Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-14
DRESDEN.
Gov. Browns Speech Last Mon
day.
He says &c As ssDOne with This Con.
trOversy."

The following is the concluding portion
of Gov. Browns speech at Dresden on the
18th:
Mr.. johnson does not answer a single
charge made against him, in my address at
| Waverly. He endeayoIs to justify his re-
construction policy; but as to the other
charges, he undertakes to answer them BY
quoting from q series of resolutions report
ed by myself, as Chairman, to the State
Democratic Convention held at Nashville
in 1868. Here is the resolution:
"Resolved, That Andrew johnson, in the
discharge Of his great functions as President
of the United States, at period OF trying
aud Unprecedented embarrassment, has rem
dered his name illustriOus by the fidelity
with which he has sought to preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution against Tie
assaults Of reroiUtiondry faction, and, in
his recent signal triumph IN that behalf,
has earned the gratitude Of the American
people, and rendered himself worthy Of the
highest mark Of confidence that may be
bestowed upon him."
was not the author Of that resolution.
but as chairman Of the committee reported
It. But does this meet the question? Is it
not a mere dodge? That resolution does
not vindicate Mr.. Johnson from, nor excuse
hun for, saspending the writ Of babeas cor
pus In defiance of the constitution, nor for
approving the odious, oppressive and un-
constitutional cotton tax DILL, under
which Tennessee paid over 100000 of
dollars at time when her resources were
exhausted, her labor disorganized, and her
people were in the most abject poverty, and
living under the rule of usurpation sus-
tanned by bayOnets-and a usurpation, too,
which Mr.. johnson contributed largely to
establish. Ii does not vindicate him from
approving the funding bill of the United
States Congress, (which added $54,000,OO0
yearly to the sum of our gold interest debt.
1t does not excuse the policy of the ex-
President, las clearly manifested by his
thrusting of my pardon in my face,l Of his
granting of thousands Of pardons with the
expectation Of winning followers to his for
tunes. 1t does not modify his ingratitude
to his party, in the abandonment of his
faith, its organizations and its usages. 1t
does not condOne the offense Of aiding and
Sanctioning the making of large debt,
State and national, and then advising its
virtual reputation.
That resolution simply sustains Mr..
Johnson in his conflict with the Radical
party in vetoing the Freedman's Bureau
bill and other obnoxious measures. The
truth is, Mr.. johnson was not the choice of
the Democratic party of Tennessee In 1868.
But in his position he had, as against the
more violent Republicans, done US some
service, and we desired TO make an express
sion Of our obligations. He was in power,
and il was necessary 10 appeaSe him.
But he has furnished us with the most
appropriate expression of our attitude to
him at that time, in defining his support of
Greeley. We were willing to take Mr..
Johnson, s'like man takes a crooked stick
TO kill a mad dog"
STATE EXPENSES.
But Mr.. johnson, In his speech Satur-
day night, saws his administration of the
State government cost less money than the
present. That is true. He does not state
the fact, however, that our population has
increased; that the mismanagement of the
State for several years after the war in
vOlved the State in expensive legislation;
that the negro population have become
citizens and litigants in our country; that
these facts, and the complicated and de-
layed litigation incident to and consequent
upon the war, nave demanded an increase
of the judiciary almost double what it had
been; that our Asylums for the insane.
blind and deaf and dumb have double
the number of inmates and expenses; that
the State Prison, instead of having from
$50 to $50 cOnvicts, now has over 900.
And he fails to tell the country another
important and significant fact. That the
ordinary expenses of Buchahan's admins
tration in 1878, excluding interest on
the public debt was. 81, 92l 1870 !
In 1889. 1T, 327, 405.T2 |
In lS50-60. ............... 60,010, 112.5S |
In lo6O-6l. 62,32I, l12.UO |
While Mr.. JOhnSOn's administration cost |
for Ordinsly expenses, Excluding interest !
on the public debt:)
In 1919 .......'. .....'SI ,ZlZ,9ll,zIO.4l
In 1866. 3S7,6S3, 1851 |
In lo0i--.....-...-..'' zOZ,S1 I,03I.42 |
In 1868. $500 229,9l4,674.36 |
/ am not now criticiSing the extrava-
gance of Mr.. JOhnsOn's administration Of !
the national government. But these |
figures are quoted that the increased ex-
penditures of the national government |
(war and public debt aside) is greater in |
than that Of the State govern
ment. This illustrates the unfairneSs o f !
his attack upon the State government, as
we'll as his indispositiOn to state all the |
facts, and thus do complete justice.
THE PENITENTIARY.
The eX-PIesident boasts of his manage !
ment of the penitentiaTy while he was |
Governor. Let US look at the record. The |
report of the prison management for 1857, |
Mr.. JohnsOn'S last term, shows 2S6 con- |
yicts. How were they employed?
Rock Quaries. .-.......--.. 136 |
Chalr-makeTS. -................... IL |
dluIeIs. $1,000. ss...'.s.-..--.- I
BlackSmltnS. ................... - |
Wagon-makerS. 81
Cabinet makers. .... ............... 9
COOpers. .....-............ss ~ |
-. NORTHUMBERLAND. 10 |
Carpenters. NORTHUMBERLAND. Z