Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-11
Meeting atthe Courthouse Last Night.
SPEECH OF JUDGE BAXTER.


clemeney Of the weather. Theaudience was com
posed Of our best citizens. and numbered abou
three hundred
Judge JoHE 5. BRIEy took the stand. and in
few eloquent remarks introduced Judge BAxTEK
whom he characterized as one who hal gon'
through the Ere, and bad come out gold in the
cruciblc-mOre firm in the cause Of the country
aud as true a. steel 10 its best interests.
JUDGE BANTER said
/ fELL0W CurzESs or NASHVILLE: / am con-
sciyus oftho fact that 1 am not prepared TO re-
ward you for your presence here tonight / will
endeayor however. 10 submit a few thoughts on
our present anomalous condition. A diversity Of
opinion has unfortunately dividedu We shave as a
people been sorely afflicted Our wealth has
been wasted and We have been impoverished and
our civil liberty has been subvefted. Let the
dead past bury its dead-let Us endeavor 10 pre-
serve our republican form Of government and
regain our former position aud prosperity, and
enter upon a career Of peace and future wealth.
The war has thrown many obstacles in the way Of
the Constitution and tic enforcement Of the laws.
1t has awakened in the breasts Of many desire
| for revenge-and what is siil more unfortunate,
this revcngeful material has been elevated into
public trust and authority, owing their success to
the unsettled state Of society. They are aware that
/ 10 the progress of peace they must lapse into
| obscurity, and they arc for adopting anything
that will subservc their ends and keep them in
the possession Of their present power. In East
! Tennessee. while the rebels had the power they
adopted an unwise and unjust pOicy-causing
/ many thousands Of transferring men 10 leave
I their homes and join the Federal army in Ken
| lucky. That is some paliatOn for their acts
| Bat regret to say that some Of cur most distin-
guishod citizens who, instead Of restraining these
/ returned goldinrg- have ENCOURAGED them and
aided them IN their atrocities. In courts and out
| Of courts, I have heard them advise that the
/ rebels should be driven from the country, de-
prived Of their property, and annihiiated. A
present member Of the Congress Of the United
/ states. when he met lawl less band on their re-
| turn from raid, with 2 smile on ms face, asked
I how the scaips were" While Gov. BROWRLOW
! was stunning IN East Tennessee, he declared
| that he would extend Executive pardon To al
who helped drive out Of the country all rebel sol
! diers. This advice was given against the women
and children left behiud-when the war was still
Federal troops. and amidst the violence Of the
times-when the government of the State was
practically rc0rganiZed. did not help rBOTsan-
izc the State Goyernmen;but after the election of
the Governor and Legislature, / heartily deter
mined. although | knew il was done contrary 10
the Constitution Of the State, TO give it my
support. i thought il would take counsel Ofall
good men. and adapt itself 20 the exigeneies Of the
times. No greater opportunity was ever offered
the Executive 10 make himself n name among the
great men Of the age-to hand has name down in
history as n beneiactOr Of bis race. But he and
those with whom he was connected were coatrOll-
cd BY a wrong spirit. and had a consciousness
that they were not worthy the most 10 which they
had been elevated. Being hungry for Office,
they devoted their whole energies to tie the
hands Of the people, to keep the control of the
Government in their own hands. For this pur-
pose they passed the franchise law which, when
carefully examined, viii be seen gives the entire
control Of the Government TO those who voted for
them. more unjust. violent and tyranical bill
was never forced upon people. Tho talent Of
the party was again called into play and they
determined to carry their point, If they had TO
suspend all future popular elections in the State
Certain qualifications are prescribed rs requisite
20 suffrage. The Commissioners appointed by
the Governor have the power 20 make final de-
cisions and no judicial tribunal can take excen-
ti0ns. No certificates are granted except 10 the
friends of the government an power. But If
mistakes are made, and u becomes evident
that we can beat them by the votes re-
gistered. the Governor has the right TO keep the
registration Office open, and until he declares IL
closed, no popular election can be held. BAKER,
of McMinn County. who favored the Franchise
Law. desired an amendment 10 10, stating n
different time to close the registration, but he was
not seconded BY any Of the Radical members.
why" said BAKER. the Office might be kept
open ten years" We'll" replied his friend,
then you will be member Of the Legislature
just ten years instead Of two IL the Tegistra-
tion Is not declared completed before the
time for holding the next August election,
Gov. BROwNLOW will take advantage Of clause
in the Constitution, and hold over until his sue
cessor Is legally elected and qualified. From the
av0wed purposes Of the friends Of the bill, have
provision in order 10 secure themselves in tho Of
fees Of the State. .E. FL. SD.
