New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-16


men OF the South indemnity for property
taken by the government Tor public uses
and the payment to the citizens of the
| South of all claims that were due prior to
the late war.
l hope that you approve the objects of the
convention. and will lend your influence III
| getting q large delegation.
Let me hear from you soon.
Very respectfully.
GEORGE w. BOOKER.
Hon. W. G. Brownlow.
SENATOR BROwNLow TO MR.. BOOKER.
| KNOXVILLE, September 26, 1870.
Hon: George W: Booker. member Of Congress- Mar
| tinsville, Virginia.
DEAR SIR have your letter of the sew
enteenth instant, asking me to co operate
with you i'll getting up a convention, in this
city, Of native Southern Unionists, 1.-THE
main object OF whose meeting, as You ex-
| press it, sis to bring about concert Of action
among the natire Unionists as against the
carpet-baggers.
As member of Congress and a citizen of
| my native State-nay, as an esteemed per-
sonal acquaintance, would be glad to meet
you and take you by the hand; but not as a
member OF the proposed convention. assem-
bling mainly for the purpose indicated in
i'll your letter. We have had too many of
professedly for the purpose of advancing
the interests OF agriculture and commerce.
| but III reality for the purpose of instruct
| ing the Southern mind and firing the South
| ern heart in the cause Of treason and dis
| union.
But am not the man to unite with any
body OF men III war upon carpet baggers,
| whom understand to be Northern men or
Yankees who have settled in the South be-
| fore and since the rebellion, and especially
| since the termination of the war. They are
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 messages
| as Governor of this State, | invited and ell
couraged immigration. | did not invite
Northern men to settle in Tennessee as the
slaves or interiors of native Unionists or ma
| tive rebels. but when they came here. TO
assert their manhood and equality; and in
proof OF it. the records OF the executive de-
partment of Tennessee will show that ap-
pointed many of them to office
appointed them because they were hon.
est. capable and faithful and because they
had shouldercd their muskets at the break
ing out of the war. fought their way into the
South. and achieved the right to hold Office
and settle in Virginia, Tennessee and every
other rebel State
Another objection ! have to the proposed
convention is that it cOntemplates a war
upon Grant and his administration. Upon
this question differ with you as widely as
upon the " carpet-bag" question.
regard the President as having economi-
cally and wisely administered the govern
ment, and by him and his administration
propose TO stand with untiinching fidelity.
The rebel party proper of the South are
unchanged and unrepentant, and seek to
accomplish at the ballot box and BY legisla-
ton what they failed to effect with the
sword.
Ii convention were proposed in which to
urge the reconstruction of these Southern
States, l would go into it heartily, and espe-
cially would l like to see it in nv own State
Take Tennessee rs an example. and see
what a spectacle she presents to the world
We proposed i'll the canvass of last wear to
bring about universal suffrage, meaning. OF
course. that it should he done in legal and
constitutional way, which would require a
period of two years to accomplish it. The
rebel Democracy seized upon this liberal
offer. making it the occasian to run rough
shOd over the franchise law. electing body
OF men to the legislature. a majority of
whom were rebels at heart during the war.
aud many of whom were rendered inelligi-
BILE under the amended Constitution of the
United States.
Why, sir, even Andrew johnson is openly
denOuncing the rebel Democracy of Tennes
see. He charges. and truly charges, that in
the platform of their recent State conven-
ton, upon which they are running rebel
general for Governor, they reassert and re-
affirm the doctrine of secession as promul-
gated by Southern rebels in 1861.
And if you, Mr.. Booker, should be present
at your proposed convention here, promise
You that the men who will applaud you
most vociferously when you come down up
on ''carpet-baggerS and Grants admins
tration will be the men who threw up their
hats when the first army of Bull Run was
driven back upon Washington.
So far as the claims of Southern loyalists
are concerned, my messages to the Legisla-
t,rle while Governor. and my votes in the
Senate, will show that am the earnest adj
vocate of their speedy payment. But am
i'll favor of discriminating between loyalsts
and rebels. Already too many claims have
been paid to rebels South under the pre-
tense that they we're loyal.
have the honor to be, very respectfully. |
w. G. BROWNLOW.