The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-03-09
yaoa Address .,4
pap lhdi ZOE b9tn3at al IlI7
oto HON, VIM B, STOKES. e
t'oa' 10 TO THE laaqg1, B
UNION MASS MEETING,
Oclyorcrcla tis Representatives H,l on Thursday Might
a4g 4aa 4o February 22l
Roview Of the Copperhead Conten-
ton and it's Platform. ..
Its DangerousDe Declarations.
Dnty Of Tennessee UHiOulsts.

Gentlemen and Fttlop. Citizens
lam here tonight for tho purpose
of addressing you, and | desire, very
much, your attention, undivided at
tcntion, while Ispeak, Before | Gu
ter into y discussion Of the question,
| will remark that / am here III your
midst by invitation extended TO me,
sent to mo, at Washington city by the
Committee Of Arrangements, for the
Convention which has come Off here
to-day, | received tho invitation and
accepted the same, and so notified the
Committee. ! arrived in The city on
Monday night, was in the 1Gousc Of
Representatives on Tuesday, and
again on Wednesday, and beard moth !.
ing from tho Committee, | know not
why it was that I was not invited to
speak, ] bad travelled some distance
all the way from Washington City to
Nashville to attend that meeting, to
aid, if possible with what little
strength or mind had in hoalIng all
of our trouble and difficulties, and re.
store harmony and good feeling once
moro among us, have no excuse to
make on the part Of the committee,
for | know none, will add, however,
that there is no upkind feeling on my
part towards them. Before | close
perhaps some who hear mo will learn
or come to q conclusion at least, as to
the cause of my not being asked TO
speak to-day. The meeting to-day,
gentlemen, has been an extraordinary
one. 1t has been one of Importance,
and, as some Of the speakers said, to-
day, 1t reminds them Of years gone BY
1t did remind me Of years gone by.
1t reminded me of 1861. felt to-
day Just as l did in 1861, theIast time
spoke in this city, that attempted
to make q speech 1t was at the
Court House on the night Of the 7th
of March 1861. II was dDne ut the
instance of my Union friends, | ut
tered ono remark that night, and
While my Union friends cheered there
were Kisses in the crowd. Tho re-
mark was, that bad rather have q
government without property than
property and no Government 1t was
said that ] was on Abolitionist, had
sold out to Lincoln, and / was abused
by certain papers hero for nttering
my sentiments of doyotion 10 the Fed
eral Government. lam here tonight
again CapplRuse,1 j and am sorry TO see
the same spirit TO some extent mani
festud, that characterized that occa-
sion. But, gentlemen, / have travel
led too far to bo deprived of the op.
portunity of mingling my voice with
yours in defense Of Our country, in
aid Of tho restoration Of peace, quiet
and good order in tho land. ! did not
speak in tho meeting that convened
in this Capitol to-day, not because my
hoart did not beat with gratifed emo.
tions for the boon that heaven
had 80 graciously given to tho Amer.
ican people on this day, one hundred
and thirty,four years ago. Nor be-
cause my best wishes and fondest
hopes were not for the glory and
peace Of my whole country, its com
muuities and individuals, my neigh
bors, my relatives and my family
Those baving charge OF the meeting
preferred other and more congonial
organs Of their sentiments. In the
presence Of such distinguished gentle.
men as tho Hon. g. w. Jones, ex-
member of tho late Confederate Con-
gross, Hon. Neil s. Brown, member
Of Tho Military Board Of Gov. Isham
G.. Harris and other eminent gentle.
men, it was not to bo expected, one so
humble as myself, q Tennessee sol
dier in the Federal army, with his
humble but worthy, bravo and faith
ful fcIow-soldiors, for threo long
years Of bloody and wasting war, do
ing his duty TO the Federal Union,
against the Confederate Government,
would find o place Of favor or conf
dcncc. | have, from these considcra-
tions, chosen this occasion TO address
my fellow.citizcns on tho great inter
est now at stake and so sadly pcriled
az this time.
rejoiced to-day to hear tho Fare
well lladdrOss Of Washington the Faith
er Of onr country, read. Ho was a
great, q bravo man. Thcre has bocn
90 much said OF him, that II would
bo vain for mo TO attempt a eulogy
upon his character and his mission.
Washington left tho Government
when he wrote the farewell address.
At that time tho Government was di.
yided into three parts; thrco different
departments formed tho Government
OF iho United States, the Judicial, Rx.
eculiye and Legislative and IN ordor
70 carry on this great Government 10
II o.. -