New-York tribune., 1871-08-02

| KNOXVILLE, Tenn, July 25.-Leaving the
busting business street OF Knoxville, and descending
steep hill through old and somewhat dapdated quar-
ter Of the town, crossed bridge. and found myself In
narrow street running through thnysettled suburb,
inhabited chiefly by mechanics and other humble folks.
Patches OF and potatoes occupied Of the street
front than tho modest houses OF tho dweers In the
suburb At little distance from the bridge came to
plain od-fashioned whto wooden house, standing full
upon tho street, with huge outside chimney rising like
monument at each gableend, and bit Of yard at the
| side. Seeing the name "Brownlow" upon tho door,
mounted the steps that led from the sidewalk TO the
little wooden porch, that, hoodke, sheltered the low
doorway aud rang the bell little doubtful whether tho
! place was really tho residence Of United States
Senator from Tennessee. 1 was shown into
neat, low-ceied parlor, whero nfe-sized
portrait OF tho Senator upon the wall, and bust In
plaster upon the side table, solved all remaining doubts
The Senator appeared and od tho across the
hall 20 his bedroom where he recned durirg
saon upona large lounge propped up with pillows. He
much emacated and his hands aud feet shook con-
stany with the palsy with which he has been afflicted for
two years past but no looked botter than no did In the
Senate in the Spring and said he thought he was gaining
slowly xpeced o be In his seat again when Congress
meets His long suffering from disease has not changed
his face muoh His hair is but little touched with gray,
his eyes are as ever and his thin face has lost
OF Its old expression OF courage and lnd0mtaDle
resolution. Talking OF his illness, and Of his inability to
speak take active part in the proceedings OF tle
Senate he said "I do nothing moro than vote Tho
Rebels in Tennessee would be glad TO have me die,
but will disappont them and live out my term to keep
worse man from getting my scat" As ho said this In
the low tone, scarcely above whisper, in which ne
habtuay talked there expression OF determna-
in his calm gray eyes and about his firm mouth tJ
convinced me that feeble he looked and apparently
upon the OF the grave the power OF his tremendous
will would keep him alive until he willing to die and
thought OF tho saying OF tho old German philosopher
ave do not yield death utterly, only throu8hthe
weakness Of our feeble wills"
The conversation naturally upon politics The
expressed the belief that tho question, OF the war
yet definitely settled many suppose and Will
be until after the next Presidential election He
said: "The leading men in the South still look upon tho
separation OF the South from the Union as hopeful
probability. The devil IL In them and they will get up
another rebellion they any chance Of success They
exult in private the reduction OF tho regular army
which Congress fooshy cut down TO $4,000 men, and
they boast having enough TO organize army at
any time Davis Toombs and stephens express the
sentiments OF tho masses OF the Southern people"
What do you think the plan Of these Southern lead
ers," askedi "To try 10 accomplish at the ballotDox
and by legislation what they failed to do
in the field" he replied. To get control
OF the national Government by the OF the Democratic
party TO destroy all the work Of recOnsruction and
during the administration OF Democratic President to
reorganize the Southern COnfcdcracy after long ana
careful preparation" Senator BrOwnlow went on 20
say that he had always beloved the Rebellion hal ended
two years II would have been better FOR tho
future peace Of the country IL the had continued I'M
tl public opinion had demanded the hanging OF the lead
ing Rebels He was no believer in general amnesty for
the that he knew there was no sincerity IN the
proessed willingness OF the Southern leaders to accept
the situation and give honest support to the Govern
ment They hated the Union bitterly as ever, and
were Just as ready to destroy It. There would be- he
a. ttA pqyfD Pres
election The Democrats expected to carry the South
solid and to get enough OF tho Northern States to bring
them out ahead This contest" he said will be the
last chance OF the RebeDemOcratc party. They know
this, and will stop at nothing to succeed Woe 70 thc
country IL they win. Good-by 20 peace and
tranquility We whip them we have
harmony I'm party, and IL our people do
not play the fool In the National Convention by
Guarreling about candidates" He believed that Gen.
Grant would be renominatod. The Republicans In Ten
nesse inclined Grant he said hut would heartily sup
port whoever might be the nominee OF tho Convention
Grant would no doubt get the vote Of Tennessee and
probably OF all the Southern States in the Convention
expressed strong hopes Of carrying Tenne'
see for Republican candidate for President next
year. II harmony prevailed among the Republicans, nc
was sure the State could be redeemed from the Demo
Gratis There is s. considerable feeling among the Re
pubcuns who supported Stokes nc the last Gubcrna-
oral election against those who voted for Scntcr whom
they are disposed prescribe for their course in that
campaisr This trouble he believed, could be healed
The Senter men were az good Republicans any in the
State.
soeaking OF T,naessre politics, ,Ir. iBrownow said
that the Legislature met in October and would try to
gcrrymanier the state 10 make all the Congress
districts Democratic They could not do this with the
First District, but they might with Maynaris district
the Second The Democrats hnted Maynard and enyicd
him his talents his consistent record He spoke in
high terms of Mr. Maynars ability, inte rIty and
funess a representative. The Legislature would no
doubt instruct him 3rownlow how 20 vote in the SEN
ate but should pay attention hc declared to their
action, and should reply that he did not acknowledge
the right OF traitors 30 instruct hin.
/ inquired whether he thought the KuKlux had
organized existence IN Tennessee He replied that they
had not in East Tennessee except Chattanooga Tie
Republicans strong here, and II company of
KaKlux should make thcir appearance IN Knoxville, In
their dsguises they would all be slaughtered In MID
die and Tennessee tho Ku-KluX had n formidable
organization a. he believed they had all through the
South ready spring into activity in time to control the
Presidential election by keeping the negroes from v0t
ing OF forcing them to vote the mocratc ticket. lie
believed the only remedy for the Ku-KuN troubles lay
In the OF military force and It folly to expect
a fair election in the South unless sufficient
troops were there to protect the blacks
in their right to yoto without intimidation.
For this lie believed the reduction OF the army
have been great mistake Senator Brownlow said that
the Republicans Of East Tennessee trustworthy
and liked In their principles as those OF Massachusetts,
or Iowa. They were an Independent class OF men,
most OF them farmers who were devOtcdly loyal
during the war; many OF them suffering loss of property,
exile. great hardship their attachment the
Union. In Middle and Wcr Tennessee it was different,
he said There the condition OF society rcscmbled that
IN the States further South. The land was owned in
large tracts by who went with the Rebellion, and
who were bitter, Proscriptive Democrats. There
many poor white men in those sections who would
be Republicans II they dared, but they stood in OF
these wealthy planters The prejudice in those portions
Of the state agnns Norhern peope the senator sald