The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-23
SPEECH OF col. WV. 3 sroKKs.

l accordance with a previous our
ment, Col. Stokes addressed fair audience,
in the evening" on the issues Of the day.
He said that the committee Of invitation
had not treated him as they should have
lone he had been in the city three dave.
and the committee of invitation had not
called on him, or invited him TO the Con-
veution.
He regarded the Convention TODAY. as
one Of similar character with those Of 1851.
which caused the rebellion. The preamble
and resolutions passed, rejoieed over the
split between the President and the radicals
he regretted it most intensely. Reference
had been made to 3 second Washington: he
regarded that second Washington as Mr..
Lincoln; yet the resolutions passed made
no reference to him, and only one speaker
Mr.. Jno. S. Brien) mentioned his name.
lie held that Congress had done its duty.
The very men denounced were those who
saved the country. He regarded President
Johnson as a man Of nerve, and would al
minister the Government faithfully. lie
was following in the footsteps ofMr. Lincoln.
and he Endorsed him. lie had acted with
Mr.. Johnson since the delivery Of his great
spsech IL the Ssnste against secession. lie
referred TO the Presidents speech 10 the
Virginia delegation, and dec, AIRED that il
meant that original loyal men should govern
the State. He said the late rebels. a. rem
resented in the meeting to-day, said in sub
stance: "I love Andrew johnson and he
Government; but damn the Federal soldiers
and the Union.
He intimated that, with a very slight
amendment, the President would sign the
freedmen's bureau bill. People had asked
if he (Stokes) was a radical. II doing eve
rything in his power to aid the present
Union party was radicalism, then be was a
radical. Who constitutes the Union party
in Congre 81 The republicans; and Andrew
johnson must look 10 them for support. He
had no friends outside the Union party, that
could be relied on. He didn't believe that
the split would, in the end, amOunttO much.
There were three parties in Congress
The Radicals, under Sumner aud Stevens;
the COpperhsads, and the true Union party,
Of which AndPew Johnson was the head;
and the last named would continue ths
Union. He predicted that Congress would
everything right yet. He did not
agree with Sumner and Stevens; but Thad.
stevens Wss q hundred per cent. better
people believed him 10 be. Some men
said that Stevens and Sumner ought 10 !
be hung; well, now, what would these men
10, II these men might think it necessary 10
aOLANOJ4J cAsc4 |
He warned the people to beware Of such
men as were here to-day. They we're At
heir old tricks. He said the acs0n Of the
to-day would stay the admission
+ the Tennessee delegation into Congress,
Or some time 10 ID
Ae claimed that the Southern members
{ Congress ought not 10 be admitted 70
eats I'LL the constitution and laws Of the
iferent States had been examined, to see
they were republican. Not till that was
.scsrtsined, could Congress admit their
representatives..
The test oath had been prescribed, to keep
i but loyal men out Of Congress; and
ere he & member he would sit til he iroze
his seat, rather than vote to repeal il.
ennesses would be admitted, and Tonnes
'e would be the basis 10 which all others
come up, or stay out, 1