Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-04-05

Dlcs dUQ e&ldt ndli ululuct tAtiuciNtiN ItbCis
We submit the question to governments
we have denounced as illegal, unauthoriz-
ed, in violation Of constitutional authority.
Sir, we dare not do this thing.
Speech Of Governor Brown, Of Georgia.
We make the following extracts from
the speech Of Governor Brown at the meet
ing held at Atlanta advocating action un-
der the Sherman. Shellabarger Bill
The great trouble with our people seems
to be that thoy do not recognize tho fact
that they are u conquered pcoy,lc. nnd they
must submitto whatever terms the con-
queror imposes upon us. They forget
that they have no longer any power of re-
sistanco and that they must submit to the
powers that be. The struggle that has
ended by tho triumph of the arms Of the
United States Government was one which
hnd It's commencement In division of
opinion that has existed since the forma-
ton OF the Government. II had It's ORR
gin In the different theories Of Alexander
Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and rae cd
with moro or less fury until IL broke 'out
In tho late unhappy strife which has del
uged tho whole country with blood.
I hd controversy could not bo decided by
Congress or by the Supreme Court. II
was left 10 tho sword TO decide the ques-
Iion. We appealed to that arbilrament,
aud the dctiee IL against az. Congress
new claims That, rs tho war making power
is couhded to II, 30 also must the power TO
make peace be eonlded to IL and Con-
press has maintained It's supremacy by
passing over the Presidents veto the bin
which has just become law. y
] know that ] am alandeiod and misrop.
resented and my motives attacked for the
course that have felt II my duty 10 pur.
sue on this question but pass by all
imputations OF the kind ms the idlo wind
that regard not. Applausc,1 Thoy
say ] am not consistent. admit Il. And
who of Us Isl was born in South Caro-
lima, in Mr.. Calhoun's district, and sin-
corely believed that the doctiines which he
taught were the true principles of this gov
ernment Butthosword has decided against
the doctrines Of that political school, and
We ought to acquiesce. Twas reared seces-
sionist, but / bow to the decision of tho
august tribunal that dictates between States
and nations in the last resort. am not,
therefore, a seccssionisi now. Applause
Therefore, gentlemen am not consistent.
| do not claim it. Tho man who sets
himself up TO be consistent at all times,
and under oil circumstances, in my judg.
ment acts very unwisely.
That whichis .oxpedicnt to-day as
matter Of policy may not be expedient to.
morrow. AS an illustration, would any
body in this audience ten years ago have
thought it cxpedient that negroes should
testify in court Of justice where white
man was concerned Certainly not.
Then they were slaves, but since that time
they have been made as free as you eY |.
Would any body ten years ago have thought
il expedicut that negro should be allow
ed to sue white manY Clearly not. But
now the case is different. Then lie had
master TO look after his rights; now he
must look after them himself, and he
must have them, and If they are denied
him he must have the right to sue for
them. [Applause. Then we are not
consistent. Who is there that ten years
ago would have advocated the abolition of
slavery in this State? But now the meas
ure has been adopted By unanimous
vote. An ordinance to that effect has
been passed by tie convention OF the
State. aud do not remember whether it
had single opponent. Every man in
Georgia, iheu, by his representative, has
vtted Tor the abolition of slavery, aud
every one who has been pardoncd under
the amnesty proclamation OF the President
has laid his hands upon the Holy Evan
gclists and taken an oath that be would
abide by it. Why did you do it? be.
cause the fortunes of war were against
you. The tribunal of the sword had dc.
cided against you. Were any of you
consistent then? | think not.
Is a man degraded because he submits
to this bill? My friends, let us reason to-
geiher upon this subject. 1t is, indeed
very humiliating, especially to some Of us
who are disfranchised by the bill but is
there anything degrading in III When,
Napoleon Bonaparte, who fought as gal
lantly as ever man fought, was oycrwhclm-
ed by superior numbers, he surrendered
10 the combined powers of Europe. lie
was humiliated, but not degraded. Was
General Robert Il. Lee degraded when,
after his forces had melted away phalanx
by phalanx, he surrendered to General
Grant, Let us look TO this illusirious cx-
ample. You say that although you have
surrendered, you will not do what the con-
queror requires. You will simply do
nothing and submit TO what follows; but
General Lee did not do this After he
had surrendered his sword to General
Grant--who, it is reported, with mag.
nanimity that has seldom been equalled,
and never surpassed, returned it to him
with expressions Of admiration and sym.
pathy-General Lee did not put himself
upon his dignity and shy, am conquered;
| am at your mercy; do with me as you
please, but rest assured will do nothing;
| will never disgrace myself by doing what
the couqucrer requires. am in your
hands. sir, but will carry out no term
you dictate, On tho contrary, General lee
inquired, What terms will you give me?
General Grant informed him that he must
take parole to abandon the cause for
which he had fought so CALAMITY, and
swear never again 10 take M arms against
the government of the United States
which he had for the last four years at
tempted TO destroy in the Southern States
When the tsrms were offered, General
Lee and his gallant veterans accepted
them and acted upon them, as best they