CHAPTER XV:

TERRORISM IN TENNESSEE.

THE People of Tennessee Vote against a State Convention on Secession - The Legislature in Secret Session enter into a Military League with the Rebel Government The Ordinance of Secession to be Voted on under an Atrocious Terrorism - Rebel Soldiers Raised and Taxes Levied without Law — Union Men Hunted out of the State - Horrible Tyranny - Secessionists' hatred of Johnson - Indignities offered to him -- Assailed in the Railway Cars, meets the Ruffians - Attends the Union Convention in East Tennessee Fine Reception and Speech in Cincinnati - The Abominable Doctrine of Secession to be Totally Annihilated - The Difficulties not the result of Local Animosity Government or no Government- Affairs in Tennessee Bound Hand and Foot by the Rebels-Gallant Stand by Union Men Johnson speaks in the Senate after the Battle of Bull Run - Ordeals through which a Nation must pass - No Compromise with Armed Traitors tendency to One-man Power -"Harris a king and Baugh a Despot” — Let the Battle go on - Supports the Resolution to Expel Jesse D. Bright from the Senate Bright a Satrap of the South - Bright and the Oath of Office Clingman's Compliment to Johnson.

Rebel

NOTWITHSTANDING the attempt to popularize the aims of "the great Southern party" in Tennessee, and to commit it into an apparent consideration of the secession question, the people, by an overwhelming vote, decided not to hold a State Convention. In the face of this popular determination, the Governor, Isham G. Harris, convened the Legisla ture, which, in extraordinary and secret session, on the 1st of May passed a joint resolution authorizing the Governor to enter into a military league with the rebel government. On the 6th it also passed an act to submit for ratification. or rejection," a declaration of independence and ordinance dissolving the Federal relation between the State of Tennessee and the United States of America." Eastern Tennessee, bordering on the Alleghany mountains, was, like

Western Virginia, thoroughly devoted to the Union. The pretended submission of the declaration and ordinance was the greatest mockery. The terrorism in the State was of the most atrocious nature.

The Legislature, in secret session, without waiting for the people to vote upon the ordinance of secession, or even to read it, proceeded at once without even the pretense of popular or any other authority to place the whole power and military resources of the State at the disposal of the "Southern Confederacy," and invited the armies of that Confederacy upon Tennessee soil, thus putting it out of the power of the Tennessee people to exercise through the ballot-box or any other way, the slightest discretion or liberty of choice in deciding what their State should or should not do. After the secret passage of the ordinance the disunion leaders devoted themselves to the raising of troops, marshaling them into the "Confederate" service, and without form or pretext of law, levied monstrous taxes for their support. It was obvious that in such a state of affairs the "popular vote" which the leaders, for the sake of appearances, were determined to have in their favor, could have no meaning whatever. By the machinery of mobs and vigilance committees dextrously worked, they expelled by night and day thousands of bold and true Union men from all parts of the State. They muzzled the editors, manufactured public opinion by holding meetings, and giving notice to the champions of the country who had hitherto swayed and moulded the popular mind that their lives would pay the penalty of advocating the Union. It was universally proclaimed that every voter on going to the poll should expose his ballot to the bystanders," the plan being to beat, or maim, or kill all who should have the audacity to vote for the Union." "We have seen scores of the best men of Tennessee," said a competent authority writing at the time," within the last few days, * Louisville (Ky.) Journal, edited by G. D. Prentice.

and they all bear witness that, in their belief, the reign of terror now raging and maddening in that State, has had no parallel in modern history. There is less of personal freedom, there is more of atrocious and horrible tyranny in Tennessee at this time than could be found under the worst and most wretched governments of Asia or the savage islands of the sea."

The tone of Johnson's speeches of course drew upon the speaker all the ire of the secessionists, and many efforts were made in the South to show that he had no sympathy in that region. He however fearlessly proceeded homeward. Passing through Lynchburg, a large crowd assembled, groaned and hissed at him. At Liberty, in the same State, it is said the mob was for going to greater extremities with him. He was assailed on a Sunday in the railway cars by an infuriated rebel mob, and only escaped their mad vengeance by the prompt courage which has sustained him through life in every emergency. Pistol in hand he met and appalled the ruffians, following up his advantage by driving them back; while his own life, as well as the lives of some of those who attempted his assassination, were saved by the presence of the ladies traveling with him.

