Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-25
WINS OF A REBEL SOLDIER,
To the Editors Of the Union and Americo

GA1NEsBoRe, Tenn, Sept. is, 1881 have
noticed Tor some time past that a considerable
space of your columns has been filed up in
discussing the claims of senatorial candidates
am no politician and never have beea, yet a.
an humble citizen of the proud State Of Ten.
nessee, l claim the right to express nv Urcfpr.
ence for Tennessee's most talented and gifted
son, the ablest and most devoted friend of con.
stitutional free government. Andrew johnson
L was Rebel soldier, and consequently / have
not at all times been a warm admirer of thi.
great statesman. Often have L during those
days OF trouble and strife felt the effects Of his
terrible blows, mercilessly dealt out whenever
occasion offered, upon the devoted head of the
Rebellion. the cause of which / had espOused
with all my heart, soul and strength. and you
may lmsglne that imbibed not a little personal
prejudice towards Mr.. johnson. | was not only
pre- udiced against him, but / hated him in
tensely. and this hatred and prejudice continued
I9r soihe tune aiter me close OF the war. have
since the close OF the war watched his every
movement with feelings of jealousy; | have
been wont to attribute his acts OF
kindness to us dOwn-trOdden Rebels to improp-
er and dishonest motives. In fact, ! was for
considerable time an active and energetic OBJ
poser of Mr.. johnson, but the bold, fearless
manly and able manner in which President
johnson met, battled with and defeated the foul
conspirators against free government, to-wit:
the infamous impeaehers wrought q radical
change in my views of this truly great man. ]
am forced TO admit that in the DAYS of my pre.
judice add hatred toward him / then saw through
ly see in him that true. disinterested friend Of
the people, that bold. fearless and earnest de.
fender of their constitutional rights and libeT.
ties which he has always claimed TO be- and
nov admire hun 10 corresponding degree tC
the hatred bore him since we became so wide
ly separated in the late civil war am for him
for the first and best Office in the gift of the peO-
pie of Tennessee, and would be for him for the
first and best office in the gift of the people 81
the United States, and cannot see how a tru G
Conservative of Tennessee can feel it in his
heart to seriously oppose the election Of MIR
johnson 10 the high position to which he as
pires, and which he is SO well qualified to fiji
with honor to himself and the State of Ten.
nessee. #...
would ask the factions opposers of Mr.. John.
son on the Conservative side whether in the
late momentOus struggle between the enem lei
OF manklnd-the Infamous impeachers and th {
TRENDS OF Tree government and cOnstItu ton al
for the times. And was it not his bold, fearless
and manly opposition to Capitalization that
then saved the government from wreck. There
were then but two sides to the question, and will
any sane man, who claims to be a Conservative
deny that Mr.. j OhnsOn was then on the right
side. and nObly performed his whole duty re-
CARELESS of the terrible consequences to himseli
which then seemed inevitable? Will any honest
sensible Conservative deny that the same revo-
lutionists and centraizers, are still striking at
constitutional government; andthat to a great
er or less extent the same dangers now surrOuL
and threaten the government as did during
the momentOus days of impeachment l don I
suppose 1t will be denied that such is the fac ;
then | insist that as Mr.. johnson has
proven himself TO be the greatest and abest
defender of the constitution in far the most try
ing times this government ever passed through
and as he has shown himself to be the truest
and most faithful sentinel that ever stood guard
to the Liberties Of the people of this great ma
ton, we should again place him upon the
watch-tower of the nation. If he has shown
himself to be the man for the times during the
times traught with so much danger as those
baVe alluded to, he is certainly the man for the
times till those dangers which threatened the
life OF the nation have passed away, or been
averted. will say in conclusion that maior-
ity of the conservative people of Jackson coun-
~ Almost aPproxlm ma [? unity, arc for ex-
position OF United States Senator, without re-
gard TO past political differences Our State
senator, Mr.. Halves, life long old Wing who
now war N admi er of Mr.. johnson, and will
support him; and our Representative, MT,
Clark. an old time Democrat and Unionist in
the late war is also warm admirer
support him in the coming election Believing,
Messrs Editors, that it will rebound to the best
interests Of the State of Tennessee and of the ma
ton, to place ex-President johnson in the SEN
ate of the United States, where his incompar-
able talents can be brought to bear in the de-
tense Of constitutional government and the pro-
motion of the best interests of the masses of the
people of this great nation, / will close by ex-
pressing the fond hope that Mr.. johnson may
| be returned to the Senate of the United States
| by the unanimous vote of the Conservative
members of the Legislature of our State Such
an endorsement of Mr.. JOhnson's past course
would be just to him and the severest blow Il
| the Radical party. CONSERVATIVE
From the Athens Post. Sept. "a.
THE RADICAL PRESS.
WenOtice that the Radical papers of Tennes.
see and in the North and West are a unit in Oh.
| position TO Andy johnson for United StaIe,
| Senator, and assault him almost as ferociously
| as do the two or three Conservative Journals o
| this State that oppose his election. Some o
| tIe.I nav nv 800 80. - III onI cOnsiueraV'