The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-27
His Eloquent Appeal Falls
Fiat.
He Contrasts Grant with
Washington.
INTERVIEW WITH THE EX-pRESiDENT.
He Defends His Action in the Case
of Mrs. Surratt.


This Ia the Oldest town in Tennessee and the
capital of Washington county. Founded over
hundred years ago by tired, fOotsoore pioneers
from Virginia, 1t grew In the lapse of several
decades to be a quiet somniferous little village,
and thus 1t has remained ever since. 1t was
shaken violently out of Its sleep by the rebellion,
but when that unhappy event ceased TO be of
interest JonesbOro returned to Its slumbers And
yet strangely exciting events have happened all
around the region OF which this Is the centre. The
fercest aspects Of civil war might have been wit
messed from the Old-fashioned station house where
I am writing this letter. Rebel and Unionist have
alternately won the upperhand the victor retaliat
ing on the conquered with nendish barbarity The
atmosphere OF this now peaceful place once upon
time breathcd nothing but
MANS INHUMANITY TO MAN,
OF daily homicides and assassnatons, OF shootngs,
hanglngs, midnight wh.pplngs ana all manner OF
shocking excuses. All this, too, among men OF the
same blood language and religion. These high,
blue, wavy hills to the left, this billowy orchard
aud corn country TO the right were gwen up to the
fierce guerillas, to-day belonging to tho Union and
tomorrow to the rebel side. For quite stretch OF
time the reign Of the rebels prevailed over East
Tennessee and unhappy was the lot of the Union
adhcrents. Colonel Leadbetter was Of the Crom-
welian breed, and woe to the unfortunate Unionlst
who avowed MS sentiments before him. The house
yonder at the shady side OF the little street Of
Jonesbor0 sheltered Union family; tho
opposite one rooted In household of
the strong secession type. The united families
numbered twentythree persons, out OF which large
circle but one is above the earth tOday-an Old
woman gray, weak and worn and fast totterng to
the grave Every man OF both households was
killed In the terrible vendetta, aud the women all
but one persisted Of broken hearts. mention these
things TO show you that political feeling In coun-
try which passed through so strange and bloody an
experience as Tennessee must have a different
color and expression than ordinarily. Three such
men as Cheatham, Johnson and Maynard passing
through a region like East Tennessee and speaking
with bitter partisanship to the people awaken
all the dark and sanguinary memories OF
the past. The rebel youth who lost his
father in the fierce Union fOray, or the Union father
who lost his son to the wanton vengeance OF the
Southern bushwhackers, cannot be expected to
listen to these men with calm Indifference. And
the candidates themselves know this They know
that he who peppers the hghest-who caters TO the
awakened prejudlces of the past-wil have the
Oudest applause, even though he fall to have the
largest support. Tue latter he In the long
run.
BRowNLow's REIGN IN TENN EssEE.
Though during the war East Tennessee was
perfect hell upon earth. yet it seems 1t was little
better OF during all Brownlow's career as Governor,
of terror. He employed the lowest scum
Of the population pretending ., to be
People These wfeccs @
the determination of the old families With the
scourge and the ride they drove thousands from
their homes across the border into West Virginia.
Then none but those outbawng themselves as
UnIonists were permitted to vote or hold office
The refugees who took shelter IN Virginia, forced
by violence TO relinquish their old lands and home
steads could hardly be expected to cherish spirit
OF Christian forgiveness for their remorseless per-
Senter, the anti-proscrptlon candidate, trumphed,
and all men were declared free and equal before
the law. Many of the refugees returned some to
find their roof-trees in ashes others to discover
strangers occupying their old familiar homes. The
arbitrary and plunderlng era of Brownlow told
kindly on the relations between the classes of
eXasperated against each other Conservatives
and radicals became more and more recOncilcd
healing. Yet still one or two generations must
pass away before the ties OF fraternity knit perma-
nently together. All this revivliicaton of
TIE HEARrBURNINGS OF THE REBELLION
only tend to postpone the happy consummation.
Instances abound, however, that demonstrate how
nothing that has hitherto happened can repress a
mutual disposition to forgive and forget. Last
Tuesday once notorious character in these parts,
named Colonel Fry, met his death BY falling be-
tween moving train and station plat
form. He was one OF the most active Union
lists In the war, and did much to frustrat, wcllaid
rebel plans, tearing up rails burning down bridges,
giving information in every direction to the
federal armies and using his best and worst efforts
against reDelS CIVIL ana military Returning TO
his home after the war his former foes and himself
shook hands over the bloody chasm, and the re-
mainder OF his life was given to the cultivation of
that spirit Of which Horace Greeley Is now 50 prom
inent a champion.
seuriiERN DISCUSSION OF JOHNSON.
have just been listening to party OF beated
Southerners, who missed the train-men of prom.
inence in Sullivan and Washington counties, OF this
State--and the theme. of their discussion was
prominently Andrew Johnson aud, in u secondary
way, national politics.
One who appeared to obtain more respectful
hearing and have more to say than the rest said he
voted on every occasion against Johnson up to the
time OF his becoming President, but now he
Ss reGU5a vote e,oY IN
all things, for he believed him great manly and
patriotic Acknowledgements In America to-day.
Judging from the talk and appearance OF the party
reckon" Qor they all "reckoned') that they re-
presented the average and little more of the in
telgence OF the state. They were farmers store.
Keepers and professional men, and out OF the party
OF thirteen there were two decidedly opposed to
johnson, eight in his favor and the balance for
Chcatham Those In opposition to Johnson main
tanned he did more harm than good to the Sou h by
his policy while President, and that If he had only
scarce and Southern men prosperous. Those In
favor contended that Johnson fought against
for this they would never forget him. 1t is true,
they said, we suffered all the same; but lie was our
friend however he may have erred.
J0HNsON'S ABSORPTION OF POPULARITY.
Colonel Carter, democratic, is running against
Roderck Random Butler for Congress in this dis
trlct. find comparatively little interest in the
contest. Who Is running for Governor pro and con
nobody in these parts can tell Grant and Greeley
are mentioned casually, but the great centre of in.
terest and popularity is Andy Johnson. lie throws
all the Others In The shade and dwaris the Presl-
dental issue to ridiculous proportions. There are
many reasons for this Andy's hone-Grcenvle--
Is here in the heart OF that part OF Tennessee that
transfers rom Kentucky the right TO be called "tfe
house on which three or four score men were
hanged during the war, and Andy himself
might have swung from its ample branches
at one perous period If he had not retired. But
Andy showed n lions heart In the crisis OF Tennes
see, and the TcnncsSeeans rebels or otherwise feel
q secret pride In the fact to-day Then the extra
ordinary tussle he had with Congress and the back
bone or cast iron he showed make another item In
his popularity. find people here who would make
Journey OF forty miles In q sprnglcss wagon to
hear 1.-THE great Commoncr.n as they call him. You