Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-03-15
REcoHsTRUorIou.
SPEECH OF Elk. oov. BROWN OF GEORGIA.

9'-ii hOV pS opio W Gully Juu ny hnytninB
that may say. In response, however, to
this call, coming from my neighbors, and
trust may say my friends, will not de-
cline to say something, and in the remarks
may make, will say that do not intend to
wound the feelings of any one present I
think that this is time when it is much
better to pour oil on the troubled waters,
than TO excite the flames Of passion and
attempt to divide our people by angry strife.
Remember that Congress has already taken
action which places all of us under a mill
tary Government. Remember that in very
few days, the President, in oil probability,
Will feel 1t TO be his duty to place over the
military district Of Georgia, Alabama, and
Florida, q man whose will will be the law
of the land; that it will be matter OF dis
erection with this commander whether he
will allow any one charged with offenses to
be tried before any of the civil courts of the
State, or before military tribunal, where
the punishment and the mode of its inflicti0n
will be alike determined upon in accordance
with military laws. 1t may be punishment
of fine and Imprisonment, or with ball and
chain, or any other adopted in the army.
Gentlemen, this is not child's play II is
serious matter 1t is such q state OF things
as you and have never seen in all our past
lives. In view of our responsibility, then,
is il becoming for us to quarrel with each
other, or to indulge in spirit of fault-flnd
ing, or of elimination and fecrimlnationP
The great trouble with our people seems TO
be that they do not recognize the fact that
they are u conquered people, and that they
must submit to whatever terms the con-
queror imposes upon us. They forget that
they have no longer any power of resistance,
and that they must submit to the powers
that be- The struggle that has ended by
the triumph of the arms of the United States
Government, was one which had its com.
mencement in division of opinion that has
existed since the formation of the Govern
ment 1t had its origin in the different
theories of Alexander Hamilton and Thos.
Jefferson, and ragged with more or less fury
until it broke out in the late unhappy strife
which has deluded the whole country with
blood. The controversy could not be de-
cided by Congress or by the Supreme Court.
II was left for the sword to decide the ques-
tlon. We appealed to that arbitrament, and
the decree is against us. Congress now
claims that, as the war-making power is
confided to it, so also must the power to
make peace be contided TO IL; and Congress
has maintained its supremacy by the pas
sage over the Presidents veto of the bill
which has just become law. Gentlemen
say, we will appeal to the Supreme Court.
But what would such an appeal be WORTH
AS the issues involved in the Sherman Mill.
tary bill are political ones it is hardly TO be
expected they will be decided by that tri'
bunal. You will remember that Congress
has passed an act that whenever vacancies
occur on the Supreme bench, they shall moi
be filled until the number be reduced tc
seven. AS the Supreme Court is now con
stituted, majority of the Justices hav'
ruled the test oath unconstitutional; blu
three of them, Justices Nelson, Grier, ant
Wayne, who concurred in this ruling, arr
now old men, physically infrm. and canno
be expected long to occupy their positions
When their positions arc vacant, majorit!
of the Supreme Court will most likely en-
} terrain political opinions in accord with til
party now in power. think, then, that th
South has but little relief in the presen
i emergency to hope for, from that angus
tribunal During the whole of that tim
, YOU will be under the Military bill as
: passed Congress. / know that am Sian
8 dered and misrepresented, and my motive
attacked for the course have felt it my dut
Q to pursue on this question; but pass by a
a imputahons of the kind as the idle wind tha
d / regard not. (Applause.) They say al
3 not consistent. admit it. And who of
4 isP was born in South Carolina, in Nj
Q Calhoun's district was reared in his politics
Q faith, and sincerely believed that the dol
3 triues which he taught were the true prime
/; pies of this Government. But the sw0r
d has decided against the doctrines of thl
q political school, and we ought 10 acquiesc
10 | was reared a secessionlst, but bow to Il
d decision of the august tribunal that dictat
|
4 sort. l am not, therefore, a secessioni
D. now. Applause. Therefore, gentleme
ID am not consistent. do not claim it, III
el man who sets himself up to be consistent
i all times, and under all circumstances, in n
fs Judgment acts very unwisely. That whit
so Is expedient to-day as matter of poll
may not be expedient tomorrow. AS
illustration, would anybody in this au
=, ence, ten years ago, have thought it expe,
=, ent that negroes should testify in courts
Justice, where white man was coucerne
- Clearly not. Then they were slaves;
since that time they have been made as fl
:. as you and l. Would anybody, ten yei
~ ago, have thought it expedient that nel
=. should be allowed to sue white ms
~ Clearly not. But now the case is diiiere
ia Then he had master to look after his righ
- now he must look after them himself, and
M must have them, and IL they are denied hi
Nv he must have the right to sue for them. q
Of plause,]
"a Then we are not consistent. Who is tn
mt that ten years ago, would have advoca
mo the abolition of Slavery in this State ?
or. now that measure has been adopted b.
-. unanimous vote. An ordinance to that
I;o feet has been passed by the Convention
isd the State, and do not remember whet
,ba 1t had single opponent Every mai
nd Georgia, then, by his representative, has
~ ted for the abolition of Slavery, and ev
os one who has been pardoned under the
do nesty proclamation of the President,
r Lib Lie hnnda nnn,, ihn Holy Evnnpe