Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-06


We announced several days ago, that
Stokes and MAYNARD had consented to
while away some of their idle time in visit
ing Connecticut, and enjoying themselves in
a more intimate embrace of New England.
We, who have so often heard MAYNARD,
and are SO familiar with the knowledge of
his birthplace and instincts, can very well
conceive how he would conduct himself and
what he would say. But all of US had some
curiosity to see what Colonel WILLIAM B.
Stokes, of the city of Liberty, county of De
Kalb, State Of Tennessee, once rebel volun-
teer, and now on the anxious seat" for ad-
mission into Congress, would say when he
got into the land of clocks and wooden nut
megs, for the first time. That curiosity is
met and satisfied. He reached the borough
of Fairhaven in that State on Wednesday Of
last week, and at night "spoke his piece"
We find the following extract in one Of For
ney's papers, and present ii to our readers
for the same reason that we read it ourselves
simply to see what in the thunder he
would say. Since the Dead Duck" snapped
it up we suppose it is the very wheat of
what he had to say. Col. STOKES said:
But it is said Radical Congress will
not admit Union men of the South. / am
one of those men, and an applicant for seat
in Congress. | believe when the proper
time comes Congress will do its duty in re-
gard to Tennessee and any other State that
takes the same position. Why is it not done
now? We have had war for four or five
years. You cannot expect Congress tosheal
all those differences in few days. 1t was
their duty to examine the condition of the
government of those States, to examine their
constitutions and laws, and when their loyal
government is properly established to recog-
nize it. and then one point is settled. After
that comes the question of the qualification
of members. Congress had a right to pre-
scribe ~ test oath, and | say here that
tcOuld sit in my seat until / Jroze TO death be-
fore tcould eUer Uote to repeal that oath until
the Southern people and their papers shotr
different tone tOipdrd the Union men Of the
South.
Now the President has said himself that
Congress must declare the State government
properly established before it can become
valid. Why, then, are these States not ad-
mitted? Because they have not complied
with the Presidents own requirements. But
Tennessee has; why is she not admitted? |
will tell you. Congress asked for evidence
as to these States. 1t asked for the procla-
nations, constitutions, documents, laws.
The President never sent them to Congress
until March. But meanwhile it had been
gathering proof from other quarters, and at
length it was Just ready to admit Tennessee.
Then one branch of the Legislature was dis
organized, and the rebel element, not being
willing to submit TO the rule of the MAORI
ty, sought to break up and destroy the Gov
eminent. They left the House without a
quorum. And | say that while the Gov
eminent was in that condition, there is not
a man of you who would think that State
should be recognized. We therefore do not
of the delay. We kloU that adj
mission ROw DOuld destroy the Union element Of
those States Congress is doing right in holding
them back.
When the rebel armies first surrendered,
there was everywhere disposition toward
loyalty, but | stand here tonight to say that
there is now feeling as deep and bitter to-
ward the Union men of the South, as there
ever was in 1860 or 1861. And the facts
have proved that Congress, in its cool and
deliberate treatment of the matter, deserves
the thanks of all Union men in giving OPP
portunity for these rebels to show their
hands. Time will show that Congress was
right But all these things will be settled
wisely and safely, and when loyal men get
control of these governments, there will then
be no difficulty, and all these questions will
be satisfactorily settled. In Tennessee we
shall elect new members to make a quorum
on Saturday next, then the franchise bill,
securing control to loyal men, will pass, and
then have no doubt that Congress will act
and rightly"