The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-01-22
Great .Speeell--Read Tt.

pubilshcd the public letter of Gen. T.
w. Can't to the people of Arkansas
lexhorting them 70 stand by the I'm
ish 4 THIS letter was remarkable
both on account of its able manner o
presenting the case and from the fact
that the writer, Mr.. CAN'T, had held ;
Brigadierl Generals commission in
the rebel army, and had served in
that capacity. But, becoming con
.yincedof tho error into which he hat
been carried before the secession
.whirlwind, nc boldly abj,ired the reb
excuse, and mnnfully spoke his sent
imcnts to his Arkansas people.
Having held that position in the
rebel army, he was of course excluded
from the provisions OF the Presidents
amnesty Proclamation by the terms
thereof But, in consideration Of his
now unqucstionable loyalty and the
great service he had rendered to the
Union cause in the South, the Presi-
dent voluntarily sent him a full pardon
with restoration TO all rights of prop
orty. and citizenship. ftHN
Mr.. CAN'T and others are now on
their way to Washington in relation
to business connected with tho recon l..
struction of the State Government of
Arkansas. They were in Cincinnati
on the 18th inst, and grand meeting
was held Mt which Mr. CAN'T made Il
telling speech, which we give as re-
ported in the Cincinnati COMMERCIAL.
,sasSHRAl GANTT's SPEECH
.ls The introduction of this gentleman,
i'm whom tho audience recognized
representative man of Arkansas--a
man who had commanded rebel troops
as a General, who had fought in the
cause Of the rebellion, but who, also,
recognizing his orror, had resumed
his alle2iance TO hes Government, and
was doing all sn his power to restore
the Union, brought forth q storm of
applause, which was many times re-
peated throughout the course Of his
speech. General CAN'T said
LADIES AND FELLOW w-CITIzENs-1r re.
gret my inability to address you on
this occasion to the length at which l
would like to. regret that my du-
ties in trying to impress upon the
people Of Arkansas their duties TO the
great Government prevent me from
speaking TO the people of the North
as would like to.
I have been engaged, as you know, +,
in addressing the people and soldiers
of the South. ! desired that my ap-
peals might reach the hearts of all my
fellow citizens. And I know that my
words did reach soldiers in Mr.. Price,s
1--WE cali him Mr.. Price, IN Arkansas
army, and had their effect. They
reached too, beyond Mr.. Prices army
and l have had many letters from Tn
ion men among the Rebels, assuring
me that my words had brought to
them a bright ray of hope in the fu-
ture, and had nerved them with com
fort and courage. And they call up
on me, on every hand TO pursue the
course have started In. And shall
pursue it my friends. Applausc, i
In writing my letter to the people of
Arkansas, gave great ofrense to the
leaders Of the rebellion; and it could
not have been otherwise. struggled
hard not to write this letter, for ] am
q Southern man. But / saw that the
rebellion was only a struggle to ex-
tend and perpetuate negro slavery; II
saw my people, whom | love so well,
groaning beneath the despotism of
JEFF. Davis and his minions, and II
could not be silent. / desired to re.
tire from the struggle and seek some
corner where l could live in peace,
tlnobserved. But with these facts be-
fore me, how could but speak,
Then, when i spoke, through that let
ter, there was raised against me, by
the copperheads OF the North, q cry
teat did il with view to office. But
] told them, as / now tell you, that /
would not accept any Office or emolu-
ment which it is in the power Of the
people or their President to give. /
wanted only to SEQ peace restored to
my people. / would that God would
blast all demagogues, and place true
men in office. In the first days of
this Government, when the Ship of
State started out on its voyage, our
fathers had ever before them warn
ing that it might be wrecked on the
rock of slavery. 1t has been to the
people of the South, the root of all
their evils--this slavery-a subject of
continual commotion. In 1860 when
the people were so agitated on the
subject, l did all in my power to allay
the excitement / called upon them
to bear In mind that the Constitution
gave them sufIlcient.guaranties for the
safety Of slavery; but they wanted
new and additional guarantees. Mr..
Lincoln had truthfully said, in Illinois,
that slavery and freedom could not
exist together, and that it must be all
slavery or all the other thing and the
people Of the South, fearing that it
was to be all the other thing, cried out
for more guarantees of the safety of