Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-05-22
KELLYS SPEECH In MOBILE,

The followingis report Of the speech
of Kelly at Mobile. 1t is from report
of the Times:
CITIZENS II am here to-
night, not as has been stated in one of
your papers as the emissary of faction,
and not to speak in the interests of a
faction, but to speak for the whole
country, and to endeavor to heal the
wounds of that country. We are one
people, not only so by common consti-
tuition, but nature herself, has made US
one people. We occupy common coun-
try from the Gulf to the lakes, from
ocean to ocean. Our geographical posi-
ten makes US one people; it is the or
der of Providence. Into your grand
Gulf pour the rivers watering sixty
thousand miles of common country
every acre of land that these rivers
water belongs to eur common country.
THE speaker here alluded to the grand
extent of that common country, bat our
notes suffered during the confusion.
He had been denounced by the city
press as the leader of faction The
faction he served was thirty.two millions
of people, and he served them against
the world. Loud and long continued
cheers.
He came to speak to them because he
felt that they would not be guided by
narrow.minded men, and would listen to
even the views of the notorious Radical
from Pennsylvania.
The war that has SCARED both sections
has been equally felt Half million Of
your Southern brethren lie in unmarked
graves and double the number of North
ern men lie equally undistinguished.
No marble marks their remains; regi-
ments lie where the plowshare shall pass
over them and the farmer will find many
acres rendered fertile by the bodies Of
the slain.
This horrible war was caused by the
demagogues of the South, and they are
trying now, as they tried then, to keep
us asunder. We meet here to take coun-
sci together. [Cheers. Although
notorious Radical, as the Mobile Times
says, he had been listened TO with re-
spect in Memphis and New Orleans. He
also felt safe in Mobile. In spite of all
the editorial quilts in the State, he was
there to take counsel on aud speak upon
the interests of the country. First, they
must forget the evil memories of the
past, They must forget and bury those
remembrances.
Now all must exercise a vigilant, a
sleepless effort to secure universal liberty.
To you who have been bondmen, he
would make an appeal. They say that
you are ignorant The eloquent Vice
President Of the Southern Confederaoy
said that slavery was the cornerstone of
the Ccnfederscy, knowing that you won
the regard and esteem Of Southern men
by the human manner in which you took
care of their families and titled their
fields
Those who prophesied rape, murder and
outrage on your part we're disappointed.
Trusting in God for liberty, you vindi-
Gated your fidelity during all that trying
period Of war. You can forget the wrongs
Of parties to yourselves, your wives and
children.
You can forget You have proven
that you could. We, Of the North,
though every internal passion Of human
nature was aroused 10 Us when the re-
bellion Numbered on Fort Snmter, and
we rallied in our strength from the hills
and wales, We cap and do forget our
wrongs aud sufferings The fair result
Of the war is the conquest Of your lib
erty
The thunder Of their guns made two
questions:
/. Have we Government, aud is the
right Of secession guaranteed By the
Constitution
2. Has il proved in the sequel that
slavery has the divine sanction
These two questions were finally sub
mitted The South withdrew from d.
plomacy and legislative settlement and
resorted to arms
They suggested . eOmpromise, a con-
promise that then pronounced, aud nov
pronounce, an uuholy one-a compro-
mise that Fixed slavery forever IN the
country; that rendered Il necessary for
every State 10 agree before slavery could
be extinguished in any one State, and