Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-21
WASHINGTON HUNT AND GENERAL
SLOCUM ON THE POLITICAL SIT
IATE0N

At a complimentary dinner given on the
10th inst, to Hon. JAMES BROOKS, Of New
York, who was recently unjustly deprived
Of his seat in Congress, ex-Gov. Hunt and
Gen. Slocum were present and made re-
marks, which are reported as follows:
ADDRESS OF Ex-Gov. HUNT.
The chairman next proposed the health
Of ex-Gov. Hunt After the toast was duly
honOred,
Mr.. Hunt rose and said 1t was most graf
flying 10 him to be enabled to participate in
this manifestation Of the confidence and res
pect so justly due to the patriotic represen-
tative Of the people who had been overborne
by injustice and arbitrary power for his fdel-
ity to the Constitution and the Union. So
far as their distinguished guest was affected
by the proceeding, he did not consider it a
personal misfortune 10 be elected from a
Congress like the present-On the contrary,
it might well be regarded as an occasion for
graduation, happy deliverance from an
unattractive and anxious responsibility. But
the disfranchisement OF his constituency was
a public wrong calculated to excite strong
feelings of indignation.
Fortunately the people had a remedy in
their own hands, and hewas sure they would
not fail to maintain their rights, and in do
ing this they would vindicate the honor of
their faithful representative. Applause
The time was rapidly approaching when the
present Congress would be called upon to
defend itself before the people-the respon-
sible majority would be arraigned before the
grand inquest of the country; they would
be arraigned as revolutionists seeking to
overturn the Government of our fathers-as
disunionists aiming by all the means in
their power to defeat any constitutional re-
storation Of the Union of the States.
[Cheers. The fate of the country now
rested with the people, and he was willing
to abide by their decision. He believed
they would be guided by the wise senti
ments they had received from their ances-
tors, and in the meantime we would cherish
that noble Roman maxim, never despair of
the republic [Cheers.l
ADDRESS OF MAI. GEN. sLocUM
The President next proposed the health
of Major General Slocum, which was drank
with hearty applause. The General then
said:
Mr. President feel great degree of
delicacy about making any remarks about
the eloquent addresses which have beeu de-
livered in the presence of so many more ac-
customed than | am TO public speaking. |
would, however, do injustice to my feelings
if | did not attempt to return thanks for
the compliment you have paid me- When
the struggle to preserve the Union was COM
menced, in 1861, all who fell as victims in
the contest were regarded and treated by
our people as martyrs to the holy cause.
That struggle has not yet ceased but those
who were then regarded as its enemies have
now become Its friends-have complied with
all the demands made by the General Gov
eminent. On the other hand, many of those
who were then regarded as the friends of
the Union, have now become its worst enc
mics; they now wage war against it i'll a
manner never excelled by its armed foes. 1t
affords me great pleasure to unite with you
in thus paying honor to one of the first vic
Tins of this sectional strife. Their plans
demanded the sacrifice of Mr.. Brooks, as
well as of Messrs. Voorhees, and Stockton,
and other sacrifices will be made if it is in
their power to make them. But | have as
much faith in the success of our cause in the
contest for the Union now as when we fought
for it against armed foes. Cheers. The
people who have never failed to declare that
the Union must and shall be preserved, will
so declare again. Cheers. All who OPP
pose will be put down by the friends of the
Union, led by one who has never known
anything but success for five years past in his
contest against the South Having finished
his work there, he has now faced about and
maniiests equal bravery in staying the APP
prOaCh of the enemy from the North. j
have no doubt he will receive the cordial
support of those who bore arms during
the war in support of the Union, and be-
lieve he will be reinforced by many who
also bore arms during that struggle, but who
[Cheers