But his persecutions did not stop here. In his own State and elsewhere in the South, after the frenzy of rebellion had fairly seized the public mind, he was, in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, and various other points of less note, hung and shot in effigy, and every insult and indignity offered to his name that a maddened populace could impose. Some papers in Tennessee, under traitor control, regarded the announcement that Andrew Johnson would make his appearance at the head of a Union "Lincoln force" as a delusion. Johnson, however, was not to be deterred. At the East Tennessee Union Convention, May 30, at Cincinnati, in June, and again in the Senate in the extra session succeeding

the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln-at all places where it was necessary, his trumpet tones proclaimed the glory of the Union cause and the infamy of treason.

At Cincinnati, on June 19, Senator Johnson was welcomed by the people in not only unmistakable but enthusiastic terms of approval. He arrived without any idea or expectation that such a reception was in store for him, and the effect was such, after the indignities which had been heaped upon him by disloyalists that he was almost overpowered, and for a time felt that he could not express himself. He had words, but not such as could give atterance to his feelings. He was inspired, however, by the knowledge that the cordiality and sympathy extended to him by the men of Ohio, was heartfelt and sincere. Thanking the assemblage for their kind welcome and their welcome sympathy, he declared that, while he was a citizen of a Southern State, he was also a citizen of the United States, and in the latter position he was willing to abide by its Constitution. He was proud to hear what had been said in reference to the relations existing between the sections, and "the pending difficulties which are now upon the country, do not grow out of any animosity to the local institutions of any section."

"I am glad to be assured that it grows out of a determination to maintain the glorious principles upon which the Government itself rests the principles contained in the Constitution-and, at the same time, to rebuke and to bring back, as far as may be practicable, within the pale of the Constitution, those individuals, or States even, who have taken it upon themselves to exercise a principle and doctrine at war with all government, with all association-political, moral and religious. I mean the doctrine of secession, which is neither more nor less than a heresy, a fundamental error, a political absurdity, coming in conflict with all organized government, with every thing that tends to preserve law and order in the United States, or wherever else the odious and abominable doctrine may be attempted to be exercised. I look upon the doctrine of secession as coming in conflict with all organism, moral and social. I repeat, without regard to the peculiar institutions of the respective States

composing this confederacy; without regard to any Government that may be founded in the future, or exists in the present, this odious doctrine of secession should be crushed out, destroyed, and totally annihilated. No Government can stand; no religious, or moral, or social organizations can stand where this doctrine is tolerated. It is disintegration-universal dissolvement--in making war upon every thing that has a tendency to promote and ameliorate the condition of the mass of mankind. Therefore, I repeat, that this odious and abominable doctrine-you must pardon me for using a strong expression-I do not say it in a profane sense-but this doctrine I conceive to be -hell-born and hell-bound, and one which will carry every thing in its train, unless it is arrested and crushed out from our midst."

Laying his hand upon his breast, and pledging himself by its truth and honor, he said he felt gratified at hearing the sentiments that had been uttered, that all were willing to stand up for the constitutional rights guaranteed to every State and citizens of States composing one grand confederacy, whether we belonged to the North or the South, or the East or the West. He regarded these sentiments as conclusive evidence that "there was no disposition on the part of any citizens of the loyal States to make war upon any peculiar institution of the South, whether it be slavery or any thing else-leaving that institution under the Constitution, to be controlled by time, circumstances and the great laws which lie at the foundation of all things which political legislation can control." This declaration was frequently interrupted by applause. Justifying his posi tion in the United States Senate, he said:

"I believe that a Government without the power to enforce its laws, made in conformity with the Constitution, is no Government at all. We have arrived at that period in our national history at which it has become necessary for this Government to say to the civilized, as well as to the Pagan world, whether it is in reality a Government, or whether it is a pretext for a Government. If it has power to preserve its existence, and to maintain the principles of the Constitution and the laws, that time has now arrived. If it is a