Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-03-13


RssoEpsd, That the Republican Union party
Maryland sends its greetings TO the Republica
Union party Of Tennessee, and cOngratulsIes th
! brave people who, triumphing over ignorance an
J prejudice have made impartial manhood sufrag
an established fact, and who glorying in his recor
Of the past have again chosen the fearless Williar
g. Brownlow as their standard-bearer in the comm
contest.
Following the adoption of this resolution, th
Hon. Horace Maynard was called upon to speal
and delivered very able address, which we pub
; lish herewith entire.
! Mr.. Maynard said
am profoundly affected by this reception, les
personal 10 myself than honorable TO the State 0
which am a citizen. You have made reference il
your action of this evening to distinguished office
of that State, Governor Brownlow) now our Gov
ernOr, and recently nominated for re-eGction-T ap
plausel esteemed as my political leade;, but NOR,
as my personal friend That is manifestation o.
which lack words to express my thanks. cannot
forget the time--not yet three years sgo-when, in
June, 1854 in this very building, he and stood
here side by side with that noble phslanl of patriots
engaged in the great work of selecting men that We
then thought worthy TO be the President and Vice
President of this great Republic. Since that time
events Of mighty importance have come upon our
! land-events that have carried the world forward
and US with it. farther than, in the ordinary PAGES
of history, it moves in centuries 1t has been tri-
umph; not so much triumph of physical power,
of national triumph, as triumph of thought, Of
great living, allabsorbing and controlling ideas.
| He would have been bold prophet who would have
predicted that we should here tonight nthe closing
days Of February, 1867, have presented sentiments
like those which have just been read in your hear
ing. And still bolder would he have been who
would have ventured TO predict the reception which
you have given them. Applause.1
That is one of the bright thoughts in the economy
Of things, that advancing on step by step to
degree of civilization, TO an attainment in the
knowledge of the rights Of human kind, OF personal
liberty, of national honor of which our fathers
knew nothing but hoped that their prosperity might
some day see. The war then raging since closed
with such honor to national arms and to the flag
which here greets my gaze has left for US TO dispose
OF questions altogether new and by no means free
from difficulty. They compress themselves together
in one general proposition, which, by common con-
sent, has been denominated reconstruction. 1t is
new principle in political affairs and its novelty IN
this country arises from the fact that we have two
large and important CLASSES of people in our midst
of whom we previously knew nothing-the irst, the
defeated rebels; the other the emancipated slaves.
[ Applause. In reorganizing the governments that
have been disturbed in particular States, as in
yours, and overthrown altogether in others, it be-
comes very grave and important question what
part these classes respectively shall be permitted to
share in. BY almost unanimous consent it was early
determined that the man who raised bis hand against
the flag Of his country not entitled to WELD the
ballot, remain in the possession Of our sovereign
franchise and powers. [Applause.l You of Mary
land, the people Of West Virginia, Of Kentucky of
Missouri of Tennessee declared that the ballot-box
should be no more opened TO rebels until such a
time as the loyal men might think it safe and pru-
dent. Applause. So far theoretically at least
and in principle, it was easy But this other class
these four millions of disenthraled beings what
should be done with them =? That was more diff
cult question TO settle While they represented an
amount of property greater considerably than our
present national debt the idea of allowing them to
vote was, OF course, not to be thought Of for mo-
ment for in such case, the moment you allow the
black men to vote it would not be long before he
would ask that somewhat uncomfortable question of
his MASTER By what right can you hold me rs a
SLAYER But that Institution overthrown sls-
very was annihisted, or, rather, this property was
remitted back to the black himself Still there
were the old prejudices, the od-time lifelong be-
efs more difficult still TO overcome, that lay SIS in
;uperable obstacles in our path. You the Union
men of Maryland, with asagacious foresight beyond
hat Of most other citzans ~ cur country sASy a-
earliest-the necessity Of declaring the black
