The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-18

9--1..z1.------s-ua
/ speech of Hon. Walker Brooke before
the Radical Union Association,
! (eolOred, > January 9Th, 1866.
From the Yicksburg Miss. Journal Jan. Il.
In commencing, Mr. B. expressed his
regret ST not being s5le 10 meet with
them II the morning
BE earnestly desired 10 cultivate a
friendly feeling between their people
and his, and was therefore glad 70 re-
ceiYe sn invitation to address them,
not only because il sTinced kindly
feeling among the colored people for
the white, but gave him an oppOrtuni-
" 10 assure them Of the same state Of
feeling existing among the white peO-
pie for them.
We have q beautiful land, warmed
and itiby southern sun, and il Is ear du-
U to caItiyateit We have had enough
of war, and if we all work IN common.
for the good Of our countryl my coun-
ty and your country, s,I via yet be
well (Applsuse)
He had ever felt kindly disposed to
wards those of their color Was born
and raised among them, his children
/ were born, raised, and some buried
among them, il was his expectation 10
live and die among them, also.
In the great revolution through
which cur country has passed, society
! hss changed. You have 70 learE the
duties OF your new position and We
ours. Our relations toward each other
being entirely different
Il Is not strange that 81 first some
bitterness should exist between the
I two sections of the country and the
two races, but we must now forget ali
differences and endesYor to live in
peace and harmony.
Many Of you do not understand the
difference between your present con-
dition and that from which you have
arisen. Il Is my duty 10 explain ii 70
you.
That excellent gentleman and officer
Col. Thomas, has already told you that
freedom does not mean idleRess or vice.
but that if you conducted yourselves
orderly and as gentlemen, you will be
protected by all the laws ofthe land
What do you want All want 70 be
gentlemen. What Is a gentlemanl
Anybody who is kind ana respectful
in manner is q gentleman, any one who
is honest and upright, is a gentleman.
1 care not whether he is high or low,
rich or poor, white or black, if he be all
this, he is q gentleman.
To acquire this sppellation you must
merit the relation you hold to the
world Go 70 work msnfully and sup
port your wives and families. The re-
ward for your labOFs, if hOnOrabiy per
formed, wall be secured to you by the
law.
The question as to what system Of
labor shall be adopted, is one OF great
Importance at present Some predicts
ing that the whites and blacks cannot
get along together, and that COLOMBIA
ton, must be the result This would
be impracticable The history of the
world gives only one instance Of 3 peO-
pie leaving their own country and pros
pering, (the children of Israel, and
they only after s lapse Of years.
say look upon such a scheme as i'm
practicable. 4 have made up my mind
thst you belong just where you are.
You are among Us and there is no rea-
son why the two races should not live
together peaceably, agreeably and pro
titably. In my opinion the only true
system OF labor is to contract and pay
the sum contracted for.
Labor IS Gods first law. No more |
than the whites can you exempt your
selves from labor by IT, you, as well IS
he, can acquire property and be indie |
pendent Independence and respecta-
bility 60 together.
If / had lands would invite you 10 !
come and live upon them, you have the |
strength to cultivate them, and the |
staple is rich, take part Of it as a re-
mUneration for your labor, you shall /
have your privileges. There are your
school houses and your teachers
There is your house of God. If after
living with me you shall choose 20
live By yourselves / will bid you God
speed.
Not by the Convention but By the
Legislature you are forbidden 10 own
lands. No court admits the legality
Of such an act Why The COnVen-
tion TemOdeled a constitution which Sc
cured your Liberties and directed the
Legislature to protect your lives and
property. 10 not think the pledge
will be broken. After passion and ex-
element have died away all will be we'll
Exert yourselves tC bring back the
prosperity OF the State, and the people
will repudiate the attempt to deprive
you Of certain rights. / believe that the
state will provide for the education Of
yOur children, in a short time have
always opposed the lava forbidding the
Instruction Of col0Ted people / have
never seen the time when | would not
teach my servants to read and write,
and have taught them myself Knowl-
edge is beneficial, and good books will
do more good tnsn oral instructions
No matter what is the color, learning
improves the man or woman
Intelligent labor is also the most prof.
liable, and the ability to calculate loss
and gain Is a great advantage to both
parties. Strive 70 learn to read and
write ! am astOnished TO observe how
fast you acquire this knowledge. Go
on, and the Ssate Of Mississippi viii. as
soon as she can afford it, provide She
necessary means
After the excitement il over and peo.
pie begin to think, they will aid YOU.
Be patient then and endeavOr 10 make
yourselves good and intelligent men.
Our relations are much changed, bnt
we must look ahead and endeavor TO
accommodate ourselves 20 circum.
stances. Don't be inpatient IL IS
universal fact no one knows what IS IN
store for them Great things have hap
pened and will happen again.
We must conquer our prsjudices and
dislikes, and an intelligent eye will d.
rect the results
do not wish 70 feed any false hopes.
Be patient il you are prudent ana in
dusLrious We can help each other, as
we are each dependent upon the other
urge you 10 be civil to all, if you are
true TO yourselves We shall be true 10
you kou must not be excited az little
things, they are 70 be expected There
are bad white men and bad black men,
and if We cannot teach them to behave
we must provide for them the gailOHs
and the prisOnz
Our Judges sre impartial, and 10 in
duce those in authority 70 make laws
We must obey these we have nov.
In conclusion, bid you an affection
ate farewell May Cod guard and pro
tect you, and guide your actions, 20
that with the anniversary Of your free
dom tes may thank God it occurred
This viii be the case II you heed the
counsel have humbly gwen you to
night Immense applause
The New York Post gives an interest
ing extract from letter written by NJ
pu Chaillu the African explorer. who
has returned to England after having
been defeated in his design Of crossing
the African continent from the west
coast One Of his men accidentally