Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-22
WHO TO VOTE FOR.
Senator BrOwnlOw Writes a Letter 10
the COIOred People of Tennessee

| the COlOred People of Tennessee
MoNTyALE, July Is, 1869. Fellow
citizens: | am constrained to address
you few words in view of the represen-
tations which have been made so indus-
triously and so extensively, that | have
betrayed the Republican party, and
turned my back upon the cclOred people;
sold them out to the Rebels.
On the 18th of June, | published a
brief letter, giving my views on the main
issues of the canvass. Since then, |
have not mingled in the strife, but have
been silent, and should not now break
that silence but for the reason stated
above, and fearing that silence night be
construed into an admission of some of
the baseless insinuations to which allu-
sion has been made.
SO far as the representations named
concerning me, and also as to your being
disfranchised in the event of Ssnter's
election, have been made by native Ten
nesseans, they are made by unmitigated
demagogues, who do not themselves be-
Geve word of them, aud they are made
for the purpose of misleading you.
So far as they have been made by per-
sons of Northern birth, they are made
by unprineipled men, devoid of self,re-
spect or responsibility, that they may
use your votes for their own political
purposes.
My advice is, beware of both. They
are not your friends. To follow their
counsels will only lead you astray. You
well know that have ever defended your
cause; that have never misdirected or
forsaken you.
Gov. Senter is true man. He is runs
ming as a Republican. He stands
squarely upon the Republican platform,
with Grant and Congress, the great Re-
publican party and the entire Republican
press, on franchise, the fifteenth amend
ment and on education. | have known
him and Gen. Stokes for twenty-five
years. l havel closely watched their po-
litical course, and l give it as my candid
opinion that Gov. Senter's personal
character is the better of the two; that
his political record is more consistent,
and that, in point of ability and states
manship, he is far superior.
Do not allow yourselves to be used by
political demagogues. Gov. Senter will be
elected by an Overwhelming majority,
and also by majority of the Repubi
cans Of Tennessee, and should you be
found to have arrayed yourselves against
him in force, what will be your positiOn2
You cannot afford to place yourselves
outside the Republican party, and you
do not want to array against yourselves
the great mass of those who have here
tofore stood by you, and who have ever
maintained your rights.
Men of small calibre and little brains
have said that President Grant and his
administration are opposed to Senter and
in favor of Stokes success,
1t is true that Stokes Congressman and
others have sent missionaries to Wash-
ington and have interviewed the Presi-
dent, and have made ex parte showing Of
Tennessee affairs; especially by with
holding from him the foul Stokes Gate
Butler conspiracy to strike down a true
Republican, who had laid eight months
in Rebel prison for his loyalty. And
these missionaries have also sought to
manipulate the Washington Republican
press into the public endorsement of
Stokes. In this latter attempt, to lim'
tied extent and only for an issue or two
of the Chronicle, have they succeeded;
but not one word have they been able to
extort from President Grant in favor of
| their schemes and their candidate. The
| Senter men have sent no emissaries to
| Washington. They are quite willing to
| trust the wisdom and the Republicanism
| of the administration without such miss
| sionary labor in that direction. And
they will not be disappointed. President
Grant will be entirely satisfied with
Senters success, and will find in Senter
and his friends honest and earnest
| supporters OF his administration.
| Proudly conscious Of the rectitude OF
nv course, have permitted the vile and
reckless ISLANDERS which have been cast
upon me to pass unnoticed, and | should
still remain silent, but for my interest in
YOUR welfare and in the truth Of the
l history we are making in Tennessee at
this iuncture. | take this occasion to
say, however, that as highly as | esteem
the friendship of the Republicans OF
Tennessee, | do not want the good opin-
ions of such as deem me capable of SELL
ing out the Republicans of Tennessee tS
the Rebels, or Of forming an alliance
offensive and defensive, with Andrew
johnson.
In conclusion, as l have repeatedly
stated heretofore, have, and | can have,
no sympathy, alliance or cooperation
with the Rebel.DemOcratic party. Then
record is written in characters of blood
and fire in the history of this country.
Their ascendancy is an impossibility SC
long as memory retains her place and the
mass of the people remain patriotic.
Respectfully, W. G. BRowNLow.