This Legislature has, in more than one instance,
avowed their purpose TO carry out their unlawful
schemes. regardless Of consequences. They have
done many revengcfal acts one Of which was an
attempt to impeach Judge for Issuing writ of
habeas corpus. The sneaker then spoke Of the
course pursued by the Legislature in attempting
10 impeach Judge FRAZIER, and demonstrated
eOncusivcly, that any attempt TO subject him 20
their will, wac without authority, and calculated
TO destroy the authority Of the courts. II also
spoke Of their expulsion of members, until they
had driven out, with few exceptions, all respecta
hilitv in IT, until they have not brains enough left
20 carry out the despotism they have in their
DEGRADATION adopted
without referring the matter TO tho Legislature
he has appointed n new Judge in Judge CAMP
BELLS place. and but for the integrity Of those
having power 20 secure the new appointec in
place. he would succeed in his Infamous action,
Ito Cthe Govcrnor) has in violation Of his official
duty, set aside the election Of member Of Con
cress and gave n certificate 70 one Of his tools.
He has issued proclamation, that il the people,
exercising their constitutional rights attempt to
hold n convention on the affairs Of the State he
will call out bis militia, and ask aid Of the Go
yernors Of the Northwestern States 10 hid him in
dispensing them at tho point Of the bayonet
IL this power Of the Governor is recognized,
there can be no convention Of those favoring
President JOHNs0N's policy, or opposed to BROWN
Lows infamous course, that he would not dis
perse rs unlawful What are we to do2 Are we
10 ho deprived Of our constitutional rights by this
combination Of illitorate mem Shall We not apply
all legal means 70 regain our independence, and
again breath the pure air Of freedom from unjust
We had hoped that this evil would cure itself.
but the franchise law has reduced the voting pop
ulation 10 n little rising ten thousand. The
Loyal Philadelphia Convention has come out in
favor Of negro suffrage and the Radicals in Ten
thousand black votes for their party, as soon ms
the LEGISLATURE meets again to enfranchse them.
BRowsLows FIRST act on the eonyen an q the he-
tho right Of suffrage TO the negro. No test oath
will be required Of him; he will only have 10 show
black face and kinky head to receive his GER
This liberaIity on the part Of tho Radicals Of
that State. viii induce an influx OF negroes, and
all being allowed the right 70 vote, BROwNLOW
and his rattlesnases count safely on continu-
ance in powcr for as long n period rs they may de-
sire. White mon will be DISTINGUISHED. men ca
pablo Of ogislatng for the country, but the negro,
lust omancipatcd, can walk mp TO tho ballot-bOX,
and under the Civil Rights bill. can by an over
wheming vote elect their Governor and LeEsla-
turo. Tho oIees Of such legislation on the part Of
our rulers, would be disastrous in the extreme to
tho interests Of the State.
BROwNIOW few years ago was an extreme
pro-slavery man. To-day he stands on the other
extreme, and declares for negro suffrage or war.
lIo is playing his part in consort with the present
Congress. who have assured MN he will be sus-
tanned I'M All his radical views Tho speaker re-
viewed. in scathing terms, the late declaration of
BRowNLow in regard to tho programme for the
next war. which the Radicals are attempting to
procipitate on tho country, in which our Chris
tiRn I'D Governor SAYS 10 mus. be war Of annihi-
latiOn--thc torch ana the compass ana chalh OF
tho surveyor.
We have had hloodshed enough. lie wanted 10
SEQ all tho States represented, and to that end
was willing % devote all the energies OF his mind
10 defeat the Radical disunion party at the ballot
box He did not believe in the right Of any State
10 sccede from the Union. nor did he believe that
Congress had any power to refuse any State her
Just representation. IL this fondish spirit Of
Gov. BROwNLow's and tho Radical party Is
carried out and war comes, Il viii not be as u
was before-betweonlthe North and the Soulful
will be between two parties in the North almost
equal in point Of numbers and the mass Of the
southern people In favor of the just policy OF
President Johnson.
III will he a war Of brother against brother, and
father against son. The revenue of tho Govern
ment would be destroyed. and the bonds and cur
rcncy would not be worth n cent The Govern
ment would be ruined, and the country drenched
with fratcrnal blood. This IS the feast OF slaugh-
ter BRowNLOw threatens unless he and his party
arc allowed tho control Of State and National
offices. We would have a military dictator. and
the liberty If the country would boswaliowed up
Suppose the Radicals should succeed IN getting
possession of the General Government their poll
cy would be 20 hold the southern States m mili-
tary snhioction. 10 would be a heavy taxation on
the country Do away with civil law, and the
military would assume fun control Of state at
/ fairs. EdneAdon would be retarded, and the poo
| plo would be compelled 20 abandon their homes
| FOR more conccnial climeS.
An this DEGRADATION these political yulturos are
| attempting 10 put upon the southern people, Tor
| tho sake of holding on % their little eihces
The Judge then spoke Of his personal dtihcnlV
| with Secretary FLETCHER, but did not consider
1 the Secretary Of sufficient importance 90 occupy
! mueh Ut his time could not discuss 80 small n