Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-10

remember how reioiced / was that it wa
written down in this contract that / should
be educated. Oh, thought /, how soon will
rise above the common children. The
General continued the "reminiscences of his
early life at some length. recounting the
many difficulties he had to encounter, and
the perseverance with which he overcame
them. mention thess things, he added
10 show the superior advantages that are
given you to-day over my advantages when
boy. To show you what has been done for
you by the generous people of the North,
who have cast their gifts into this great
treasury with liberality. Chancellor Linds-
ley gave you good thought. This war ter
inmates not in slavery, but in liberty for all
the land. II struck the shackles off from
slaves and gave liberty TO 100000 of peo-
pie. And now, while yet in the smoke and
flame of battle before peace has come and
brooded DER the land, we find these generous
people of the North coming down, with all
these advantages, and giving them to the
freedman freely.
But few months ago citizen Of Central
Tenn, was tied up to a stake and whipped
with forty stripes; for what Because he
had taught class of eight colored boys to
read the spelling book. To-day there are
no such scenes in Tennessee We meet I'M
der this beautiful banner, in the presence of
the Governor of this great Commonwealth,
TO dedicate this institution to virtuous intel
ligence and to make il a free school where
shall be taught whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are just, and lovely, and
of good report. / thank God that He has
put il into the heart of the people to give
their moneyeto establish this school and
let me here say, that within the district over
which have supervision, we have to-day
nearly 20, 600 colored children enjoying ed
ucational advantages free.
The times are not now as they used to be-
Why, little time ago, those boys up there
in the other room (the band) who have been
discoursing such sweet music, were listening
to the notes of the horn of the overseer. To-
day, thank God, they blow their own horn.
Loud applause. $500 ~ g.aI8.
The General made some further remarks,
which want Of time and space compels
us to omit, closing by giving the following
advice to those connected with these schools,
particular/< be teachers, in regard TO their
conduct t8xird the white residents of the
State:r Let MS not go away then full OF crit
ieism and oensure, but with the spirit of
Christ remembering the past only for the
terrible lesson il teaches. Let us go among
them with the hope that this land may be-
come a christian land, where God is the
Lord
At the conclusion of his remarks the Gen
eral was loudly and vociferously cheered.
Governor Brownlow was then introduced
and spoke as follows
HE SPEAKS FIRST OF HIMSELF.
II | were inclined to make a speech / am
happily relieved by the consideration that
nothing has been left me 70 say; and | rise at
your call merely to testify my approval in toto
Of all you have said and done and of all you
propose TO do. | was pleased with the pre-
liminary remarks made by General Fisk, as
calculated to stimulate our young .colored
friends to seek an education and to qualify
themselves TO read and TO write and love and
study the word of God.
The Generals advantages were very poor
in early life, but they were little better
than mine Ihave this advantage over him,
however, that hail from great city and
from a town in which great men live.
DIscI.osEs THE FACT THAT HE WAS ONCE A
MECHANIC.
At the time one Of my neighbor- boys
Gen. Joseph f. johnson, was started to West
Point 10 get an education, another neighbor
boy of mine, in the same town-John Il.
Floyd-about nay age, was also started TO
Jefferson University. | had neither father
nor mother; both had died when / was
a little infant, and they bound me out
to a carpenter and joiners trade, and learn
ed to make bureaus. (Applause.) have
made many bureau, and many kitchen
cupboard (My foot is hurting me great
deal
sEAsoNABLE ADVICE.
| can only say by way Of admonition and
encouragement 10 the colored friends; At
tend your schools; learn TO read the word of
God, and then learn to love and practice it;
and by way of caution and advice | admon-
ish you be mild and temperate in your hab-
its and spirit, and your conduct towards the
white people. advise as a friend loving
the institution and desiring the prosperity Of
what you have undertaken. / advise the
teachers, male and female, to be exceedingly
prudent and cautious, and do nothing Often
sive to the predominant party here.
You NAV think il little strange that /
give such counsel. do it because il Gen
eral Thomas were 70 take away his soldiers,
and pull up stakes and leave here, you
would not be allowed 10 occupy this school
room week, not a week; and if General
Thomas and his military forces were to go
away and leave us this Legislature at the
head of which | am placed, would be broken
up by mob in forty-eight hours.
HE PITCHES rNro GENERAL GRANT.
Our high civil and military functionaries
may travel through the South hurriedly,
and otherwise, and may 90 back 10 Wash
ington and report that all is we'll and recon
strucled, and those of YOU who are green
enough to believe it, can believe it; but par
don me when tell you, that | don't believe
a word Of it. (Cheers.l
GEN. FISK AND OUR SAVIOUR.
Had a man been placed here Of less pru-
dence, less goodness of temper, less sense
and less sense Of justice than Gen. Fisk, this
institution and this Bureau would have fail
ed, and he may console himself to-day, that
IL our blessed Savior were 20 come TO- Da-
wilson county. with shoulder-straps on, and
three or four stars on his shoulders, and
bring with him military staff Of the old
Apostles, he could not give satisfaction 20
the rebels of Davidson county.
MS VOICE Is STILL FOR WAR.
| am in for the fight during the war. !
propose 70 fight on. have no favor TO ask
Of the rebels in Davidson. county, or any
where else; and God being my Judge and
witness, do not ask the votes Of that party
for any office, either now or hereafter. j
shall fight them 10 the bitter end but know
ing the spirit that actuates them, conclude
my remarks by again adm onishing YOU as
teachers, male and female, white and colored,
TO be prudent cautious and still-;ongued, for
thrice is be armed who has his quarrel just .
Don't become the aggressor in any instance.
BE on the aggressive and YOU will be
sustained by the country. l have nothing
,,.,ra ~ cav