Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-12
Speaking on Monday.


Monday last was the day appointed for
Senator johnson and Hon. T. A. r. Nelson
to address their fellow-citiZens at this place.
4 large crowd was in attendance to hear for
themselves the respective positions of these
distinguished gentlemen, and few tor the
ubiquitous purpose of preventing the former
from being heard. Near noon Mr.. Nelson
addressed them few remarks from the steps
of the Court House, announcing that, On ac-
count of the action of the County Court,
which was in session, refusing to let them
speak in the Court House, they would speak
from the porch il front of the law Office of
W. II. Maxwell, Esq, and expressing the wish
that those who did not want TO hear them
would stay away, and let those listen that
wished to. Mr.. Nelson also took the vote of
the crowd in favor and against their speak
ing, which resulted largely in favor of their
speaking Mr.. johnson fret made his ap-
pearance on the stand, and was greeted with
cheers and grOans. Alter waiting moment
for the subsistence of the noise aud confusion
he commenced speaking, and again COM
menced the noise, assisted by the beating of
large drum-by some one whose head was
as empty as the instrument he was pounding
at a short distance. Some gentleman ap-
pealed to the disturbers to cease their moi
but if the ring leaders had made the same
appeal it would have been in vain, as it is
very seldom that those who raise storm
are able to control it. And here, in kind
| ness we would say to the leaders of the 'spre-
| cipitatOrs'' beWarel the inventor of the guilO-
| tine was its first victim. Bewarti You NAV
| excite the passions of the people to such an
| extent that you may find it necessary to pro-
| tect the lives and property of innocent peO-
pie to throw yourselves into the breach and
oppose them, and certain as you do they
will look upon you as double traitors and
meet out to you what you have learned them
\ to measure out TO others.
Mr.. Nelson then came forward and address
| ed the crowd and tolerable order was kept
while he was speaking, as no one seemed to
| have any objection to him. But owing to the
unfavOrable weather, the crowd having to
| stand up, together with the noise made by the
| drilling of the vOlunteer-the banging of a
couple of drums and the squeaking of fife
or tYo-it was impossible to hear with that
| satisfaction that attends good order. Mr..
| Nelson was listened to attentively-and his
address. though not delivered with that sys-
| TEN which he usually observes, was an i'm
pressive one. After speaking of the circum-
stances and Vaccinations which had brought
| on the difficulties that surround us, he said
his position, as we understood him in sub
| stance, was for the State to remain neutral,
| if possible, if not, for her to remain true to
| the government so long as it adhered to the
Constitution. With the Constitution for his
guide the path tc walk in was plain-while
to desert it lead over burning plow-shares
and crumbling VOLCANOES. He could not, un-
| less Lincoln was the greatest liar living, be-
| lieve that this was 10 be a war of sutjuga-
| ton; if he could, he would, instead of coun-
| selling neutrality. cry to arms! to armsI
After Mr.. Nelson closed, Mr.. johnson came
| forward, and commenced speaking. He was
again interrupted by some few in the crowd
| aud by the galloping up and down the street
| of a squad of men, who made it convenient
| as they passed by to exercise their talent for
yelling. Notwithstanding this and the fall
| ing of a heavy rain, large number gathered
| around the Governor determined to hear him
| through. But the rain coming down in per-
| feet torrent, he was obliged TO desiss. Like
Capitals Sally billiards we rolled up our
pants, and Waded over to our ofice-and this
is all we know about the speaking.
p. S.,-positively so--we learn that Gov.
Johnson finished his speech in the basement
story of The Courthouse.