Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-19
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Mr.. StOkess Speech at SmithVIIIe-Carx
from Robert CantrelIs Esq.

Mr. StOkes' Speech at Smith Vflle-CarS
from RObest Cantrells Esq.
SMrTHYILLE, Aug Is. 1860.
Elitors of Tie Union and Arnsrican-DEAR SIRs 1
see card of Col VIM B. STOKES in the Patriot of the
10th instant IN which he refers to a communication
in the UNION AND AMERICAN with regard to speech
made by him IN this place the 2lst of July, 1861
in which card find the following language: " Isee
in the UNION AND AMERICAN an account of speech
made by me at Smithville in which am reported to
have said that the Black Republicans told Col HAT
TON and myself that if the election was thrown into
tn, House of Representatives they would vote for
Mr.. BELL / state emphatically that the reporter
misFepresents my language s,ttf ''.
wrote the letter to the UNION AND AMERIcly from
which the above language was taken, and state "em-
2hatcaily that think the Col used the language,
and l think injustice has been done him; and in
putting the matter right :" he has done me great
injustice doubtless nnocently, as prescme he did
no: know who wrote the communication.
/ took notes of his speech at the request of
political friend; wrote the letter with my notes
before me, and sent it off by the next mail and not
wishing to 60 him injustice, therefore submitted
my letter (containg the points made in his speech
to the Hon. J. H. SAVAGE, Dr. J. j. GowEN, and l. C.
STONE, Esq., who heard the speech and who concur
red with me in the statements I made as to the
points made by him in his speech with one solitary
exception: Col. SAVAGE thought Stokes spoke of f-
teen States that the Republicans were to give BELL
and EVERETT and had it fourteen. l consider that
immaterial error, if ALL and therefore did
not interline it. The point | was making was that
Col STOKES, Col HATroN, and the Black Republicans
had an arrangement by which their strength was
to be thrown to BELL If the election went to Con-
gress. EtfE
made four points in my letter all of which 1
submitted to the above gentlemen while the matter
all fresh and they endorsed the positions as
rect, which as follows:
lst. That Col STOKES stated in his speech, that
the South Americans in the last Congress went to
Black Republicans and procured them to withdraw
Mr.. SHERMAN as a candidate for Speaker and put up
Mr.. PENNINGTON.
I'd. That he and Col HATToN were informed
by the Black Republicans before they left Wash
ington that in the event the election of President
went to the House of Representatives the Black
Republicans would cast the Of the States they
had control of for BELL and EvsRETT He stated also
that the DOUGLAS men preferred BELL and EVERETT
to BREcKNRIDGE, and therefore, Illinois would go
tor BELL In the House.
Sd. That if BRECKENRIDGE was elected, that he
would not be permitted to administer the Govern
ment; he made the same remark with regard to
LINCOLN, and stated that the hostility great
between the DOUGLAS men and BRECKINRIDGE be-
tween the Democracy and LINCOLN
4th. That he would not say whether Congress had
the power to legslate the subject of Slavery or
not; =" ignoring" as ] understood the constitutional
question to the power of Congress to pass the
"Wimot Proviso' and abolish Slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia. These are the points made by
Col STOKES in his speech and that gave in my let
ter, which feel satisfied are correctly given l do
not pretend to give Col. STOKES exact words, but
the substance of his remarks on the positions taken
by him.
have always regarded Col. STOKES as my personal
friend and feel sure that he will not believe that
will do him intentional injustice, and to convince
the Colonel of that fact and set myself right
this matter, / send you tie statements of several
gentlemen who were present and heard the speech
and heard it just did. will add that there are
several BELL men who heard the speaking that have
admitted the UNIONS statement as to Col Stokes
position with regard to the Republicans promising
Col STOKES and HATToN to vote for BELL, to be cor
rect. Yours, &c. ROBERT CANTRELI.
We state that Mr. Cantrell submitted to us bis