The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-10-11


on account of the poverty of the poo
fellow, he was confined for sometime
atterward in the same place, until re
leased by military authority. Here il
Rn illustration of what must have beer
the fate of loyal refugees if the Gov
ernment had not afforded them mill,
tary protection.
Three thousand schools for tho tdu.
cation Of freed people have been esr
tablished under the protection of our
bayonets. Two hundred and fifty
thousand colored people attend these
schools. Nor has our presence aided
only our loyal friends, whom we were
bound in honor and humanity to pro-
tect. Assured of Justice, free labor
has produced this year two million
five hundred thousand bales of cotton,
and the largest crop of grain raised in
many years. The value of this crop
in money is more than two hundred
millions OF dollars.
Its value to the population Of the
South can only be measured by the
estimate to be put upon their lives,
for without it they must have perish
ed by famine. And yet, without mill.
tary protection, the freedmen would
have fled from their old masters and
sought security and employment in
the free States, Congress did not
send us there to COMPEL the rebels to
pay the expenses of the war, as Bis
marck would have done. Tho north
is paying the costs of the rebellion
after winning the victory, and we
have been helping our former advor-
sares TO feed and clothe themselves,
and to recover from tho ruin in which
they have involved themselves. rThe
crowd hero became very much excl
ted ] History may be challenged for
another instance in which vanquished
enomies have beer SO generously
treated by their conquerors.
My strength and your patience will
not hold out if my remarks be pro.
longed. [Cries of go on! we like to
here you" "Don't stop!"] | will add
one or two observations, with your
indulgence, before say "Good night"
ComradesI "This Government is a
Republic, where tho will of the people
is the law of tho land" This maxim,
so full of wisdom and truth, we have
from Grant, the general.in. chief of our
armies. No military authority has
boen exercised in the rebel States not
authorized by Congress, and sanct-
ioned by tho laws Of the land. Mill
tary force is there only TO execute
the laws Under military protection
loyal civil governments will be cstab-
lished and maintained by ballots put
in the hands Of loyal men.
If that could have been done ten
years ago we would have bad nore-
belllon. If we do it now we will rot
havo another. Have-nof5ar that the
colorcd race will not know then
friends from their foes. Their hearts,
full of gratitude, will govern their
conduct as citizens. Loyalty and or
der are to them almost az sacred as
religion. Indeed, they believe their
dclivcrance to be the work OF Provid-
enco Safe and trusted at home they
will contribute vastly to the resources
of the nation, and take nothing away
from the emplOyments or tho fran
chise of any other race or class,
Within the sound of my voice is the
spot where the sublime truth was
proclaimed that sail men are created
free and equal" Upon their rock our
republican institutions are built. No
power can prevail against it,
Comrades Let us not forget our
brave companions who foil in the
war for the Union. ThoiP shroudless
forms lie buried in many forest and
field, like aptumn leaves Their name
less graves arc numbered only by
the recording angle. Let US some
times listen "a their sad voices, mourn
till rs mufiled drums, and heard even
through the yielding sod. They say
70 US now, "Brothers, you who are
spared, leave not undone The work
We did not live to help you do"
The vast assemblage then dispersed
with ehOOrs for Sheridan, Sickles, anC
Geary.