, 1866-01-16

years aeo, when they had to follow the bloody
bayonet which opened their way down here.
The General said be was glad Of this official
recognition Of the necessity of free education
By the presence Of the Governor and members
OF the Legislature. He said that the colored
people have great reason to be thankful, to
take courage. There was no authority, no
power, no Jurisdiction In the hands Of the
Governor 10 educate colored children. But
BY their presence they recognize 1t a. fact
that sucL education Is necessary for the future
Nelfarc of the co1ored people not only, but
also Of The whites. He trusts that the Cover
nor and Legislature will do all they can to
assist the freedmen In obtaining their rights.
That they wilf especially not let. the colored
soldiers pull of their blue clothes and send
them home to slavery. For nothing 1esS than
slavery would 1t be to leave them without
their just rights Of citizens. He hopes OF the
colored people that they will be aware Of I'LL
themselves In having become free men. Be
orderly. industrious, polite and prudent. OF
the majority Of you know that they will
do 30, and exhort that majority to influence
the minority also to do right. I exhort the
teachers Of this institution In the meantime
always to remember that the Southern people
have become pfejullced BY five gcneratIonso Of
no easy matter: 50 let us not 60 amongst
them always criticising and reproaching, but
let us, through spirit Of reconciliation, try
to aid them IN overcoming their preiudices.
! e1hoft the teachers to be aware Of these
lacts, to impress that idea upon tho children,
and upon all those With whom they may come
In contnct.
The General then alluded to the work which
be had before him In Kentucky, where be Ia
going tonight lie asked the colored people
to pray for tho SUCCESS OF his Kentucky mis-
sion, and wound up with Whittier's lines:
"Ftesdem,s M sol ha,h only place
GOVERNOR DRowSLow,
notwithstanding the injuries received on
the Dedication Of the first free school In Ten
ncssec. The Governor said but little. He is
very wenk and not able to stand much ex-
citemcpt. BE indorsed all that Gen. Flax
and bis officers had said. lie was fully aware
of the necessity Of the 'edueatiou Of Ill men.
irrespective Of color" lie approves nll that
has been said, done and proposed to do. He
will aid what be can and Is FIR as lie can. He
said that Gen. Fisk had had some advantages
over him, lis be had neither father nor mother
nor means to care tor him. lie was bound
out to carpenter on the same day when two
sons OF rich men OF hts place, Joseph E. John.
ston aud John 3. Floyd, we're started to the
Jefferson University. He Ind very little oc-
caston to learn OF TINT carpenter anything
else than making " bureaus" NIere be cast
q smiling look at Gen. Fisk.) But still
through perseverance, he had survived to
learn something. Now he was Governor OF
this great Sfate. Learn, learn, learn, colored
men and women and children, md your
rights will not be withheld from you-cannot
be withheld. admonish you to be prudent
In your department; mild md temperate
IN your conduct toward the white
people. ! advise the teachers
towards the now predominant party. with
violence on your part all may he lost. While
If you keep yourself "alwa5s on the delen.
sirc," bat always 'ton the alert" ron cannot
but rcach the aim for which you are striving.
stand here today Governor of Tennessee.
but II General Thomas should pull stakes and !
leave Tennessee with his soldiers, aud my
legislature, and you and this school would b. |
mohbed ir less than tEenty y.{our hours after |
bis departure. Let as many Of our officials as |
there lnay travel on inspectton-trfps through |
The South, and return to the White House /
With reports that the South Is fully pacifled.
l do not believe the1n-let believe them Who
ever Is fool enough to do 80. That such q |
good man rs General Fisk has been sent here,
is blessing for us ul1. lie has done what no |
one else could. Let Jesus Christ from heaven
come to Dasidson county. with pair Of
major generals shoulder straps On and all the |
Twelve Apostles as his Stail, the rebels Of
him. But General Fix has managed to
racifg at least some Of them. He closed by
eal1icg 10 the mind a the present coIorcd
people the old truth, Thrice Is he armed who
hath his quarrel just"
After Governor Brown1ow, followed the
Rev. Nr. Allen and several colored speakers.
The exercises were finished by closing ad-
dress Of the Superintendent, Mr.. Ogden, who
nvited the cooperation Of all present. He
,aye q glowing picture Of the educational