Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-09-29
Hon. w. G.. Brownlow.

W. Hs 'NpN' ~
Hon. Geo. W. Booker, M. c., Martins
ellie, "a:
DEAR SIR: | have your letter of the
18th inst. asking me to cooperate with
you in getting up a Convention in this city
of native Southern Unionists, 1.-The main
object" of whose meeting, as you express it,
sis to bring about a concert of action
amongst the natiUc Unionists as against
the "carpet-bagger."
As a member of Congress and a citizen
of my native State, nay, as an esteemed
personal acquaintance, 1 would be glad to
meet you and take you by the hand but
not as a member of the proposed conven-
ton, assembling mainly for the purpose
indicated in your letter. We have had
too many of these Southern Conven-
lions, called together professedly for the
purpose of advancing the interest OF Ag-
ri%culture and Commerce but in reality.
for the purpose of constructing the South
ern mind and firing the Southern heart
in the cause of treason and disunion.
But [ am not the man to unite with
any body of men in a war upon carpet-bag-
gers, whom [ understand to be Northern
men or yankees, who have settled In the
South before and since the rebellion, and
especially since the termination of the
war. They are a class of men by whom [
have firmly stood through evil and through
good report. and [ do not propose at this
late day. to 90 back upon them.
In my Inaugural addresses and Mesa
pes as Governor Of this State, [ invited
and encouraged immigration. L did not
invite Northcn men to settle In Tennes-
see as the slaves or interiors of native
Unionists or native Rebels, but when they
came here, to assert their manhood and
equality. and in proof of it, the records OF
the Executive Department of Tennessee
will show that l appointed many of them
to office.
[ appointed them because they were
honest, capable and faithful, and because
they had shouldered their muskets at the
breaking out of the war, fought their way
into the South, and achieved the right to
hold office, and settle in Virginia, Tennes-
see and every other Rebel State.
Another objection [ have to the pro-
posed Convention is that it contemplates
war upon Grant and his administration.
Upon this question | differ as widely with
you as upon the ''carpet-bag" question.
[ regard the President as having wisely
and economically administered the Gov
eminent, and by him and his administra-
ton | propose to stand with unflnching
fidelity.
The Rebel party proper of the South
are unchanged and ~unrepentant, and seek
to accomplish at the ballot box and by
legislation what they failed to effect With
the sword.
FL Convention were proposed in which
to urge the reconstruction of these South
ern States, | would 90 into it heartily. and
especially would l like to see it in my own
State.
Take Tennessee as an example and see
what a spectacle she presents tc the world.
We proposed in the canvass of last year
to bring about universal, suffrage meaning
of course that it should be done In a le-
gal and constitutional way, which would re-
Guire a period oftwo years to accomplish 1t.
The rebel Democracy seized upon this liber-
al offer. making it the occasion to run rough
shod over the Franchise law, electing a
body of men to the Legislature a majority
of whom were rebels at heart during the
war. and many o whom were rendered IN
eligible under the amended Constitution
of the United States.
WHY, sir, even Andrew johnson is open
ly ~denouncing the Rebel Democracy OF
Tennessee. He charges, and truly charges
that in the platform of their recent State
Convention, upon which they are running
a Rebel General for Governor, they re
assert and re-afirm the doctrine OF seces-
sion as promulgated by Southern rebels
in 1861.
And if you, Mr.. Booker, should be pres
emf at your proposed Convention here, L
promise you that the men who Will APP
plaud YOU most vociferously when you
come down upon ''carpet-baggers" and
Grants Administration, will be the men
who threw up their hats when the first ar
of Bull Run was driven back upon
Washington.
So far as the claims of Southern loyal
lists are concerned, my messages to the
Legislature while Governor, and my votes
in the Senate, will show that L am the
earnest advocate of their speedy payment.
But | am in favor of discriminating be-
tween l~oyalists and rebels, Already too
many claims have been paid to rebels
South under the pretense that they were
loyal.
/ have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
WV u RRowNIOw.@