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

more fictitious than Andrew Johnson's
his policy had been non.interference"
in the affairs Of the State And there is no
more comparison between the cases of Lou
isiana and Tennessee than there is between
day and night. Such, l feel confident, will
be the verdict of the hundreds of thou
sands Of intelligent readers of the Tribune,
who will peruso this letter.. | shall state
nothing as a fact which will not defy the
most searching criticism Of Mr.. Johnson's
friends and my enemies.
What are the facts In Louisiana there
was a controversy, resulting in bloodshed,
as to who was the Executive Of the State,
and there was a contest as to who we're
members of the Legislature, many seats
in the body being claimed by two or more
contestants
In Tennessee there was no controversy as
to who was the Executive. No person but
myself was a candidate for or made claim
to the election to that office, which was
held under the proclamation Of thi, same
Andrew johnson "a, Military Governor
Nor was there any controversy as TO single
seat in the Legislature. Both my election
and that of the Legislature were recognized
by johnson after he, unfortunately for the
county, became President of the United
States
The sole question in controversy in Ton
ncssee was whether in palpablr violation
of the Constitution Of the State a small
minority Of the Legislature, acting under
the advice of Andrew johnson as Presi-
dent Of the United States, should, by law
less, revolutionary means block legislation
and break up the Legislature Of the State.
This was the sole question as the record
shows. The statements OF Senator John
son to the contrary are what you Northern
people term disappearing the truth Of
history" but what we in Tennessee call
unmitigated lying
As Governor of the State and contrary
to the wishes Of Andrew johnson, 1 con-
vened the Legislature in extraordinary
session for the purpose Of submitting to it
for ratification or rejection the Fourteenth
Article Of amendment to the Constitution,
which had only recen ly been proposed by
Congress Nobody will pretend that there
was anything irregular or illegal in my
calling an extra session of the Legislature,
or the manner of my doing it. l acted
throughout clearly in obedience to the Con
stitution and laws Of the State.
But Andrew johnson as President de-
terrnined to interfere in the administration
of the government Of the State, and did in
terferc in as fagranta manner as President
Grant i, even charged with doing by the
Democratic press Of to-day, or by this same
Andrew johnson, He had the etIrontery
to endeavor to browbeat and bully me md
the loyal majority of the Legislature asso-
ciated with me into ncquiescence in that
miserable political abortion known rs MY
policy"
The sequel, however, proved that be was
barking up the wrong tree, and when he
issued orders to me ne was not dealing with
Perry Of South Carolina, or one of the
Provisional Governors of the Cotton States,
who held his commission. and felt that they
owed their position to him. ! was uomina-
ted and elected bv the oval people Of the
State, and in defiance of the known oppo-
sition Of An rev johnson Ia convon-
ton Of five hundred and thirty or forty
delegates, ! was nominated by accclams-
ton, and that too after Andrew johnson
had been laboring for weeks to prevent it.
In this large number of delegates there
were, perhaps, fifteen or twenty who would
have supported some person known to be
slavishly subservient to the purposes Of
johnson, had their doing so enabled them
to hope for success. johnson opposed me
because he desired to hold at the same time
the Offices of Vice President and Governor
Of Tennessee From his previous knowl-
edge Of 10y character he apprehended diff
fculty in running the State Government
of Tennessee while held the office of Coy
ernor. In his speech in the Senate he said,
"Gov Brownlow became refractory This
Is the secret of his opposition to me. He
wanted Governor who would not be Ere
fract1ry' to the policy of Andrew John
son. But against his energetic protest |
" ~ il.'I4lllNl'A NA-HN AIlliH ~ ar l4Nh ca ~
time before his betrayal Of the Republican
party, that ala not have larger share of
the confidence of the loyal people Of the
State than this unscrupuIoas politician.
Recurring TO President johnson r attempt
90 influence the action Of the Legislature
on the proposed Fourteenth Amendment,
l will say that several days before the meet
ing Of the Legislature, johnson ascertained
that majority of the body would vote for
the amendment. To carry out his lawless
purpose to defeat the amendment, his ennis
sarias came from Washington to Tennessee,
and wrote from the Capitol TO their
friends in this State that 'the President
desired that the Legislature be broken up
rather than the amendment be ratified. "
| 1t became understood al Nashville that
members who would bolt and aid in the
revolutionary scheme conceived and inau-
gurated by President johnson to defeat
the amendment would be rewarded by ed
/ cral appointments.
/ And it is singular coincidence that
many Of these seditionists were subsequent
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