Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-09-21
ANDREW JOHNSON IN MIDDLE TEN
NESSEE.
He Exposes the Secession Element OF the
Tennessee Democracy.
Warns the People Against Revolution and
Reconstruction.


Reconstruction.
EX-President Andrew johnson made
great speech at Gallatin, Tennessee, on last
to an immense audience. He be-
gan by reviewing the events preceding and
the war, and his relations there
to, and then took up and discussed the po
sition of Tennessee Democracy, as repre-
scented by the platform and candidate of
the recent state Convention. We have in
another column explained the history of
the secession resolution upon which Col.
Colyar, the Independent candidate for
Governor, bolted. Upon this subject, Mr..
johnson, rs reported in his organ, the
Nashville Union and Ameriedn, said:
He then read the resolution as adopted
by the Convention
Rcsolrcd, That the Southern States
should be Immediately restored to their
rights under the Constitution of the United
States as sovereign States of the American
Union.
This seemed to him. whether intended
or not to be secession and revolution in
disguise, and he would now, as he did in
1860 and up to the passage of the first ordi-
nance of secession, warn the people of the
be his duty, though it was the last act of
his life, ~ admonish the people against a
repetition of all that had transpired during
our disastrous and unhappy civil war.
HIS ONLY HOPE IN THE NATIONAL, DE-
MOCRACY.
lie thought it was our duty, in view of
the posture of our public affairs, to act
with discretion and wisdom in all that we
now propose to do. He felt that our main
homo "a. l.nipr lpxvp1 ,ta,,
barras-e l condition was to form q close al
lance with the National Democracy, who
were our only friends in resisting the arbi-
trary encroachments of of the Federal Gov
eminent upon the rights of the States, and
in forming that alliance it should he done
in such mani ! as would strengthen and
hold up their hands in our vindication
HE REPUDTATEs GEN. JNO. c. BROWN.
IN placing a standard bearer ut the head
of our column, he should be clear of all
suspicion of secession, or desire to enter
again into revolution, and this should be
followed up and carried out in the election
of all our members to Congress and the
Legislature. We should not give them any
greater excuse than they have now, to put
the State under the process of RECONSTRUCT
ton prediCated upon the idea that we were
still sccessionists and revolutionists. We
sholld stand by and maintain the Consti-
tuition, and earnestly insist upon compli-
anCe with all its provisions, guaranteeing
TO the State their rights.
WARNS THE PEOPLE AGAINST RECON
STRUCTION.
The State was now having suspended
Mahomed's coffin before the Committee
of Reconstruction and no one could now
tell what course Congress would pursue.
Hence the importance of keeping ourselves
right and urging compliance with the or
ganic law of the land
IN regard to some of the resolutions
which have been adopted by the recent
Convention, he thought it important for
the people to give them careful examina-
ton before their acquiescence or adoption,
and especially so, when we see that Con-
vention refusing even to consider series
of resolutions which enuncated principles
and laid down platform upon which the
great National Democracy. North and
South, could stand united.
THE STATE CONVENTION REFUSES TO RE
PUDTATE SECESSION.
Ii Is rislling too much to take and adopt
resolutions that are submitted by Conven-
| tons without careful examination of
them. ! am free to say, that the Conven-
ton which recently sat should have passed
resolutions emphatically disclaiming Sc
cesSion. But instead OF resolutions which
were before their Committee on RcsOu-
tiOns, they We're suppressed and withheld
| from the consideration of the ConNcll-
! ton.
! THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO REPUDIATE THE
SECESSION PLATFORM.
! He insisted that if those resolutions dis
| claiming secession on the one hand and
the arbitrary assumptions of power by
! Congress on the other, were submitted to
| the public judgment after fair and full dis
cussion that they would he adopted by
nineteen twentieths of the whole popula-
tom and in doing this, it would give
strength and power to those who are fight
ing the battle against Radicalism.
He suggested the propriety of holding
public meetings in every county in the
state, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the propriety of taking steps by
which the public judgment could be en-
| lightened in reference to our real status.
He thought that, ut those public meetings
the people could adopt resolutions reflect
ing their real sentiments in regard to the
doctrines of secession and the power of
Congress over the States, and thereby pre-
vent demonstrations of resolutions adopt
ed by conventions, placing them in false
attitude before the nation.
THE LEGISLATURE ELECTED NEXT NO
VENEER 10 CHOOSE UNITED STATES
SENATOR TO SUCCEED FOWLER.
He called the attention of the people to
that provision of the amended Constitution
which provides for elccting the members
OF the General Assembly in November,
which will he the Legislature chosen next
the expiration of the term of the Hon
Joseph Fowler, and under the act of Con-