Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-10-08
gX-PRESIDENT JOHNcON'S
REJOlRDER TO
HORACE MAYNARD.


my conviction, Think of it The
highest court in the world with the
Chief Justice at its head, with the
proof and the law, and the General
of the armies with the sword and lash
suspended to drive the court to I'm
parchment. Yet at was only po-
Iitical." Charles tie First, he says,
lost his head for the same offence.
Inference: l did well in the failure of
impeachment. or my head would have
gone to the block and my life would
have paid the forfeit. Difference of
political opinion Because 1 exer-
ciscd the veto power, eleven States
we're deposed and held in vassalage.
For their encroachmerts on the South
ern States and people. l did exercise
the veto power. To arrest this Con-
gressional frenzy. l did interpose.
Well, if my head had. gone to 1.-The
block l would of donesso still. If
my blood had been poured out it
would have been as a libatioh to lib
erty and l was ready to take the con-
sequences. Amnesty! When did
my competitor ever favor amnesty /?
Grant recommended amnesty. but
did Congress ever grant it. until since
the Cincinnati movement. | extend
ed amnesty to all in short time af-
ter the close of the war II Greeley
was for impeachment Grant was more
so. | object to Greeley but still more
to Grant. Mr.. Greeley never proved
treacherous to me ard was convicted
of faisehood. Grant did prove a
traitor to me and was convicted of
falsehood in it. 1 would 60 for Gree.
ley to get this administration out and
have necessary reforms and measures
introduced as a step necessary to open
the door of reform. Things will be
no worse, for worse they could not be.
The committee of fifteen, conceded
what | had done was constitutional.
The members from the Southern
States stood there and were refused
admission. Then commenced the
policy of pulling these States to pic
ces. The States were passing laws
and taking steps to protect life and
property. But this man johnson was
from the South and was restoring
these States and pardoning these peo-
pie. The Reorganization up to that
time cost $27. 0O0. This was the first
Monday in December. The estimate
of the war department. for their work
was one and half millions. They
must provide place and position for
all these men through the Freedman 5
Bureau and Military Districts The
expense ran up TO fourteen millions.
Go into these States! The smallest
corporation under their rule has mad its
taxes doubled and quintupled. Look
at North Carolina i! \ system Of plum
der all over the State. The southern
Indebtedness increased two hundred
millions. This is the effect-the con
sequence of pulling these States to
pieces and tearing down what had
been built up by the Executive. The
gentleman read my message. | wish
he had read more of it. "Prosperi-
tyr The gentleman says he has
gone around Bristol. Says there is
prosperity. | am glad to see it, but
what can that be to 5000. 600. 900 i'm,
posed upon the people of these States,
How is it in Tennessee. The sheriff
can't get money enough to pay for
taking a prisoner to Nashville.
= Prosperity - Your warrants 20
per cent below par. Prosperity -
Your bonds in the market going G5 to
u. Prosperity That's pros
perity! Look at your twenty-five
hundred millions fixed on the people.
with the interest payable in gold.
Your greenbacks and national curren-
cy ought to be at par, and at best they
are thirteen per cent below it. They
have been as low as $50. This sys-
TEN pays the bond-holder in gold.
The man who fought, for his wounds
and his scars, and his broken limbs and
impaired health, must take green
backs at IS per cent discount. Gen.
Cheatham complains that [ have held
Office. l never held an office, but
that of Provisional Governor but what
you gave re. If | did hold office it
was under the constitution and flag of
my country. l am willing to let BY.
cones be by cones, but these things
are forced on me. If he was in the
service of the Confederate Govern
ment. what qualification did that give
him to represent you in Congress. |
am willing to let the past be forgotten,
but to base seat in Congress on the
ground alone that he tried to destroy
the government is insufficient. Who
would er,,have thought Of Gen. Chea-
than for Congress. but for his service
in the Confederate army? But let
that all pass. If gentlemen have
qualifications outside of such service,
why let them be elected. If | am
not mistaken, he ran for Clerk Of Da-
wilson county. and was defeated.
"Office p If l have held Office it
has been given me by my countrymen.
My competitor (Maynard) is an
able man. Ispeak not ironically. He
is learned man and able debater.
He knows how to omit. How to make
speciaI DleaS- He saws reDubI;can and
radical are synonymous terms. The
radicals lead in all these wasteful and
dangerous measures. The republi-
cans come up to their support. He
speaks of the white democrats COM
ing up rapidly. Let's see how my
friend has been coming up. find a
circular published in 1865 by Hon.
Horace Maynard" lie never says
much but after having thought we'll
about it. His habits always exhibit
eE,I,, o.A 900 +, 49, .:ol l.