The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-08
SIP EECH
on
HON. JORDAN STOKES
DELIVERED 81 Tnz CAPITOL ~ NASH
WILLIE, OK THE FOURTH on JULY.
(coscunEo)

But 10 crown the stupendous fraud
and wicked humbug, the leaders said il
was a glorious war for Southern Inde-
pendence. We al thought OF one time
that our independence had been declared
on this hallowed day near a century
ago; that its successful achievement had
been admitted on the memorable field Of
Yorktown; that IL had been secured and
made perpetual in written constitu-
ton and an indissolublc Union, and that
we had re- scaled it with precious blood .
under the Old Hero Of Che Hermitage in
n second war with England. When and |
where did the people Of the South lose |
their independence? on what field was il |
eleven down. who was its conqueror aud |
usurper? and when did the people come
TO knowledge Of their sad loss? All! |
these were words Of delusion hollow as
sounding brass or atinkling symbol; and
alas they have beguiled the people into
the open jaws of a bloody and re-
morseless dcspotisml Well may they
cry ont in deep bitieress of soul
give us that plain, old fashioned,
long tried American Independence, with
its noble edilice resting upon the RIGHTS
OF MAN as its foundation, its spacious
halls and corridors vocal with the glad
notes of free thought and free speech, its
affairs crowned with the offerings of free
will votaries its grand proportions and
lofty domes filling the world with won
der and amazement, and its presiding
genius looking with admiration on mil
lions of happy worshippers, rather than
that Southern independence which builds
a.. &
the RiGHTs or PROPERTY, crowds the
cells aud gangways with the victims of
ruthless persecution for opinions sake,
guards its outer walls with free men
made conscript vandals against their will
by a miserable edict Of a despotic pow
or, revels in the smouldering ruins of the
estates of its friends, and looks with
marked respect and favor on the robes
and trappings of royalty a0d rank.
Petty deceits and humbugs were as
numerous as The wants of each locality
required; they may be properly men
toned without comment, and then per-
mitted 20 descend into the sewer from
which they sprang and TO which they
rightfully belong. Honest people were
told if they voted down the ordinance
grain growers and stock-raiscrs would
lose the Southern market; merchants
would have TO pay their Northern in
debtedness in current funds, and they
would have in turn current funds from
debtors; mechanics would lose the mo-
nopoly in their trades, and have greater
competition in Yankee workmen; learned
professors would lose their incomes, and
classic halls and retired dormitories &c
10 the moles and bats; preachers anC
laymcn would be deprived of a part o.
the profits Of religious newspaper, OF
some other little pious machine for ma.
king money, and the opponents Of Oh,
measure would be voting to put halter
around the necks of the volunteers, anC
would bring on themselves and children
a cloud Of iniamy, as did the tories il
the days of the Revolution.
Having, by these means, and other
equally unfounded, deluded conGdin
and oyerawed timid Union men into tn
belief that the Government was alread,
broken up, and the alleged grievances an,
threatened outrages were sufficient 70 eN
cuse secession and revolution, one othe
thing had 10 be done TO complete th
direlul work of the conspirators 1t wa
an hercuean task, but they had mastc
workmen among them, The people mus
be satisfied that success would crow
their arms and cancel the guiltand Grim
Of ihe rebellion. Il could not be easil
shown how people, numbering only 81
or seven millions, poorly armed an
equipped, little used, comparatively,
hard labor, much divided in sentimel
with three millions or more of slaves
watch and take care OF, having no man
ufactorics, no navy, without ample SUP
ply of provisions in time Of peace, an
under the control of a Government wit
little credit az home, and none abroal
could whip twenty millions or NOR
armed, equipped aud proyisioncd in Il
best style, wonderfully united on ii
prosecution of the war, enurcd by ell
mate and labor to the seyercst hardship
with the regular army and navy of gre
Government, whose resources and cred
were almost boundlcss. But ialsehoC
and deception have achieved wonders
every age, why could they not in his II
stance Demagogues and bad men ,ha
deceived and misled the people ia even
free Government why could they not ,
so In this country?
II was asserted that tile North was d
yided in sentiment ON the business of d
war--the South had many friends al
sympathizcrs among the Democrats al
BELL men in high places-a powerful m
nority would soon hang, like dead weigh
on the movements of the President al
his Cabinet and, in due time, gr.
peace-party would .Priug up and demaI
the recognition oEthe Southern Cover
ment Where have you seen any divisi
of sentiment on the prosecution Of /
war until the Constitution and the Uni
are restored, except among the Aholiti
leaders and the Abolition presses
Where has there been the least talteri
in furnishing men and money NO SOC
or had the telegraph wires anuouuC
the fall of Fort SUMTER and the Pre-
dent had summoned che loyal men OF
country 30 come 10 the defence of
Capitol and public property than "
army arose, like the highland band
Rodericl Dhu, from hin and valley, q
and town, armed for the conflicts
each successive demand for troops
been so promptly aud fully COMP
with that the greatest powers i'm Fun
are appalled, at the political yigor
military strength of the Federal Cove
ment No people have ever displayed
important occasions or emergencies In q