Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-17
VOICE FROM OLD WILLIAMSON.


FRANKLIN, Oct 15-The contest for
the Senatorial succession is nearly over
and Just as the crisis is about eliminating,
every appeal and attack are being made by
the opponents of Mr.. johnson to deter the
men in whose hands now rests the honor
of Tennessee, from carrying out the will
of the people, in the election of her great
est living son. One would think, from the
storm of abuse and detraction that now
surges around the Capitol atNashville, that
Andrew johnson was again on trial by
Radical mob, and that FOrney had charter
ed some of our Tennessee papers to pour
out his venom and spleen upon his victim.
Why is this? What has Andrew johnson
done since these papers pronounced such
powerful encomiums upon him, for his
courage and noble bearing during his
stormy administration, that they should
''about-face," and now out-HerOd the
worst Radical in abuse of him?
No subject in the history of Tennessee
has been discussed with such zeal and
earnestness as the senatorial election. Now
that the case isalmost ready to be put to the
jury, how does the matter stand? Andrew
johnson beyond doubt is foremost In the
minds of the people. The only argument
used is, that he was bold, unyielding and
tyrannical TO the Southern people In the
war. and especially so during his military
govenorship. do not apologize for that
part of his history, but l do think that we
err when we take an exclusive
Southern view of this part of
his stormy career. He was a Union
man. He had night to be for the Federal
government ifhe chose to be. His stand for
the Union gives him to-day the ear Of the
Northern masses, and who doubts, that
when he speaks, as a TRIBUNE of the Con
sTITUTIoN, in the Senate Chamber, that
his voice Will be heard and his words Of
reasoning needed by the tax-paying and
debt-ridden millions of the North? While
a portion of us here are cursing him for
being traitor to the South, a tyrant as
Military Governor, the voice of the entire
North calls upon Us to elect him. Such
| unanimity was never manifested for any
public man in the history of this country.
What do these querrelous and captiOus
| friends of ours want? They say they
don't want a man who will keep up a
/ fuss: no one who will disturb the quiet and
even flow of things around the National
Capital Every mothers son of them is fol-
| the complete humiliation of the Radical
theory and philosophy of government, but
1 at the same time preach that We must lay
supinemely upon our backs and not even
refer to that Anticipated document, com.
\ monty called the constitution of the United
States. because the Radical party has VIC
lated every line and provision of 1t, and II
might make them be made to call up tc
| their recollection broken oaths and PuniC
| faith Oh shame on the son of Tennessee
who will utter such plea! We who sup
| port Andrew Johnson propose that he shal
be the man with the zeal and energy OF {
Luther who will proclaim the doctrine
| of the constitution and the teachings of tn,
Fathers of the Republic, on the floor of thu
Senate. though "every tile in Washington
were a devil or dead Radical No man to
day is better fitted by political experience
to take the initial in the great struggle witt
RadicaliSm, for a restoration of the ole
spirit of the government.
The dearest object inthe future to hin
is to see his native South once more clothed
in her former greatness and freedom, ant
to know and feel that he was the instrumen
that worked out her regeneration. II tn
eve of any legislator shall meet and perus
these lines, l hope he will reflect serlousl
upon the important position he occupies
and in passing upon Andrew johnson
character, he will not be warped by tn
warm and impulsive ex-Rebel, who
under the influence of passion
has allowed his generous min
to forget the brave and manly stand John
son took upon the bulwarks of the cOnsti
tuition, and without friends or party, battle
! for three long and weary years for the pre-
| lection of the South from the aggression
of a foe, who in their hate would, but fO
him, have turned this land of ours into
Poland. Nor, upon the other hand, wi
he heed the cries of vengeance and hat
that the Radical foes of constitutional iii
ertv utter against the boldest and braves
foeman that a gang of political bandit
have ever had. But, calmly considerin
his constituency and the wants and wishe
of our friends North and South, he wi
give a fit ally and friend to Pendletor
Adams and Hendricks, by the election {
the man whose name Is now being uttere
in the uttermost parts of this might
republic, with more of hope, tina
any other which can now be entertained
To the members of the Legisli
lature we appeal and ask fc
tbe sake of Justice. if Andrew johnson
is again on trial, that you 10y an emphat
verdict. place him where he can work fc
the honor and interests of his State and {
the whole country. Initiate the glorior
example of Kentucky, in the days Of yor'
when the Gallant Harry of the West,
came back to his people forsaken, pers'
cuted. and fame-blackened, she bore hi
aloft Aad placed him, in the face of frowl
:. ing world back in the council chambers
the nation. How gloriously did the gifte
statesman repay the confidence of that ga
liant State Andrew johnson, Endorsed b
, his State, will repay her by firm adhe
: ence to the constitution, and unhlnchln
advocacy of the rights of the people. An
e ! above all. in the corrupt atmosphere
Washington, there will breathe one ma
whom power cannot intimidate and all II