Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-03-28
An Eloquent speeoh.

Mr. Shanklin, a member Of Congress
from Kentucky, closed a speech on The
Freedmen's Bureau Bill in the following
eloquent language
But, Mr.. Speaker, there are eleven
States that have no Representatives upon
this floor; and upon these this bill is de-
signed particularly to operate, l ask
whether it is just or magnanimous TO i'm.
pose upon those States system OF
government like this without allowing
their wishes to be heard in reference to
the NATTER Why not allow them to be
heard2 Why not give them an opportu-
nifty to plead their own cause, to repre-
sent their own most vital interests2 l
affirm, sir, that in legislating for those
States, without allowing them representa-
ton in these Halls, You are violating one
Of the cardinal principles of Republican
government; you are tearing down the
main pillar upon which, our whole fabric
of Government rests; you are sowing
broadcast the seeds of revolution and
ruin. Mr.. Speaker, if the object of gen.
tlemen here is to restore harmony and
peace throughout the Union, why do
they adopt measures thus insulting,
tyrannical, and oppressive in their char
acter2 Is this the way to restore har-
mony and peace and prosperity How
can you expect to gain the respect and
affection of those people by heaping upon
them insult and injustice? If they have
the spirit of their ancestors, you may
crush them, you may Stay them, but You
can never cause them to love you or re-
spect you; and they ought not while you
force upon them measures which are only
intended to degrade them. Let us rise
to the spirit of true wisdom and states
manship, and treat those people IN a
manner calculated to win back their
affection for the Union. Let us treat
them with humanity and kindness, or at
least with justice believe that they
are anxious to perform IN good faith the
duties of American citizens if they be
met in a proper spirit; but so long as
such measures as negro suffrage,
negro equality, and the Freed
mems Bugeau are thrust upon these
people, you may expect no restoration OF |
peace and brotherly love. By such I'M
just and tyrannical legislation you will
only kindle the flames of discomfort and
help to render a return of our country
former prosperity and harmony imposs-
BILE. Here the hammer fell. Yes, sir,
repeat the word impossible. Have the
advocates of this measure and its KIN
bred measures forgotten, II they ever
knew, that the sires of the people they
propose to Cypress, insult and degrade,
knelt by the side of Washington around
their country's altar and offered their
lives as willing sacrifice to secure civil
and religious liberty for themselves, their
posterity. and their countrymen, as well
as the oppressed of all nations? Do
they suppose the inspiration of civil lib
erty, imbibed by their fathers from the
teachings and examples of Washington,
Patrick Henry, and their COM
peers, have been lost upon their sons, and
that they have become the Submissive serfs
Of an inscriptions party? If such are
their convictions or hopes they are mis-
taken. They know nothing of the people
Of that ancient and renowned Common
wealth, Virginia. Those that have sprung
rom the mother of States and states
men" around whose memory more glo-
res cluster than around the name of any
,ther State in this Union or upon the
American continent, not excepting Mass
lehusetts, that now rules this country
With a rod Of iron, but slumber, they are
not dead; though bound in chains the
ire of patriotism and love of civil liberty
burn in their bosom. and yet will glow as
n days of yore When the history of
his great country is fully written, its
brightest page will be the biographies of
Virginia's heroes, statesmen, orators,
md jurists In her glory / adore her
in her desolation and ruin my
soul is overwhelmed with grief and sor-
-ow. But, whether in her prosperity and
,lory, or in her desolation and ruin, i
ling TO her memory and love her with
hat devotion that fond child feels for
generous and affectionate mother. 1t is
he land Of my ancestors, whose ashes
ire entombed in the bosom of her first
laughter