Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-01
The Ias Speech of Edward Everett.

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meeting allied TO obtain relief for hcsullc.
ing pcopl,of Savannah, It is his last speech,
rs it wq' Wliyercd scarcely five day, before
his death II breathcs from the first line TO
thc'ast, tlat true Christian spirit Of charity
and love Il noighbor which has character
lied him'through his long and valuable
life
Mr.. M,yoR After the statement, to
which wo nayc just listened from Col Allen,
the eyewitness of the sccnc he has de.
scribcd, ! 10 not feel as if anything could
say were wanting to induce tho ei,'"o"e -
Boston 90 roopond promptly to THE appeal
The condition Of Savannah certainly makes
AZ imperative call upon our best iccings.
4 contains 10000 men, women and chill
drcn, suffering TO n greater or less degree
for clothing. fuel and food, Their care
worn looks, their haggmd faces, rs de-
clarcd by Col Allen, bear witness that they
have long been in this condition. Gen.
Sherman having escaped into the city, and
Gen. IIardec having escaped out of it, the
authority of the United States has been
restored in this principal seaport Of Georgia.
and checrfully accepted, nay joyousIy wei
coined by the main body Of the inhabitants,
There can, ] think, be no doubt of the
last fact AT the great public meeting, con
vcncd by the Mayor--a meeting Of ali class
cs Of the citizens, held in Masonic Hall, the
largest in the city-aitcr the address Of the
Mayor, which has been generally copied
into our papers, the resolutions, which have
also been extensively inserted in our Jour
mails, were passed by accamation, the aIlu
sion to the flag of the United States and
the home of the President being received
with hearty cheers. Now, this ! consider
one of the most remarkable and cncour-
aging events of the war 1t proves what
have always asserted, because have al
ways known that there was widespread
Union sentiment ut the South. There is
not one of the Southern States, with the
possible exception Of South Carolina-and
| doubt even that-in which, if the Qucs-
ton had been thrown to Il popular vote,
after full and free discussion for a year
and three quarters, as was the case with
the Constitution framed in 1857, the FIRST
blow Of the rebellion could have been struck.
But long before the outbreak a system Of
political prescription and intimidation, in
forced whom necessary by acts of violence,
had established Il complete reign OF terror
so that when the time came the masses were
"precipitatcd by few ambitious and dis
appointed political aud military leaders into,
the rebellion Gladly would they have
thrown off the yoke, but the means that
placed it have rivitcd it on their neclls. All
history teaches how small an organized mil
itary body sufiiccs to hold an unarmcd pop
ulation in subection, With all their able
bodied men. Of whatever opinion, forced
into Tie army, and the pains and penalties
of treason visited upon every one who
manicsts in word or deed Il wish for the
restoration of the Union, is it not TO be
wondered at that an open expression OF
that sentiment has not taken place. Con
sidcrng thcsvicsitudcs Of war and possbiI-
ity, as it may seem to them, that the Con
iederato yoke may again be placed upon
their city though we well know that that
event will take place when Savannah river
runs up hill ] rather wonder that her citi-
zens have vcntured to take the step they
have. 1t is evidently II fair expression Of
was called by the Mayor, at the request Of
leading citizens None of General Shcr-
man army, officers or men, were present
Sentincls were placed at the door to keep
the soldiers out, and none in fact were ad-
mitted. There have been other manifesto
tions equally expressive of good will be-
tween the people Of Savannah and General
Sherman's army. The best understanding
exists between the military and local au-
thorties Private property is respected /;
the officers of the army are gladly received
as private boarders in the houses OF the
citizens, and there is not probably in the
United States at this moment better go
verncd and more quiet and orderly city
than Savannah These precious boons have
been brought back to the citizens with the
flag of the Union. But something else must
90 with it, There is no store OF food there.
Their warehouses, their dwelling houses.
are empty of provisions and OF other ne
ccssaries of life and there are 10000 men.
women and children who, in the interval
which must necessarily clapsc before trade
can return to its accustomed channels, must
be clothed and warmed. and fed. 1t is our
. duty, rs | KNOW III Will Dc our plsasuit' l"
do our part in this benevolent work. They
offer. it is true, to send the rice which Gen.
Sherman has given them, and SELF at the
enhanced price which it bears in cur mar
ket, in payment of the supplies in which
they stand in sore need But, New York
and Boston don't want their rice. Savan-
nah wants our pork, beef and flour. and
say in the name of Heaven let us send it to
them without money and without price
}v and by we will trade with them as We
did in the good old times before the curse
of secession and rebellion came upon the
land BY and by we will take the rice and
the cotton and give them our food and our
fabrics in return.
Now. sir, had rather not be paid for the
relief we send them. Our storthouses and
granarcs arc full-our farmers never had 9
better wear. Some branches of trade and
manufactures are depressed. but others arc
more than usually active and profitable
The great West, big as she is, is hardly big
4 enough to hold the wealth that Is annually