil and military"
for the full terms provided by law for
snch offices. This power, coupled with
the power of removal, in my opinion,
at once destroyed the republican char
acter of the State Government. If the
Governor is right in this declaration of
his power, all elections held since the
war by the Legislature or the people
have been held by his permission-he
having the power to fill any vacancy
about to occur. When this position
was taken by the Governor felt bound
to protest against it openly and deci-
dedly.
subsequently, felt bound to dissent
to the management of the non-paying
railroads, the proposition to issue gold
bearing bonds, the use of militia instead
of county police, the administration OF
the machinery of the Franchise Law,
and many other minor matters not nec-
essary here to allude to. In all these
differences I have been conscientious
and reluctant, and have deeply regret
ted that could not harmonic with His
Excellency on all subjects. For if
could have done so, might have been
perhaps q very popular man in the Re.
publican party, and might have escaped
the denunciations which many of hi:
friends have heaped upon me.
Many have supposed that the differ.
self were of a personal character.
solemnly declare that such is not the
fact so far as am concerned.
Candor requires me to say that diff.
fer with some of our party as to the
temper with which ex-rebels should be
treated. The State Government should
have considered itself as standing il
loco PARENTS to the achOle people of the
State. 1t should have sought to allay
the strife among the children of Ten
nessee-to heal and soothe rather thar
to irritate and provoke dissensions-tt
cure up rather than tear open thu
wounds which the war had inflicted
upon the body polite. 1t was absolute
lily necessary that while the passions O.
, the people We're yet intlamed AMI heat.
ed by the war, that the victorious mi
nority should be protected from thu
majority. A partial and conditional
disfranchisement could not be avoided
/ Our mistake was that we made thu
Franchise Law sweeping and perpetua
!. offering no hope or inducement tt
the ex-rebels to become loyal.
Thousands of them would join oul
party to-day, but we see they can no
get to US without perjury in taking al
} iron-clad oath. This excessively severe
policy of our party is about to produce
its natural consequences. THIS aafrOu
: policy IS about to explode for the qvaa
of CALDER. If we had allowed thu
courts or the Legislature, or If we hai
provided special tribunal, to reliev,
such as manifested loyal and patriot,
> >s,sA. a. l. ~ 60