Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-09-19
speech Of Ex-senator creswell.

In presenting these resolutions,l 1t behoovcs
me to say one OF two words preliminary to
their adoption. We have ample cause in
surveying the entire field to congratulate
ourselves to-day. This assemblagc is but a
mere supplement of that which was held in
this city in May last. We then, for the
first time in Maryland, illustrated beautiful
ly that provision of the Declaration of In
dependence that speaks for man, and that
makes no distinction whatever in regard to
the rights of men, awarding to all equality
in everything that is necessary to give all
men the full enjoyment of personal liberty
and full protection for property. Since then
grave events have taken place. The devil,
moving through his special minister, An
drew johnson cheers and laughterl, has
given fresh impetus to our cause, and doubt
full men throughout the land see that against
this new traitor, endeayoring to breed a new
rebellion, there is no protection save by
arming the entire masses of the loyal peo-
pie with that weapon which to MIN signifies
political death. We mean that it is not n
mere theory to-day. 1t is,as I believe, prac-
tically accomplished. It comes to us now
sanciiiied by double victory In the very
citadel held by Andrew johnson, against all
the patronage and power he could WELD in
his high office, the people of the District
of Columbia, leading off with their little
band. have covered themselves with glory.
[Applause. But a mightier than the Dis
trict of Columbia hath spoken. Redeemed
| Tennessee, once Iebellious, but now bene-
ficently loyal Applause Tennessee,
whose cscutcheon had been stained with
the treason of Andrew johnson, has vim
dicated herself most gloriously at the
ballot-box by the combined action OF
her loyal sons. [Great applause.] Ten
nessec, situated almost in the very center
of the late rebellion, stands conspicuously
before this nation and before the world as
the first State where universal manhood sui
frage has been practically enforced. That
too, by the act of her own people. (Ap
plause. All glory, say |, to the heroes o
Tennessee. [Great applause.] 1t is not SC
much the immediate victory that will aid il
behalf of our cause. Tennessee is here to
day, through some of the most illustrious o
her sons, to bear witness to what manhood
suffrage has achieved for her [Applause
But Tennessee, in a contest the most acri
monious and bitter that any State in tn
Union has ever been subjected to, ,gloriousl,
bore the standard of our sacred Union, call
ing forth as he did by his summons to hi
support the men of every hue and every co
lor whose hearts beat with loyal love to on
country. [Applause.l Tennessee is no
false, and place her upon the stand to-da.
in vindcation of the black man. [Applanse,
Tell me,ye men of Tennessee. does the biaci !
man know how to vote? Yes. yes:
Is the black man too ignorant to dlscfiMin
f ate between treason and patriotism! NO,
no?.1 Has he waged any war upon th
+ white race ? G'sNevcr. y Has he shown him
! self true and loyal, long suffering, patlen
citizen under the most outrageous aggrava
ton? These calumnies have been foreyee
trampled in the dust. The black man stand
, to-day before this nation as one of her sons
who cannot only fight to preserve his coun
j try's existence, but who, in the cooler an
/: calmer hours Of peace, ever stands true t
;, his allegiance [applausel, while assertin
his own liberty will see that the privilege
of every citizen shall be fully vindicate
) and thoroughly preserved. [Applause.
No greater acts of modern times have bee
e made known to this nation and this peopl
c than these acts of Tenn, and the District
r Columbia. All, gentlemen, our enemies
: ready fully appreciate the tramp OF the nos a
I that win soon override them. [Great al
i plause. For a time we went down befol
the fierceness Of their assault, but, than