man freeman. You did so declare him by your |
own voluntary act. But, unless l am greatly mis-
aken in the history Of your opinions, it required
some little time after having performed that great
humane and magnanimous act, before you were
quite willing to recognize the fact that the black
privileges, franchises, and immunities of q human
being. Applause. AS it was with you il has been
IN my own State, and largely through this land OF
freedom; ideas travel slowly and old prejudices
prove obstinate. Sometimes it takes very stern
eachings; sometimes vigorous and stubborn school
masters TO beat them into our unwilling heads The
country has in its different parts by its legislative
issemblies through the press, by its public speakers
discussed the vexed question: until it has practically
'stted down into proposition applicable to both |
hese classes of people, and chat simple proposition
may be embraced in the two words LOYAL SUI
FRAaE. LGreat applause.] Such is the action of
Congress with reference to the District of Column
ba, over which it exercises exclusive legislation
Applause. The result was witnessed in the little /
city OF Georgetown on Monday last-Tgreat ap-
plause Ito which you have kindly and wisely al [
uded in your resolutions. Loyal men, and loyal |
men alone in that District are allowed TO vote No
man is allowed 10 vote because he is black. No man
IS excluded from the ballot-box because he is white
Laughter and applause. But white and black I
alike excluded il, in the time of our countrys /
sxtrsmity, they raised their hands against the flag
If the nation. Applause.1 Both alike are admit /
ed to the exercise Of political power if during that
lark and dreadful time, they maintained their fe-
slty and obedience. [Applause.1 Inmy own State I
he people in the order of events, have adopted the
'ame policy. Our people, like yourselves, learned |
sometimes by hard and unkind teachings, but by |
hat teaching they advanced step BY STEP until they
have established the principle of admitting men to
he ballot-box excluding them not because of the
color of their faces but because their hearts were
rue or false Applause.J In the recent action of /
CONGRESS in the passage of the BILL with which YOU
IRE familiar, providing for the reorganization of
civil government in the ten unrepresented Southern
Stetes, where rs the President announced TO the I
country civil government had been overthrown by /
he war; Congress has reasserted the great principle
IF loyal suffrage, and that civil governments shall
be reorganzed there by the loyal men, and by them
81. NIaN HI Oh
passed by both houses Of Congress by overwhelm-
ng majorities, is not yet law The President Of
he United States has il iii his possession giving IT.
am sure, his most careful and anxious st.sd "
aughterl lin order that he may decide, after hav-
ng fully understood its various provisions, TO give
{ his approving signature or send ii back TO the I
houses OF Congress 70 see whether they will again
pass il by the constitutional majority of two-thrds
n suek cases. Applause. In either event 1t be-
'Omes the law Of the land. [Great applause] This .
brings into the politics of the country new ele-
nent--one that before treason made It's appearance
vas unheard Of and unthought Of-the element OF
oyAlty, and loyalty whether represented by white
IT q black face. GApplause.] / am aware that
here are many Of my felow-citizens, worthy, pa
riotic, every way deserving, who look upon all
hese things with great spprehension--men who /
nave been unable 70 perceive or understand what
his past conflict all means--anen who viii 60 TO .
heir graves lamenting the good oiG days when they
we're young, and James Buchanan and his predeces-
lors were Presidents of tie United States. Laugh
er To their apprehension all thess things beto-
KEN the speedy dissolution Of society and the sub
version Of order and prosperity. We might regard /
heir apprehensions, did We not know by experience
he apprehensons Of that class of men in every age
wherever progress has been made. When our faith 4
rs orgaSized governments on this continent they .
we're unwilling 70 admit any to the balot-box e1-
,epting the men of property-men who had certain
mount Of wealth A poor man. who had no estate
10 interest in society excepting his wife and children
Who held no interest exeptin the labor Of bis hands
md the ssnctty Of bis home supposed to be al
.ogether unfit 70 deal with the ballot. But It was
discovered that the poor man. by his honest person
Al independence was quite apt TO take deep, an
abiding and intelligent interest in public affairs as
ING man who was absorbed in his ledger balances,