Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-03-13

eer Of prosperity. You and l were outnumbered in
our views with reference TO the foreign emigrant-
he was allowed to vote. But when the tocsin of
war sounded these men showed degree of patriot
ism that, confess, found It mortifying to think
I had ever doubted their capacity for selfgovern-
ment Let not our faith in men desert us in this
our time But we are told that these poor, ignorant
black won't vote right; that they viii cast the
wrong ticket. That's very likely. Laughter
should be surprised if they did not Were they not
TO do SO they would put you and me TO the blush.
ask you how many of you now before me who can
not point to some high official, either in State
tional Office elected in part by your votes, that If
you had to do it over again, you would vote some
what more wisely2 Tremendous applause.] Do
we not suppose that newly enfranchised men should
make some mistake Should we suppose those who
came with fair seeming and plausible speech to be
their friends, when in fact they were not? Do not
let US Judge them too harshly. Let US give them
time to try il over again. like ourselves, and if
they would not do it better. But we have in their
case some little assurance that we have not always
had in the case Of our white friends.
In the time of the war, when mems principles
oftimes shot from the mouths of cannon and
musketry these people generally shot upon the right
side. TApplause.1 That is more than can be said
of all our own color. [Applause.] The instincts
of bodies of men are generally very rarely mista-
ken. Men who have engaged long in political life
are aware that politicians are very greedy for votes
{ GLaughier.l And SO they can get them, like the
merchant with respect to greenbacks, they are not
particular from what hands they come Laughter
and applause Now, who are the men, what class
of politicians s it, that is making the most grevous
complaint at the prospect of enfranchsing the black
man? Answer from your own experience and OBJ
seryation. You may be very sure that those who
are thus complaining have very little expectation
that if the black man is allowed at the baiiot-oox
that they will get great many Of his votes
Laughter and applause] This question then set !
ties itself simply upon tho principle OF loyal suf
frage and in reorganizng the Government TO place
them in the hands of the friends of the Government
and that permanently, thoroughly, irrevocably, SO
that treason and rebellion shall no longer have any
secret hopes that the men who have been in hos
lity to the Government shall see that their hostili-
y is powerless and that like everything in nature
when once subdued submits to the authority that /
ubdues Then it win be time enough 10 speak of |
,nlarging registry laws and altering constitutions
But until that is done the rebellion, although ar
mics have ceased battling is not yet itself subdued
The spirit is there, and what it would do if it had
he power you have already seen enough in your |
,wn State TO have some suspicion of and if you /
will 90 across the mountains to see what is done in
lie State of Kentucky, you win find much as the I
most inCredulotis may desire. Applause.]