Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-21
GRAND RALLY OF TIE g0LORED
CONSERVATIVES LAST NIGHT.

ana way Eufranehfsed-
The upper portion of the markethouse
was thronged last night, at the meeting
called by the Independent Colored National
Union Conservative Club Unbounded en-
thusiasm prevailed throughout, and for
once, to their credit be it said, the Radi-
cal negroes did not attempt TO get up a
disturbance.
The first speaker was Joe Williams.
He said he stood upon the Conservative
platform, and he did SO from principle and
facts. The war was over and the colored
people had been granted the right of suf-
frage and been made part of this nation,
but he was opposed to making them tools
to work out political ends. He wanted to
see justice, mercy, ard equal rights to all
before the law. The colored man should
not be influenced by prejudice for wrongs
he had received. God had said that Eenge-
anee was His.
In this country there were three millions
of his race. Here they had toiled in the
past and here they would be in the future.
Brownlow had said the elective franchise
granted to the colored man would result in
their determination and they would share
the fatecf the Indian. He shrank from
this policy of Brownlow's, which was to
end in the destruction of the colored race.
He wished to remain in this country,
and on this continent, and wished to live
on friendly terms with his neighbors.
Forgiveness, justice and mercy had ever
been melted out by the Divine hand Of
God, and he did not think that his race,
now thai they had the power, should put
their heel upon repentant and PROSTATE
foe.
The colored people had no hand in
bringing about the war. They were not,
at the beginning of the war, citizens of the
United States. The government was
threatened, and slavery stood in its way
The war was carried on for two long years
before they were made free. Colored men
raised their arms and begged to be received
into the army; but no, they were refused
and repulsed on every hand, and not until
military necessity came were they permit
ted to enter the ranks, to battle for their
freedom.
They rallied to the national standard as SOL
diers, were determined to be free. Through
the agency of God alone were they made free,
and they should not now be governed
by prejudice and passion, but look TO Him
for aid and instruction. On this continent
they numbered only 100000. They were
among twenty-eight millions Of white men,
and there was no immigration. In few
years, at most, these men who were now
DISTINGUISHED would be restored to their
political rights, and would they then turn
upon the colored people?
As a loyal soldier-as a man who stood
up in defense of his country-he would
give his voice for the restoration of those
who had been DISTINGUISHED. The colored
people should give them justice now, that
when they come into power they might do
thecolOred peoplejustice in return. Hecould
look his race in the face and say he fought for
their freedom, and he was opposed to men
going through the State appealing to them
to vote to take the bread out their own
months and out Of the mouths of their
children. If such men were to be listened
to, determination, as Brownlow had said
and wished, would surely come.
He could look around him here and see
eolored men engaged in business-earryIng
on barber shops, or running hacks, or
working on the levees. He had looked
upon the crowded levees of New York and
Philadelphia, but he had seen no colored
men there They had been displaced by
white men, as they would be here, if this
mad policy were carried out. In only one
or two States of the North could the colored
man vote. In the State of Pennsyiva-
10 10 fha
ballot-box, and in New York he could not
vote unless he had property qualifica-
ton. There were colored men in those
States who had fought gallanfly in the
army, but who were now deprived OF the
rights they had battled for.
In both the North and the South there
had been firm friends of the colored peo-
pie but to Almighty God alone they owed
their freedom. Scarce one of the Radical
rulers had not been concerned in the re-
bellion, and he could not trust them now.
He closed by urging the necessity of peace
and harmony, and the unity of the colored
people on Conservative principles as their
only salvation.
At the close of Mr.. Williams speech, he
introduced Elias Polk, President Of the
Club. Mr.. Polk is a venerable man, his
hair being quite gray, and his person
little bent. He was for great many years
the body-servant of the late President Polk,
and accompanied him in his political cam
vases in Tennessee, and was with him at
the White House throughout his admins
tration. There was great interest mani
tested to hear him, and the crowd pressed
forward with eagerness as he rose. He
spoke with deliberation, force and clear
ness. He was happy to meet that large
assemblage of black and white people,
though he would prefer to address the
colored, as what he had to say was more
especially for them. His heart beat with
alarm when he contemplated the dangers
of the country. What were these dangers?
They were enslaving white people by driv-
ing them from the ballot-box, and making
hostility and enmity between the blacks and
whites. When the war was over and peace
proclaimed, why did not those in power
receive those who had gone away, who had
returned and taken the oath and had kept ii,
and unite with them 10 building up the
waste and destruction of war? This would
have been acting like men of sense and
statesmen. But the Legislature went to dis
franchising. He believed that nearly all the
Radical members were more or less raised
up with the rebellion. They disfranchised
10000 white men of the State before they
gave us, the colored people, the ballot.
What was that for 1t was to keep power.
What did they enfranchise us for? For the
same purpose; but they took pains to say
that we should not hold office or sit on
juries. They made us tools-tools to be
used by them. Now, said he, this is wrong
it is unjust l am for peace and har-
mony, and in my judgment there will
always be confusion and strife while part
of the people are DISTINGUISHED. am for
universal suffrage. These people that are
disfranchised are more slaves than | was
when | belonged to my old master. We
must make all free, for we cannot live in
peace any other way.
Passing to Brownlow, he said substan-
italy: These eyes never looked upon any
thing in the shape Of man that his heart
(placing his hand on his breast) was afraid
Of. The other party claim the right to say
what they think and will do the same. L
never take position till | am satisfied |
am right, and then | stick to it. Now, l
have known Gov. Brownlow for about
thirty years. have heard him myself on
three occasions assert that the negro was
created by God to be slave-that slavery
J;~f-a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES tho saoor1