Year: 1861

PLAIN TALK by PARSoN BRowNLOW.


The following paragraphs from one of Parson
Brownlow's leaders in the Knoxville whig, just
beford the recent Tennessee election, tell the
truth in bold, free way that is very effective
If every southern state had Parson Brownloy
the Union would be safe -


al am willing to risk myself and state, under
the administration OF Abraham Lin. oln. | am
not, however, willing to submit to the outrages
the fre-eaters of the South allcge that Mr.
Ii coin intends to commit upon the South
do not believe that he will NEEDLE with the in
stitution of slavery where it is, or seek to de-
prive the South of any right she holds under
the constitution. And | believe that he will
enforce the constitution and laws of the United
States, as his oath of Office requires him to do,
and as Justice to the various sections Of the
Union demands at his hands. have submitted
to the administration of James Buchanan for
four years, and my state has done so, without a
mummur, and | hold that Lincoln could not
afford the country more corrupt, partial, and
infamous administration, if he we're to try
Lincoln was elected under the forms prescribed
by our constitution and laws, and without fraud
at the ballot box, and il is the duty Of all good
citizens to give him fair test, before they con-
demn him. | went into the contest against
Lincoln, as did also my state, knowing him to
he sectional candidate, upon a sectional plat
form, and as we were fairly beaten, we feel
bound in honor 10 abide by our defeat. for four
years to come The reign of Lincoln for TWEEN
ty years. upon even the Chicago platform, is
preferable to the breaking up of this govern
ment. Secession is no remedy for an evil that
may arise in our government and | deny its
right. The right of revolution | admit, but
| deny that such remedy is called for in the
present crisis of our affairs | will be told OF
the many grievances we Of the South have suf-
fered al the hands of the North. | have con-
sidered the nature of these grievances, and
their effects upon the commerce, trade and re.
liSion of the South. and they may be expressed
in the following words: The democracy of the
South have lost the office OF the government
and its immense patronage! And large ma
joriiy of the free and Independent people OF
Tennessee, taking this view of the subject, they
will refuse to 90 out of the Union.


"Ihere is scarcely man of talent and charac-
ter living, even at the North under whose adj
ministration of the general government would
not prefer TO live, rather than live in a southern
coniederaCy, controlled and governed by the
traitors and villains who have originated and
carried out this wicked, daring and damnable
scheme of secession. The senators of seve,
states have been sitting in their seats as sena-
tors sworn to support the constitution of the
United States, and to act as the privy counsel
of the president, and at the same time they
were holding secret meetings, plotting the over
throw of the government and constitution they
had sworn to sustain and support. | consider
Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr patriots and
honest men, compared with these traitors and
I : 1 1
live under any government organized by such
corrupt, wicked and hell-deserving men as
these This whole scheme for dissolving this
Union was originated and carried out by such
men as these Corrupt, designing and dsap-
pointed southern politicians. who failing to
control the government, resolved upon its ruin.
There are better men in Hell, suffering the ven
geance of eternal fire, than the southern lead
ers in this secession movement