Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-09-09
SENATOR BRowNLOw's LETTER.

will be read a universally as were ms
former letters on the Civil Rights Bill.
The time has come when the public
mind is prepared fora fairer discussion
of the merits of this bill, than it re-
ceived during the last canvass. Sena-
tor Brownlow's most vigorous blows
have been directed against the provis-
ion Of the bill relating to mixed
schools. He is undoubtedly correct
when he says the white Republicans
of the South are very largely opposed
to this feature of the bill. The CO.
education of the races is not a poll
teal question. 1t borders so strongly
upon the social, that we feel that when
the colored people of the South are by
law accorded equal school privileges
they get all they shonld ask.
Mixed schools North and mixed
schools South are very different in
practice. The theory is the same, but
in practice it is different. We regard
any law which seeks to compel a mix
ture of the races in the schools rs i'll
timed and calculated to arouss preju-
dices and passions which must result
in harm to the colored race. If equal
school privileges are granted, there is
no question of principle at stake. We
think hat Congress made a mistake in
not considering, in this respect, the
wishes of the white Republicans Of the
South. Senator Brownlow, Horace
MAYNARD, Col. T~horuburgh, Judge
! Butler and the Tennessee Republicans
represent men who, in advance of any
compulsory legislation by Congress or
by the States through the coustitu-
tional amendments, gave the coiored
race of Tennessee all the rights they
now enjoy. They ought, therefore,
to have been heard by their friends.
Had these men been. consulted a
bill could have been prepared which
would have been satisfactory 70 the
white and colored Republicans of the
South. Senator Brownlow is peculiar
ly sensitive on this subject, for not
withstanding the fact that he had
done more for the colored race than
any other Southern man, he was de-
nounced in unjust and u%ngrateful
terms by a convention of their own
leaders, held at the Capital of this
State.
But while we endorse Senator
BrownIow's opposition to the mixed
school feature Of the Civil Rights Bill
we do not agree with him as to the
disastrous effects of the late elections
upon the Republican party ia Tennes,
see. The agitation OF the Civil Rights
Bill has been unfairly conducted. The
! people were deceived as to its purposes,
and the election was carried largely
by excitement and prejudice. The Re
publican vote stood closely to its can
didates, but the stay-at-hOmes and the
floating vote, under the excitement
referred to, went against US. Many Of
these, if the election were to be held
over again, would not vote against US.
We hope to hold them in the
great struggle now before US,
Senator Brownlow's letter was writ.
ten before the late terrible outrage,
throughout the South startled the
country. Had he foreseen the course
of the Southern Democracy as now de,
velOped, we know it would have chang
ed the tone of his letter, In 1867 anC
1868, when these same men undertook
to intimidate the Republicans of Ten.
and pluck were equal to the emer
gency. He backed his proclamation
/ by military force and sent to the coun
, ties an organized force able TO arres
the masked outlaws and viudicat
the honor Of the State. WcI
he Governor to-day we woul
have not only proclamations and let
tiers to the civil officers of the Stat,
such as Gov. Brown has issued, but W
would have the citizens of the stat
protected in their person and propert
. anu hOllNFi even II OlDSDh CcuhA.
= While we oppose the Civil Rights Ri
as it stands, we believe in the ireedol
Of speech and the freedom of the ba
= lot and we hope to see force used
II protect every citizen, white and blaC
in these rights in every county in TeI
~ nessee and throughout the South.
40 this force can come from the Stat
n well and good, but If it can not con
from them, let it come from Washin
ton. Peace, protection to life al
property, and the freedom ofspeech :
must have, Civil Rights bill or whatev
else it may be, under discussion.
!" Senator Brownlow had had these OF
L RACES before him when he wrote IL
~ last letter, we know it would ha
NC given forth no uncertain sound on Il
W question. He would have given Sout
ern Democracy to understand tn
Ae while on principle he opposed I
Civil Right Bill, these outrages al
H. their mode of agitating il and Of o