The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-04-18
Emerson Etheridge's speech In Nash.
viiie.-.lts Reception.

Hon. Emerson Etheridge. Clerk Of the House
Of Representatives, having returned to his homo
irTennessec, in company with Gov. johnson,
addressed the citizens Of Nashville on tho eve.
ming Of March 2sth. Ills speech was ultra Un-
ion, yet was received with the heartiest appro-
baton. A correspondent Of the N. Y. World.
writing from Nashville the next day, gives the
following account Of the speech and Of It's re.
ception
"The hall was crowded the enthusiasm be-
yond all our authorizations. Two bands nlterna-
ted In patriotic music. Mr. Etheridge was in
troduced by Hon. VIM. II Polk, Of Columbia.
brother OF the deceased President Polk, and
one of the staunch and steadfast Union leaders
Of the State. lie said Gentlemen, have the
pleasure-yery peculiar under the circumsfan-
ces of introducing to you q distinguished
Tennesseean who will tell you, as he ought TO
tell you in the language of glorious old Hicko-
ry, this Union must and shall be preserved
Hon. Emerson Etheridge.'
Mr.. Etheridge was greeted with rapturous
plaudts. Ills sarcastic, witty, and vigorous
speech deserves careful and orderly report
inclose one, but the crowded condition Of our
columns may forbid. Certain points, howev-
er. tist now Of great popular interest and anx
iety, will remember for you.
IL there can be such thing, this was an nj
tra Union speech-a fact worth noticing. For,
to say the TRUTH II the sentiments Of this speech
are digestible-are palatable In this quarter, We
may well have hope Of Tennessee.
Mr.. Etheridge called . spade spade. He
made .fhis rebellion against his Government
look about ms Odous, disgusting and detestable
m loyal lips can describe II. lie put on the
canvas, Tennessee before the rebellion, and
Tennessee since lie turned the eyes OF tho
attentive upon this picture, and then upon
that.
He proved, what seems to need proof IN Ten
nessee even, that the South had never asked OF
the North an act Of legislation that she did not
get, and had never protested against one that
was not defeated. lie exposed the silly little
preteIt of Northern interference with Southern
institutions.
but the huge thing Of the speech was It's dec
laration, in this proud slave capital. that when
ever the question arose, the Constitution or
slavery slavery must GO down-that every ne.
gro would be liberated. lie declared cmphat-
cally that slavery would never be allowed 10
embarrass the United States Government, or to
protract the war.
These sentiments were announced emphati-
cally nnd explicitly. and were received with 40
much enthusiasm A. they could have been In
Boston. I turned TO gentleman by my side
with the old remark, The world moves And
II does.
Mr.. Etheridge said also that this war had
made more abolitionists than oil the thirty
years. anti. slavery agitation, and that slavery
could never have the security II once had In this
country. With the whole civilized world against
Il, the Government Of the United States had
sheltered and protected II.
lie said slavery was much moro easily Defend
ei as o permissiye than rs m aggi essiye thing.
You have got to live In the Union with your
slaves II You will, without them " you must.
lie specified the nations of the earth that had
abolished II. lie proved ! M M OUTLAW: 80 InssS
frankness--With frankness that astonshed me,
accustomed as have been to the public rcserso
and caution on this question OF questions tho
South country during oil my liie. n,
Make note Of this. Tell II In Jan. ruo-
Ii,b n In the streets OF Askelon. Let the nnto-
risn take memorandum OF u,
Of others in this State who breathe freely and
talk frankly upon this imPortunat. BAnguo's
rho.t of ncrro bondage. This war Is working
seyiysIs. II Is the John the Baptist of eiyiliss-
tiop. crying In the wilderness Of the U. States.
Repent, return. reflect, for the kingdom Of Co
lumbia Is At hand 'FH '.f
IuIesI, anil indeed only lust now does Il be-
Gin TO dawn on me what this war is accomplish
Ing. II Is ripping up the roots OF an old civil
iniion and planting q new. These men of tho
harl hand aud brown brow are not ,ramping this
territory with their eyes shut. POUNDS, what's
land TO live In, says one--to get rich In, says
another. I'll never 60 back, says third. War
only could pour into the South. the visitors that
her welfare ncedci. Five hundred thousand
will come for pain now TO five that could come
for pleasure yesterday. War only, and thus
frightfui form Of u, could make slavery stsna
In the powerful presence Of feeion-searcneS
by its keen eye. felt by its firm hand dis'e'''"
by Its cold economy. ,,-,.a NJ. p,h.
If this war IL prvtrsctsd. exelainsa nj. s1-
eridge, then con6scation and "a .e
And Shareholders shook him " 'ne ns"U
i'S. have asS heard and .esn enough here to con-