Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-03-12

To ne Ed Tsi

Memphis the most stirring aud thorough Anti
Slavery speeches would be made 10 the year
1864 TO crowded houses Of eager listeners
and that the most laundering applause would
be given to the most radical emancipation
sentimentsf But such is the actual fact ip
this city, that in the beginning Of the war was
only second to Charleston 10 the virulence Of it's
this week there have been large and en,husias-
tic Union Emancipation meetings. On the
last evening il was intimaied that there we're
$500 persons present to listen to speech from
Hon. Horace Maynard. was prevented by
an engagement from hearing his speech but ii
Is said to have been one Of the hsppiest ef-
i forts Of bis life The Bulletin says of it that
SO noble IN orator has rarely been heard
within the limits Of this State. And then
the whole aim OF bis speech was to persuade
tho citizens Of Tennessee to give up their
slayery-become free State--aud again
come into the good old Union.
The meeting of the previous evening was
addressed by Rev. DR.. Butler Of Arkansas, in
an able manner for about three fourths Of al
hour, When Platform was introduced in the
| shape Of series or resolution ally drawn up;
and full of radical Anti-Slavery truths, al
pointing 10 the immediate abolition cf slavery
in Tenness These resolutions were all
unanimously adopted Except one dissenting
voice on one resolutiou) until they came to
the sixth. And by that resolution they were
to pledge their influence by State Legislation
to reimburse loyal citizens for all losses by
emancipation. This resolution drew out for.
madable and overwhelming opposition. The
first speeeh full of clear and forcible logic was
made by Mr.. Mitchell. He asked by what
right the slavehoder'now came to ask pay for !
his slaves when StaUery tcas the cause Of The
both North and South an equal right to ask
to be reimbursed for all their losses by the war?
Why have the New York merchants who |
lost SO many millions by the reputation Of
Southern rebels ri hit 10 ak to be remburs-
ed by the Government. Aud then he said
that the great body of the loyal people OF
the South (aId these we're chiefly non slave
holders) bad suffered great losses by the rebel
lior; and WHY not compensate thesef
And then he raised the iEq ury who was TO
| pay for these slaves?--The answer was-the
people are 10 be taxed Hence the poor non.
slave holders must bear their part of this bur-
den. They who have always been crowded
and oppressed by slavery must notc be tdre3 TO
pay for their o,cn expressions! lie drew vivid
| picture OF those who had been hunted down by
the conscr' ptors, and dragged into the rebel
service while their families struggle in rags with
starvation, aud at the end OF the war they
must still in their penury help pay for the
slaves of those that have ,ver despised them.
He said that he spoke with feeling on this
subject and that he had right to do so for he
sprang from his same class lie said that in
felt who had no slaves. The sons OF The rich
came TO school on horseback with negro ri
ding behind to take the horse home. and bring
it again in the evening. l went TO school on
foot and returned home the same way. From
my cradle to my present position on this plat.
|
toiled for me. And stand before you tonight
as a representation of my class the native sons
| of Tennessee who nave never carried negro
behind the saddle. Now has not the poor
white population suffered enough from slavery?
1t has elbowed them out Of society. it has kept
their children under the ban and uneducaed.
Mr.. l. N. johnson said that he was nat i've
} Of Tennessee and that ten years ago when he
took position against property in man he was
7 put under the ban. But was glad he could now
talk about the evils of slavery under the pro-
lection of the o'd flag. AS carpenter his bu.
sines had been destroyed by the war. Was it
fair TO pay the slave owner for he loss of his
slaves and not pay the poor man for the loss of
his business aud time? And then he said he
! was opposed 10 the resolutnn for another res.
son. and that was be did not believe that there
could be property in man, and therefore it was
wrong to tax the people to pay for slaves. This
sentiment was received with perfect uprolr
of applause.
Mr.. John W Smith then addressed the
( meeting. am STAKEHOLDER he said, and
TennesseaD; was raised in the very lisp
of the Insiiluion-iu fact a slave Dursed
me; and now half own in the world i,
slave property. Bnt ] never will consent
by my vote or voice to tax the honest but
poor and hard working class of Tennessee
to raise money to pay for the negroes o
those rebels. who. finding themselves defea
ted in The vile and traitorous attempts t.
sever Iln bonds of our sacred Union and "a
propagate and perpetuate slavery through
out this continent and for all lime 10 come;
and who now finding their slaves gradually
passing form under their coutrol, come il
at this late hour, and 10 get the pit'anc,
Of few dollars will rally nnder the flag o
Immediate and Unconditional Emancipa
! tioD, and shout as long and loud for it al
, they did formerly for JEFF. Davis and hi,
most unhallowed rebellion.
In this sketch ] can give you no true