National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-06-07

Ex-Governor Brown OF Georgia the late
Appointed Senator to Fill the Vacancy oc-
casioned by tho Res gnation of the Rebel
(soupraI Enrtnu

Appointed Senator to Fill the Vacancy Oc-
casiOned by tho Res 'gnation of the Rebel
General Gordon.
To the Editor of The National RCpuJlicdR
SIR: Brown was governor of Georgia during
tho late rebellion and wasus oarnostand positive
in his efforts TO mako the confedcracy a sue.
cess and as conscientious in all his acts Us any
man could have boon on tho side of the union
Reared and educated in the south aud identi-
fed with the southern interest, it was not sur
prising that ho fell In with the other leading
men of tine south in the secession movement.
but unlike them whom the conflict ended and
the con fodoracy collapsed, hc grounded his
arms and accepted the situation in good faith
and entered into the reconstruction move
ment with the same oarncstness that had
characterized his whole life--a progressive
man, type of modern christian civilization
and education.
He WAS merlber OF tho constitutional con-
venton In 1867 to frame the new consliu-
ton under the reconstruction acts of congress
in giving the state of Georgia republican
form of government under that constitution.
lie was active in securing the nomination of
republican governor in opposition to the
democratic nominee, General Gordon. At the
first meeting oil. the new legislature in 1868 they
had republican majority of twelve on joint
ballot; in the caucus 10 nominate u senator he
received u majority over all other candidates,
and 1t was expected he would be elected in
the legislature OH the first ballot, but it was
found on the day he was ballotcd for, that the
thirteen who had voted for Joshua Hill in
the caucus boted the caucus nominee and
continued to vote for Hill. On the second
day the democrats joined the thirteen disor-
ganizers, who held the balance Of power aud
elected Joshua Hill on the first ballot. That
so completely demoralized the republican
members they could not be concentrated on
any one man, aud the democrats took aGvan.
tugo of it and proceeded TO elect the other
senator. 1t subsequently TRANSFERRED that
Joshua Hill had made bargain with the
thirteen disorganizers, who held the balance
of power, and had an understanding with the
democratic members by which they were to
vote for him and by which he was finally
elected, and then followed the turning out Of
the twenty colored members of the legis-
lature and seating in their stead twenty eight
democrats whose skin was a shade lighter,
many of whom had not received more than
twenty votes; that completed the revolution
of the legislature and state.
The disorganized condition of the republic
can party in the state of Georgia to-day is
Uhargeablc upon Joshua Hill more than any
other man. This same sly, foxy politician,
who is always looking for the dollars more
than principle, has the check to be clamoring
for the position of postmaster-geueral under a
republican administration. He is held in con
tempt by republicans and hated by democrats
Throughout the state. But to return:
Brown was delegate to the convention
which nominated Grant and Cofax for pres.
dent and vice.president. lie was employed
| by the government to assist in the prosecution
| of the ku-klux who murdered Ashburn, for
which act he was ostracised and denounced by
| all the leading democrats in Georgia. He de-
I ,,f nulr tItn tln
democrats in turning the colored men out OF
| tho legislature and all other acts OF tho demo.
| Gratis revolutionizing the state in the summer
and fall of 1868, by which they introduced
| the ku-klux and shotgun policy and carried
the state by over 10000 majority, which eight
months before had given 10000 republican
majority. lie used his power and influence
with that of Governor Bullock to restore the
colored members to the legislature, to accom-
plish which tho state was put under military
| rule by President Grant, General Terry in
| command who ordered the reassembling OF
\ the originally elected members and II commits
sion to purge it of illegal members That
completed gave the republicans n majority
| again on joint ballot. Their first busiucs;
was to elect two United States senators
which they proceeded to do in due form Of
law, Brown declining. Farrow and Richard
| Whitley received the caucus nomination and
| were elected both were native southerner
and both stanch republicans. They pro
| cceded to Washington to take their seats
After several months delay both were refused
and Joshua Hill and Dir. Miller, elected by thC
corrupt and nortoriously illegal legislature,
| were seated by the aid of such republican sen
ators as Carl Schurz and Lyman Trumbull
that was such an Endorsement of the acts Of
the corrupt legislature that it gave the ku
| kluX new courage, and the state has been III
| their mercy and control ever since. 1t was
too, signal for other states to adopt the samC
policy. and by which the republicans have
lost every southern state.
Ex-Governor Brown, being in1exibly op
posed to the whole policy thereto, withdrew
| almost entirely from politics. 1t is under
stood he voted for Horace Greeley in 1872, no
because he had any sympathy with Tho
| bourbon democracy, but because he knew til,
man and thought u change of policy would
improve the condition of the county.
lie was appointed by Governor Bullock
chief,justice of tho supreme court of the stat,
of Georgia. He subsequently,, with Others
leased the state road for twenty years ant
resigned his position us judge to take thu
management of said road, the company agree
ing to pay $25, 900 month, one half Of which
under tho charter, goes TO the support q
schools in Georgia, and for the ten years pas
he has not failed to pay the $4,000 year a
agreed. He has done as much to shape ant
develop the system oil puDnc SCHOOLS LOT al
classes as any other man in the state.
The annual donation of $1,000 to the At
lamta university for colored students has hat
his hearty support-ho taking the grouut
that rs the Athens university had been receiv
ing the same amount for years, it was NJ
moro than right that the college for coloret
students should receive the same sum, Thi
and similar efforts to better tho condition o
the colored man in Georgia has given him
hold upon that limb Of the republican part,
that no other man in Georgia has to-day.
lie has moro brains and greater admins
trative ability perhaps, than any other mar
south of Mason & DiXons line; n highl!
cultivated mind, unclouded by intemperanc
or any other bad habits. and every true re
publican in Georgia will rejoice over TIN
change of senator's They have now what the.
ought to have had in the fall Of 1868.
| see by the bourbon papers in our stat
that Indignation meetings are being held dc
nouncng Governor Colquittt for appointing
"thc traitor Brown" senator in congress
Governor Colquit being progressive, christian
man, warmly supporting the free schools aut
measures for developing tine natural resource
of the state, ii was the most natural rs well II
the best thing for him 10 do to appoint jus
such man AS he knew Hon. Joseph e. Brow
to be- 1t is an evidence Of determination t
H.. 4, t.... N..N. L.