Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-11-11
THE PROCLAMATION.

closely, and these as far as my memory serves
me- were the wonderful words:
CcLoRED MEN Or NAsHvILLE:-You have all
heard of the Presidents Proclamation, by
which he announced to the world that the slaves
in large portion of the seeded States were
thenceforth and forever free. For certain rea-
sons which seemed wise to the President, the
benefit of that Proclamation did not extend to
you or to your native State. Many of you con-
sequently were left in bondage. The taskmaster's
scOuTge was not yet broken and the letters still
CALLED your limbs. Gradually this iniquity has
been passing away; but the hour has come
when the last vestges of it must be removed
Consequently, l, too, without reference to the
President Orsny other person, have proclama-
ton TO make; and standing here upon the steps
of the Capitol with the past history of the State
to witness, the present condition to guide, and
its future to encourage me, ], Andrew johnson,
do hereby proclaim freedom, full broad and un-
conditional, to every man in Tennesseel"
1t was one of those moments when the speak
er seems inspired, and when his audience, catch
ing the inspiration, rises 10 the level and be-
comes one with him. Strangely as some Of the
words of this immortal Inference sounded TO
those uncultvated ears, l feel convinced that not
one of them was misunderstood. With breath
less attention those sons of bondage hung upon
each syllable; each individual seemed carved
in stone until the last word of the grand climax
was reached; and then the scene which follow
ed beggars all description. One simultaneous
roar ofapproval and delight burst from, three
thousand throats. Flags, banners, torches and
transparencies,9 were waved wildly over the
throng or flung alOft in the ecstacy of Joy
Drums flies and trumpets added to the uproar,
and the mighty tumult of this great mass Of hu-
man beings rejoicing for their race, woke up the
slumbering echoes of the capital vibrated
throughout the length and breadth of the CITY,
rolled over the sluggish waters of the Cumber-
land and rang ont far into the night beyond.
sft ANDREW JoHNsoNs AGRARIAHIsN. - si,sj
am not attempting to repeat the Governors
speech. / had neither note book nor pencil
when listened TO him; and if had both of
them / could not have used them in the midst
of that closely wedged crowd. wish only to
describe few of the points in his speech, which.
made the deepest impression on my mind.
Who has not heard of the great estate of Mack
Oockrill, situated near the city of Nashville-an
estate whose acres are numbered by the
thousand, whose slaves were once count
ed by scores? Mack Oockrill being a
great slave owner, was of course leading re-
bel, and in the very wantonness Of wealth wrung
from the sweat and toll, and stolen wages of the
war to aid JEFF. Davis in overturning the Gov
eminent
Who has not heard of the princely estates of
Gen. W. D. Harding, who, by means of his
property alone, outweighted in influence any
other man in Tennessee, no matter what were
that others worth or wisdom or ability. Hard
ing, too early espoused the cause of treason, and
made it his boast that he had contributed, and
directly induced others to contribute millions
of dollars in aid to that unholy cause.
These estates suggested to Governor johnson
one of the most forcible points of his speech:
II am no agrarian," said he: IL wish to see
secured to every man, rich or poor, the fruits of
his honest industry, effort or toll. want each
man to feel what he has gained by his own skill
or talent or exertiOn, is rightfully his and his
alone. But il, through an iniquitous system, a
vast amount of wealth has been accumulated in
the hands of one man, or few men, then that
result is wrong, and the sooner We can right il
the better for all concerned. 1t is wrong that
Mark Cockrill and W. g. Harding, by means of.
forced and unpaid labor, should have monopo-
1ized so large share of the lands and wealth
of Tennessee; and l say if their immense plan
tations were divided up and parcelled out
amongst number of free, industrious and hon
est farmers, 1T would give more good citizens to
the Commonwealth, increase the wages of our
mechanics, enrich the markets of our city, en-
hven all the arteries of trade, improve society.
and conduce TO the greatness and glory of the
State"
And thus the Governor discussed the pro-
foundest problems of politics and social life in
the presence Of the despised blacks of Nashville:
in their hearing denounced the grasping and
bloated monopoly Of their masters; and used
the oyergrown estates of Harding and Cockrill
to illustrate his doctrines, in the presence of
Hardings and Ooekrill's slaves.
THE NASHVILLE ARIsrcRAcT EXPOSED.
That portion of the Governors speech in
which he described and denounced the aristoc.
rscy of Nashville, / cannot hope to render prop
erly, but there was one point which | must not
overlook.
"The representatives of this corrupt (and if
you viii permit me almost to swear little) this
damnable aristocracy, taunt us with our desire
to see justice DONE and charge MS with favorine
negro equality. OF all living men they should
be the last to mouth that phrase; and, even
when uttered in their hearing, it should cause
their cheeks to tinge and burn with shame
Negro equality, indeedl Why pass, any day.
along the sidewalks of High street where these
aristOcrats more particularly dwell-these aris-
tocrals, whose sons are now in bands of guerril-
las and cut thrOats who prowl and rob and mur-
der around our city-pass by their dwellings,
l say, and you viii see as many mulatto as me-
gro children, the former bearing and unmista-
kable resemblance to their aristOcratic Ownersl
"Colored men of TENNESSEE! This too shall
ceasel Your wives and daughters shall no long,
er be dragged into concubinage compared to
which polygamy is a virtue, to satisfy the bru-
tai lusts of Shareholders and overseersi Hence
forth the sanctity of Gods holy law of marriage
shall be respected in your persons, and the
great State Of Tennessee shall no more give her
sanction to your degradation and your shamel"
@Thank Godl thank Godl" came from the lips |
of thousand women, who in their own persons
had experienced the hellish iniquity of the man.
sellers code "Thank Godl" feryently echoed
the fathers, husbands, brothers of those women. |
%And ifthe law protects you in the possession
of your wives and children, if the law shields |
those who you hold dear, from the unlawful |
grasp of lust, will you endeavor to be true to |
yourselves, and shun as it were death itself the
path of lewdness, crime and vicef'
1--WE will we will" cried the assembled |
thousands; and joining in a sublime and fearful |
enthusiasm, another mighty shout went up to |
heaven.
THE MOSES OF THE COL0RED MEN.
Looking at this vast crowd of colored peo- 7
pie, continued the Governor, @and rejecting
through what storm of persecution and oblo- |
guy they are compelled to pass, am almost |
induced to wish that as in the davs of old.
Moses might arise who should lead them safely !