Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-13
DRESDEN.
Speech of Gov. Brown Yesterday.
He Again Reviews the Ex.President's
Recent Structures.

He Again Reviews the Ex-President's
Recent Structures.
DRESDEN, TENN, Oct. 12.-Gov. John
c. Brown spoke here this evening for two
hours 70 large, appreciative and represen-
tative audience. Many ladies were in at
enhance, and great enthusiasm was exhib-
tied by all present. The Governor repeated
the logic and figures of bis Pulaski speech
in defense of his administration of State
affairs, the more novel portion being his
answer to ex-President Johnson's recent
utterances at Shelbyville and since. Al
though he was not a candidate for Office,
and in the few addresses made to the peo-
pie, upon their invitation, he had
abStained from the mention of ex-
President Johnson's name, ana avoided
the discussion of his policy or
fitness for Office, yet he, Johnson
saw ft both at Shelbyville and Muir
freesboro to assail him personally and Off
cialy. The attackwas unprovoked, wan
ton and vindictive. Several eminent men
had been announced as rivals of Mr.. John
son for the Senate, and at least one of them
had sought an opportunity to discuss with
him the issues before the country. This he
declined. He sought TO pass his ayowed
rivals unnoticed and parade him before the
country. johnson had right to criticise
his official conduct and discuss legitimately
such measures as he may have been instru-
mental In fixing upon the country. He
(Johnson) had better dispose of the lions
in his pathway before seeking unknown
and unseen enemies. In what he said of
Mr.. johnson, by way Of defense to these
vipdictive assaults, he represented no party
or faction as an individual, and no party
was responsible for his utterances in this
controversy. He had neither purpose nor
desire to injure hun. He was his senior by
many years, an ex-senator, an ex-Presi-
dent, and his age and public services de-
manded for him the respect and con-
sideration commensurate with the charac-
ter of his public services and the motives
which have animated his official acts. Yet
these did not license johnson to drag him
before the public and with impunity place
him in a false attitude before his people.
And without reference to the consequences
he would vindicate himself. And in doing
so, if shaft of the great archer was turned
upon him, it would be done in defensive
rather than an oppressive spirit. Mr..
johnson charged him with being a Wing,
be claimed no merit for that, but had never
deserted his colOrs in tie hour of their
gloom or glory. No dazzling bait ten
dered by a dominant sectional party,
at war with constitutional liberty, ever did
or ever could have allured him from his
party allegiance or political faith. He
stood by the Wing party, the party of his
fathers, until its fortunes went down, in the
memorable contest of 1850. Mr.. JOhnSon's
standard of Democracy was not the ac-
knowledged measure of party merit among
the Democrats of the present day. He re-
garded no one as entitled to the appellatlon
who was not a Democrat from his cradle,
and it might be that even a very few of
that class could place themselves within
the pale according TO his conception Of par
ty merit.
He said johnson boosted that his pardon
had saved his (BrOwn's) neck from the
halter. That might be, for all he cared
now. There may have existed somewhere
in the Government a purpose to organize
another military court martial under the
SHADOWS OF the OdplJOl 10 hurry NlCllluS III
hot haste to the gallows, despite the writs
of habeas corpus from the civil courts. If
woman could not claim immunity from
such summary cruelty, how could men?
Nobody was hung by constitutional courts,
yet very many were pardoned. None
were condemned and tried by the civil
courts If his neck was saved from the
halter, it was the halter of
an unconstitutional military court. If
it were thus saved, he thanked Mr..
Johnson for his kindness, and stood ready
to acknowledge it in any way that did not
violate his conscience nor compromise his
self-respect. But how did Mr.. johnson, in
his speech at Nashville, Oct. 10, meet the
question? He did not answer a single
charge made against him in his (Brown's)
address alb Waverly. He did not deny one
of them. Mr.. johnson endeavOred to justi-
fy his reconstruction policy, and undertook
to answer the charges by quoting from a
series of resolutions reported by him
BROWN as chairman Of the Democratic
State Convention held at Nashville in
1865. LOur report here breaks of awk-
wardly.l