Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-23
RADICAL GATHERING AT THE
CAPITOL.


Speech OF Hon. VIM. Il. Stokes.
Pursuant to announcement in some Of the
papers, yesterday morning, Col. VIM. b.
Stokes, member ST Congress from this State,
made speech in the hall of the House of
Representatives, at the Capitol, last night.
The hall was about one-iourth fall, mainly
composed Of members Of the Legislature,
with a sprinkling Of the unbleached in the
galleries About o'clock, Mr.. Frierson,
Speaker Ct the Senate, was called to the
chair, who introduced the orator of the
evening TO the audience.
Col. Stokes commenced by remarking that
he was fully satisfied his audience were just
as well posted on the questions of the day as
he was himself; still, as the invitation had
been extended to him, he would make few
remarks The grand issue Of the day, the
only issue, in fact, was whether the Loyal
people Of this country shall rule the Govern
ment, or whether the control shall pass into
the hands of rebels There have been
two parties all the time; there are
two parties to-day-the loyal Republican
Union party, and the COpperhead party. It
is true, Andy johnson tried to form a new
party, but the attempt was a signal failure,
he being left without any party whatever.
Nothing more natural than that the Presi-
dent should chime in and cooperate, which
he has done, with the Copperheads and
peace Democrats Of the country and to-day
every rebel and bushwhaoker in the country
swears by Andy johnson, and processes love
for the great Conservative party. The Union
party is called Radical; but he, for one, was
proud of the name. The speaker warmly
defended Congress-the Radical Congress of
the United States, declaring that the stability
of the Government depended on the success
of the congressional policy, as opposed to
that Of the so-called Conservative faction.
Col. Stokes referred to question which,
he remarked, was coming prominently for
ward just now, namely: What relation
shall the freedman sustain IL the Govern
ment as enfranchised citizens, or otherwise,
deprived of political rights The matter
cannot be evaded-action must be had. The
current Of popular feeling plainly pointed
to placing the ballot in the hands Of the
negro. He was in favor Of it. Tennessee,
with negro suffrage, will be entitled to nine
Representatives in Congress, and to only six
without it. And so with other Southern
States. While favoring this, he was op-
posed TO rebel acknowledgements The con-
stitutional amendment was what was needed,
and what should eventually become a law.
Ii should be remarked that the speaker
evaded. to great extent living, practical
issues; built up imaginary men Of straw, and
vigorously demolished them. II was all
very easy to assert that the "rebel element
Of the State was intently bent on overthrow
ing the State Government, repudiating the
Federal debt, and paying the rebel debt
but he should have known, and likely did
know, that nothing could be more absurd
than to suppose that such projects were really
contemplated by one in ten thousand in
Tennessee Still, for the time, it excited
the prejudices and feelings of his audience,
which, probably, accomplished what was de
signed.
1.-THE speaker had said that the real issue
was That about three-fourths Of the people
Of the State were simply anxious to be
made free men-to have something to say
as to whether, after paying taxes after
having imposed on them the burdens Of
citizenship-they were not also entitled to
representation and the privileges ., citi-
zenship he would have stated the truth.
He spoke for over two hours, and was
frequently and warmly applauded by his
audience.