Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-04-21

demonstrates that an overwhelming major
ty of the Assembly were in perfect accord
with me in favoring the amendment. 1t
was not | who cndeavored to "control
the Legislature but it was Presi-
dent johnson who did this
thing. Why, to such an ex-
tent did johnson encourage the traitors
and seditionists Of the State that weak
minded, petty Judge of petty criminal
court issued an injunction against the Ser
geant-at-Arms OF the Legislature, restrain
ing him, while acting under the orders of
the House. from holding in custody a
member arrested for contempt and viola
ton Of its rules. On the Legislature disre-
garding the injunction of this petty Judge
and contemplate tool ofunrepentant rebels,
rebel Sheriff, under the orders of the
Judge, and backed by rebel mob, over
powered the Sergeant at Arms, and forci-
bly, made an entrance into the State House,
taking the recusant members from the Gus
tody of the officers Of the Legislature, al
most precipitating bloody riot. Subse-
quently the Legislature most righteously
punished the Judge by impeachment and
removal from office.
When l contemplate the lawless, sedi-
tious and revolutionary conduct of An
drew johnson in his endeavors to bully
and bribe, with Federal offices, the Legis-
lature of "the sovereign State of Ten
ne.see and his censure OF President Grant
for not strictly observing the policy of
"uon-interference in the local affairs of
the States, can recur to only one "paral-
lei in all my observation and reading to
his unblushing impudencc. 1t was when
Richard Brinsley Sheridan was taken by
the police of London from the gutter in
state parallel to that Of A. johnson
when inaugurated as Nice-PrCsident, and
questioned as to his name he responded
Wilberforcc
johnson himself inadvertently knocks
down 'the man of straw" he had previous
ly set up when he says in this speech re-
ferring to the Legislature; " 1t has the
power to compel the attendance of absent
members, thereby making inherent in the
body the power to preserve its Organization
and its existence The Legislature did Just
this and nothing else when it called upon
me, as Governor, to aid in t. compelling
the attendance, of these revolutionary
tools of johnson who openly stood in con-
tempt of the House, endeavoring to des-
troy its existence, and Boosting On the floor
of the Representative Hall and Capitol
that the President would stand by them in
their seditious work.
Why, if, as johnson asserts the majority
of the Legislature were opposed to my adj
vocacy of the amendment, how happened
majority of the whole body of the Legisla-
ture, including those absent rs well as
present, favored its ratification
And it, as he says, the Legislature MS Il
body were opposed to it, why did he deem
it necessary to advise his tools in the AS
sembly to "bolt" from their places and
reduce the House below quorum SO as to
defeat ratification?
1t will thus be seen that | have com.
pletely swept away the only part of his
speech which is regarded as pertinent by
even such journals in the North as have
favorably commented upon it. johnson is
anxious to find parallel case" and
failing to find it in Tennessee and Louisi-
ana, his poverty of resources leaves him
withouta parallel" l will give it to
him. a. j. big rebels bolted from Con-
gress in 1861 to break up Congress and des-
trey the country but they didn't succeed.
Andrew Johnson's little rebels bolted from
the Republican Tennessee Legislature in
1866 to prevent quorum and destroy the
State Government, and they didn't sue
coed.
Andrew johnson and myself made war
on each other about SO years ago, and
have kept itup without intermission ever
since, save during brief period when he
threw up the sponge" and made over
lures for peace. Now that he has renewed
the war in the Senate, l say to him:
- Lay on, MociuiT;
And danud be himtaat first cries, Hold enough.
w. G. BRowNLow,
Editor Kaorciite Wig and Chronicle.
/ Knoxville, Tenn, April 7, 1875.