Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-04-03
Speech of Parson Brownlow.

The Nashville papers publish the follow.
ing speech of Parson Brownlow delivered
in front of the 81. Cloud Hotel, Nash
vile, on the evening of the 18th inst
1t has the genuine old Brownlow ring
He has been Gagged by the rebels, not con
ouered Brownlow said.
GENrLFMEN: ! am in sad plight to
say much of interest-to thoroughly inca
pacitated to do justice 10 you or myself
NV throat has been disordered for the past
three years, and l have been compelled to
almost abandon public speaking. Last
December I was thrust into an uncomfort-
able and disagreeable jail-for what p
Treason! Treason TO the bogus Confed
eracy; and the proofs of that treason were
articles which appeared in the Knoxilie
Wing in May last, when the State Of Ten
uessee was member of the imperishable
Union. AT the expiration of four weeks,
became a victim of the typhoid fever,
and was removed to room in a decent
dwelling, and guard Of seven men kept
me company. l subsequently became SO
weak that | could not turn over in my bed,
and the guard increased to twelve men, for
fear l should suddenly recover and run
away to Kentucky. Becoming GONZALES
cent, in measure | was removed to my
former place Of confinement. One day L
was visited by some Confederate officers,
who remarked, "Brownlow you should not
he here. Take the oath of allegiance to
the Confederate Government, which will
not only entitle you to speedy release,
but insure your protection" "Sir!" said l,
"before l would take the oath TO support
such hell-forsaken institution, l would
suffer myself to rot, or die with old age
Why my friends, these demagegues act
ually boast that the Lord is upon their
side, and declare that God Almighty is as
sistiug them in the furtherance of their me-
farious prsiast. In Knoxville and sur
rounding u lhies, short time since, daily
prayer meetings were held, wherein the
Almighty was beseeched TO raise Lincoln's
blockade, and TO hurl destruction against
the Burnside Expedition. Their prayers
were partially apswered-the blockade at
Roanoke Island was most effectually rails
ed; reciprocal of their sacrilege divinely
rendered.
Gentlemen, I an no Aboitionist, | ap-
plaud no sectional doctrines; | am South
ern man, and all my relatives and inter-
ests are thoroughly identified with the
South and Southern institutions. l was
born in the old Dominion, my parents were
born in Virginia, and they and their ante
cedents were all shareholders. Letme as
sure you the South has suffered no in
Judgements upon her institutions; the
slavery question was actually no pletex for
this unholy, unrightous conflict. Twelve
Senators from the Cotton States, who had
sworn to preserve inviolate the Constitu-
ton framed by our forefathers, plotted
treason at night-a fit time for such a
crhee telegraphed TO their States
dispatches advising them to pass ordinance
of secession. Yes, gentlemen, twelve Sen
ators swore allegiance in the daytime. and
unswore it at night. A short time since
l was called upon by little Jew, who, !
believe, is the Secretary of War of the bo'
gus CoDfederacy. lie threatened 10 nahSS
me, and 1 expected no more mercy from
him than was shown by his illustrous pred.
ecessors towards Jesus Christ. entered
into long correspondence with this spec
linen of expiring humanity, but from mer
cy or forgetfulness on their part, l was
permitted to depart with all my docu
men,s in my little valise, which | hope te
at no distant day. Gentlemen, when
started on my perilous journey, I was sore
distressed in mind, and exceedingly so in
body. But the moment my eyes encoun
tered the pickets of the Federal army my
depression decreased and returning health
seemed suddenly 10 invigorate my physic
al constitution.
Gentlemen, Secession is played out
the dog is dead-the child is born, and hi
name is jeff. Davis, Jr.
, My throat distresses me to such an ex
tent that must decline further remark
, this evening, but shall make myself hear(
on the next convenient occasion, whicl
will probably be ere the termination of tn
present week. A.
:, Il