The New York herald., 1874-09-13
SENATOR BR0WNL0W,
Opinions Of the Eminent TenneSseean On
the Recent Troubles.
The Civil Rights Bill the Prelude
to a Military Despotism.
THE SOUTH AND THE THIRD TERM

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Sept. 10, 1874.
This morning your correspondent called at the
residence Of Senator Brownow on Cumberland
street in this city. 1t is proper to state that his
health has been much improved by his protracted
sojourn in his old home He enjoys joke Keenly
and laughs heartily when good story Is told in
his presence. l need hardly state that he watches
the course OF political events closely, and now that
Tennessee is unit, the whole white population
having accepted his opinions as these anect the
Civil Rights bill, the Senator is deeply interested
III the course OF events in Alabama and other
southern States. In Alabama the iercest political
conflict that has been waged since 1S40 Is now
pending, and the very results predicted by
Senator BrownlOw in December last have super
vened. The Civil Rights bill has shaped the issue,
and the contest is one OF races and not OF parties
1t Is not only political but social and personal.
The white man who votes with the negro becomes,
IN the eyes OF the popuace. negro and is assigned
negro position in social lie. 1t may be wrong or
unwise or absurd. but such is the TACT and states
men must recognize lacts
When entered Senator Brownlow's apartment
found him lying on a sofa surrounded by gentle
men from different parts of the country. They
were engaged in discussing the very questions
which now engage popular attention everywhere.
/ asked the Senator whether he had read the
HERALD'S editorial of the 4th inst defining the
condition OF the South. He answered that he had,
and that he was deeply interested in this admirable
exposition OF the condition. fortunes and feeling Of
the south. Moreover, he said. "the philosophy
OF the article Is mainly sound, and as whole II is
then asked, "To what Senator. do you ascribe
the frequent recurrence of collisions between
whites and blacksy'
Senator BROW wNLow-Plainly enough the number
OF these deplorabe incidents have been multiplied
o. late. and they have their origin in the Civil
Rights bin. Negro speakers and newspapers and
UlSuUleSt, uQsclupulOuS aGVeuturerS DOl'
nave fastened on the negro mind the CONVICTION
and destroy the last barrier between the races
not only investing the negro with every social
privilege he would enjoy but ooliterate every dis.
tlnctlon made bv the God OF nature and by negro
instincts and habits of lie, shaped and crySalZed
through countless centuries
CORRESPONDENT-ln view OF the fact that hos
tllty 10 tue Civil Rights bill is universal among
wnites OF the South what will PROBABLY be the con-
duct OF the North?
SENAToR-There is but one of two courses to
be pursued. Either the North must recognize the
palpabe fact that the social relations OF the races
must he lett to regulate themselves, without the
intervention OF the making power, or the
civil Rights BILL becoming the law. must be en-
forced at the point OF the oayOnet. In other
words the enactment OF the bill is the instant
transformation OF our republican system OF gov
despotisn. How soon the North would lose its
liberties alter those OF the Southern States were
annihliated would be question for one mana
NINE. While President Grant is apable, in nv
opinion, OF such conduct. yet a President WELD.
IHp lHe army duu udNluR III distributed
over the South to preserve the peace
would nave absolute control over elections in
fifteen States. The white people would not vote
ana elections would be larcicai Not only are the
fortunes or the South. but quite as deeply are
those o. the North, involved IN the defeat o the
Civil Rights bill.
CORRESPONDENT What do you think Of the third
term and OF Grants assent TO a candidaturep
SENAToR-Much nonsense has been written
about the dangers OF TINS proposed elevation OF
President Grant in point OF honor above
MS predecessors In the high ONCE he
has administered most wisely and well.
Do you Know that Andrew Jackson
would have held a third term II his health had not
been impaired by his residence in the White House
by the wound inflicted IN a duel and by his grow.
ing old age? Hon. John Bell. OF this State used 10
ten in conversation (and Mr. Bell was incapable Of
1asen0od) long after Jackson died, that such
were the intentions and such the ambition OF the
hero OF the Hermitage, and Jackson was not the
less patriot or hero or statesman. His third
term would have been nothing more than an ex.
tension OF the first two and popular liberty
as perfect alter as before the event Such would
be the issue OF Grants third term, and can only
gay that II Grant vetoes the Civil Rights bill he
can carry each southern State having white
majority.
senator Brownlow severely denounced the out
RACES recently committed IN Gibson and other
counties OF Tennessee, and said he was well
pleased TO find that Governor Brown had gone in
person to the OF these Outrages to assure the
arrest OF the murdererS