Year: 1866

lde, IN the course OF WHICH ne VlnQlcateQ the MOI


men OF Congress, and spoke frankly and generously


of Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner for valu
| able aid to the Union cause in voting men and


money to aid in suppressng the rebellion the reso


utions that had received the sanction of President


johnson were offered and adopted.


The following are these resolutions:


| l. We cherish with tender and grateful hearts


the great virtues the profound craftsmanship, the


far-reaching wisdom the constant and sublime faith


the upright and christian life the generous nature


the exalted spirit and constant patriotism of our late


lamented martyred President, Abraham Lincoln.
! z. The authority of the General Government is


paramount all over the country. The States are an


integral part of the nation and cannot for any cause


either secede be excluded from its blessings OF


obligations.


8. The men who have saved the Government are
| the men who ought to adm Mister it, whether they


labored in council, in the field on the Deep through


the press at the balotbox or in whatever way they


rendered aid TO the national cause or expressed their
| sympathy with it.


4. Those inhabitants who, for any cause, de-


MED the exercise of political power shall neverthe-


less have the benefit of equal laws and be protected
| in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
| 3. We confide in the craftsmanship, patriotism,


and integrity of the President of the United States


and in the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the
army and navy of the United States who in the past
have manifested their devotion and gallantry in be-
half of the Government, and who have so harmo-
niously and successfully co-Operaed to the life
of the nation.


6. We have labored and triumphed with these
departments in the past, so in the future will we
trust to their craftsmanship patriotism justice, and
| magnanimity.


Z. We earnestly deprecate any schisms among
those who, in the different departments of the Gov
ernment represent the loyal sentiment and power of
the nation.


8. The early admission of our Senators and mem
bers of Congress earnestly DESIRE not merely as
act of simple justice but essential to the pro-


lection and remuneration of the loyal people of their
State, and to the maintenance of the Government
which they have labored unitedly and successfully
to establish


It is curious circumstances in this connection that
while Stokes was speaking Andrew Johnsons sem
timents at Nashville on the 22d of February, 1866
Andrew johnson was at Washington taking pre-
csely different course, and throwing opprobrium on
his pledges and his principles. 1t only two days
| after that Colonel Stokes discovered that while he


was defending the radical Unionists at Nashville
| Andrew johnson denouncing them as traitors
at Washington. When Colonel Stokes returned to
Washington he discovered that the doors of the
White House was closed against him. The hand
that had been warmly extended to welcome him was
cold and corpse-lke. In vain did he endeavor to
obtain admission. Copperheads filled the halls and
usurped the time of the President and too soon it
appeared that the order had been issued to prescribe


him and all who agreed with him.


A brief history of the character Of the men re-
commended by Colonel Stokes for the appointments
of internal revenue officers in his district by the
request of and subsequently rejected by the Pres-
dent including notice of those who have been as
signed these positions, as well leading events in
| the career of Colonel Stokes during and since the
! rebellion, may not be uninteresting and will form
fitting conclusion to this article.


The collection districts were laid off with regard
to convenience and cOmpactness and some difficulty
therefore existed in making the appointments of the
hoFr-o
bers. 1t was agreed upon by the President, Com
missioner Rollins Messrs Fowler, Magruder, Stokes
and Others to change them so to conform to the
congressional lines. This due expressly to give
each member the control of the appointments in his
own district. About this time the President issued
his order giving Union soldiers the preference
Stokes had recommended previously, in December,
j. W. Bowen for assessor, and Captain A. NJ. Cate
Union soldier, gentleman well qualified in every
respect for cOllector-whO voted for Lincoln and
johnson, and also for Judge Patterson as United
States Senator. Captain c. served three years in
the Federal army, and was one of the men employed
by the Government to burn the bridges the rail-
roads in East Tennessee While some were caught
and hung Captain G. made his escape and joined
the Federal army On this account his property was
taken destroyed. He is at this time State Sem
ator Stokes, on learning the President order and
desiring to act in harmony with him, recalled the
name of Bowen and nominated Lieutenant Colonel
Thomas Waters, who had served gallantly for three
years in the cause of the Union, and rose from a
private to Lieutenant Colonel. If being brave
soldier having peried his life for his country, a
good business man, of moral and strictly temperate
habits of upright life and purity of character,
titled man to consideration, then Colonel Waters
merits any position he may desire. He was firm
supporter of Lincoln and johnson, and advocated
Johnsons policy as laid down by him in l864-65.
Colonel Stokes district lies in Middle and East Ten
nessee. Stokes desired to give each portion one of
| the Offices The Presidents nominees, Bowen and
Garret, reside within six miles of each other and
| both were members Of the Tennessee Legislature,
elected the general ticket by the loyal men of the
State. Lieutenant Colonel Garret served about one
| year in the Federal army, and commanded during
that time what was known as the home guards
When the Legislature endeavoring to pass the
bill to keep the Government in the hands of loyal
men in February last Garret and Bowen turned
their backs upon the Union men and declared for
equal privileges for the rebels and the Union man.
| and were among the leaders in trying to break up
the Legislature and destroy the State government
which President johnson had inaugurated. They
resigned their seats in order to reduce the Legisa
induced by the fact that the rebels threatened to
disregard ard annul the franchise law enacted by
the very Legislature convened by the agency of
Governor johnson. The address of Gov. Brownlow
clearly and unequivocally sets forth the following
positions;


First. The rebellion overthrow the Tennessee
government, resulting in anarchy and confusion, and
IL DeCdule Iue uuIy OF Ine feucTdl 0OVCrnuenG 10
restore republican form Of government. We copy
from the address


In order that all who desire may understand the
basis and true foundation of the present constitution
and government of Tennessee, l propose, in few
plain words, to show its validity and constitution
ality.


The Constitution of the United States declares
that "the United States shall guarantee to every
State in this Union republican form Of govern
ment." The government Of Tennessee was usurped
by military despotsm resulting in anarchy and a
reign of terror. Our noble and glorious National
Government determined, at the cost of many thou


its duty by guaranteeing to free government.
Both military and civil measures had 10 be brought
into requistion. The military performed its duty
in blood on the field of battle. But it appointed
civilian in the person Of the present honored Chief
Magistrate OF the nation TO carry out such civil pol
icy as was found necessary to execute in good faith
its guarantee to the people After over three years
of patient toll his labors resulted in the establish
ment Of the government now in power, which is so
fercey denounced. 1t is his workmanship the fruit
OF his mind, acting under national authority, and
proudly proclaimed by him the supreme law of the
State OF Tennessee, and from his heart he con-
graduated the people the happy result Do any
suppose he will not stand by it and mai ntan it with
the force of the nation? Strange to say there are
those who not understanding the man or his duty,
declare that he will not sustain IT, but will set it
aside and not allow the Legislature to meet again


1t may be relief TO the friends of the new gov
ernment to be assured that most Of those who so
claim to represent the President are men in whose
| honesty he never had any confidence The Presi-
oent Will sustain his model scheme of reconstructng
! the government of the rebelous States and that


with Just SO much force applied in Just such manner
| as may be necessary.