Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-03-27
PARsoN BRowNLow's SPEECH.

PARSON BROWNLOW'S SPEECH.
TSpeeeh ofParson Brownlow delivered in front
of the st. Cloud Hotel, Nashville, on the
evening of the l7th.l
GENTLEMEN: / am in a sad plight to
say much of interest-too thoroughly
incapaeitated to do justice to you or my
self. My throat has been disordered
for the past three years, and have
been compelled to almost abandon pub
lie speaking. Last December was
thrust into an uncomfortable and dis
agreeable jail-for what? Treason!
Treason TO the bogus Confederacy; and
the proofs OF that treason were articles
which appeared in the Knoxville Wing
in May last, when the State Of Tennes-
see was a member Of the imperishable
Union. At the expiration Of four
weeks, / became a victim of the ty-
phoid fever, and was removed to
room in a decent dwelling, and a guard
Of seven men kept me company. l
subsequently, became so weak that l
could not turn over in my bed, and
the guard was increased to twelve men.
for fear / should suddenly recover and
run to Kentucky. Becoming conva-
lescens, in a measure, I was removed
to my former confinement. One day
l was visited BY some Confederate Off
GERS. who remarked, "Brownlow, you
should not be here. Take the oath Of
to the Confederate Govern
ment, which will not only entitle you
to speedy release, but insure your
protection" "SirT said l, "before
would take the oath to support such a
hell-forsaken institution, I would suf-
fer myself to rot or die with old age."
Why, my friends, these demsgogues
actually boast that the Lord is upon |
their side, and declare that God Al
mighty is assisting them in the further
ance of their nefarious project. In |
Knoxville and surrounding localities,
short time since. daily prayer meetings
we're held, wherein the Almighty was
oeseeched to raise Lincoln's blockade,
and TO hurl destruction against the
Burnside Expedition. Their prayers
we're partly answered-the blockade
1t Roanoke Island was most effectually
raised; a reciprocal of their sacrilege
1iVinely rendered.
Gentlemen, / am no Abolitionist; l
applaud no sectional doctrines; am a
Southern man. and all my relatives and
interests are thoroughly identified with
he South and Southern institutiens.-
was born in the Old Dominion, my
were born in Virginia, and
hey and their antecedents were all
laveholders. Let me assure you that
he South has suffered no Infringement
Ipon her institutions; the slavery
question was actually no pretext for
his unholY, unrighteous conflict {
'welve Senators from Cotton States,
Tho had sworn to preserve inviolate {
be Constitution framed by our FORE {
athers, plotted treason at night-s 6t ,
ime for such a crime-and telegraph
d to their States dispatches advising
hem to pass ordinances of secession
'es, gentlemen, twelve Senators swore 9
llegiance in the day time, and unswore
at night. A short time since, / was
allied upon by a little Jew. who, 1 {,
elieve, is the Secretary Of War OF the Z
ogus Confederacy. He threatened to
ang me, and l expected no more Q
ercy from him than was shown by !
is illustrious predecessors towards
esus Christ. 1 entered into long Q
,rrespondence with this specimen Of ]
Ipiring humanity, but from mercy or .
on their part, was per-
itted to depart with all my docu- u
ents in my little valise, which hope a.
publish at no distant dsy. Gentle :
en-, when l started on my perilOus
urney, was sore distressed in mind, =
I'd exceedingly so in body. But the
oment my eyes encountered the a, a
ckets Of the Federal army my de-
'ession decreased and returning health W
emed suddenly to inTigorate my Ga
lysical constitution.
Gentlemen, Secession is played out Es