Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-04-24
REMARKs OF EDMuND coOFEn.



Joseph Williams being loudly called for, that
dusky Conservative took Che stand and proceeded
70 address the meeting He said be felt proud of the
honor of standing before them on so great and noble
an occasion He thanked them for the honor they
had conferred. BE had viewed the Eubiect he said,
carefully in his mind in regard to the relationship
of the two races. he stood before them to-day TO
advocate the freedom and the rights Of the colOred
man. BE was q true friend of the race. The true
policy for them 70 pursue was peace and harmony.
He had been soldier, and he saw rany present
who had also been in the Union army. Here the
colored men in the gallery commenced moving and
many retired
He could see no reason why they should treat the
people Of the South in any other way than friends
They were both living together, and it for the
interest of the colored to support the Conser-
yative party. There are thousands and thousands
Of u.s. said be, who cannot get our living except by
depending upon you BE hoped that his colored
brethren would make friends with their party, as
nc considered it their only safe policy. There was
no use Of stirring up strife when they we're all en-
deAyoring TO support the government.
They wished 70 have the sacred right Of liberty Of
speech. Never, he said, had he been so treated as
he had been in Nashville during the last few weeks
He had been threatened with assassination by those
who called themselves Radicals but be claimed pro-
lection of the government BE had yet committed
no crime but should he be arragned for any oense,
be wished TO be tried by men and not by assassins.
TCheers. He hsd never received she ill-treatment
which had been visited upon him here. while In
other cOantrses and be had been IN Carada and the
West Indies.
He claimsd freedom Of speech, and would never
syerve from what be considered thetrue policy he
would stand upon the stump and speak hs sentl-
Tnents until be was shot therefroms and should ne
fall he thought honor would be done him as mar
tyr 10 the cause. He had advocated the freedom OF
the race he said, long before slavery was abolished
BE saw no reason why he should be menaced as Re
vas and thought be might as well live in the wilos
of Africa Is among such men as the Radicals. De
saw men who now belonged 70 that party who were
once in the rebel army. He saw man who had
been The lifelong enemy Of bis race, He referred
10 Gov. Brownlow. To-day that man comes and
sayt. Vote for me He Wishes to use Us As Hs tools
ne makes a law to vote Tor him, and if vote for
anv one else he calls me rebel lCheers.l .-.
Williams then appealed to them 10 know If be
was 70 be assassnsted and insulted and so ulaEere
sed after which he took ais seat with great oela n
the band struck up Yankee Doodle"
SPEECH OF JOHN BAxTER
Mr. Baxter being loudly called for, took thestAnc
and spoke in the following strain
He said he appeared before them reluctantly- tbs
seIa was 90 bread that be did not know where =
begin detailed in loose style the history oI tct
/ franchise laws He said the Radicals found p ne
eessary TO enfranehise the negro 70 enable thenl
through his votes if possible, TO remain IN power
-4oA VIC A4EAt " aNN~i
M nm % 90 Just as they wished. Even an army wa
pe ralse1 by Brownlow, 70 compel the people t
vote as he desired 49, ~ -T-i=
Baxter then launched into TRADE AGAINST Gov
Browulow. AS for himself he hsd 81. 6;s naoroe
free twelve months before the emanclpation.
lie had not been in favor Of the enfrancb;.a,,a, a,
Of the colored race, and thought that il had hoo,
conferred upon them too soon. But whether 49,
soon or the contrary the issue was before them
The majority Of the people were disfranchisel
He supposed that he could NOT get q certificate {
vote himself 1t was well known that he would nc
cast his ballot Tor Gov Browulow, and ne presume
this would be considered sufficient grounds for II
jecfing him. Tho policy now wss not TO enslayet u