Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-05-08
Gov. MOrtOn's Speech to the COIOred
People of Georgetown, d. C.

Yesterday morning the colored citizens of George
town met at the intersection of Green and West
streets and formed in procession under the direction
of Clement Beckett, chief marshal and Joseph
Smallwood, Francis Lee, William a. Barker and
John H. Ferguson, aids. The day was clear and
beautiful lively breeze relieving the effects other
wise produced by the heat of the sun, while the
streets, free from the mud of the previous day,
were just damp enough to prevent the dust from
rising
The procession was formed in the following
order:
Chief marshal and aids.
Kings band, of Georgetown.
Citizens of Georgetown six hundred in number
under the marshalship of George jackson. In this
part of the procession were carried several banners
bearing the inscriptions "Oh, sing unto the Lord
for he has done marvellous tbingsT Righteous
ness exalts a nation )" "The glory of the Lord has
risen upon US )" Thou art my king, o God; COM
mand deliverance for jacob When the righte-
GUS ruleth, the people rejoice;" Rejoice for the
Lord is kind, for He has triumphed gloriouslv y
Behold what manner Of love thu Father has be-
slowed upon us = Rise and shine for the light has
come !" Peace and good will to all mankind !"
" 1t is good thus to give thanks unto the Lord -
"Good will to all; malice to none.7
Then followed q carriage, containing Daniel G.
Muse Secretary of the Convention, and Georce
Coakley, Chairman of the Committee of Arrange
ments
A large chariot containing several young ladies'
drawn by six handsome horses with red, white and
blue plumes, the chariot also being ornamental
with flags and evergreens entwined.
The meeting was very large, and there we're sew
eral speakers of distinction. The speech of Gov.
Morton is thus reported by the Chronicle
SPEECH OF SENATOR o. T. MORTON, OF INDIANA.
Mr. President and FstLos0- Citizens.
You have met to-day in the exercise of liberty
and in the enjoyment of political rights. The oc-
a0efrv oh ho,vo
Importance to you, and will be to your descendants
nd to the whole country Five years ago yester-
day, President Lincoln gave his approval to a law
which forever abolished slavery in the District of
Columbia, and made many Of thoss who have as
semhled before me free men and women. Two wears
and two days ago Mr. Lincoln persisted bv the
hand of an assassin. His death was the work of
the rebellion and thus passed away one of the best
men the world has ever known, one of the greatest
beneaetors of the human race--a man who will be
known through all history as the friend Of mankind
fGreat applause
A war which was begun to establish and perpetu-
ate slavery, by the mysterious dspensaton of Prov
idenoe ended in the destruction Of slavery and in
the enfranchisement Of the enslaved. God over
rules all thinge for his own purposes; and perhaps
there never was, in history, chain of events more
clearly indicating the presence and the manifesto
lions of Providence than the chain of events which
led to the war, its prosecution its termination and
That war which was SO full Of horrors which
carried mourning to so many households which has
piled up such a mountain Of national debt was
nevertheless, an unmixed blessing TO the colored
people. Applause Itgave them ar opportunity
Of establishing their manhood on many BLOODY
fields and by their high courage their devotion and
their moderation in victory even to win the respect
and admiration Of their enemies. 1t gave 10 them
an opportunity of displaying intellectual and NOR
al qualities which had always been denied to them
by their masters.
Your position, however, is one which is now full
Of embarrassment. Many Of you have suddenly
passed from slaves TO the enjoyment Of civil and DO
Itleal rights. You have much to learn, and l, in
common with the great mass of the nation, have
been grated 10 discover that you trying TO learn
IN good earnest. that your newly acquired liberty
has not been abused-has not been used for the pur
pose Of license but for the purpose Of Instruction
ana aul glad to say you are proving to the world
that you Intend 10 qualify yourselves to make
full patriotic and intelligent citizens Of this great
Eepublic Applause
You are called upon now for your votes; oppos-
ing parties win claim your SURFACES and II will
become an important question 70 you and the whole
country how your votes shall be cast. was some
what amused yesterday morning, iii opening the
columns Of the National Intelligencer, TO discover
an address published by the Democratic Conserva-
1--WE Convention TO the voters Of Washington, and
desire to esil your attention briefly 10 the Ian
go "a s"AS "uo1eSs. After ADDRESSING tnenlteiVes
g the white people they speak as follows:
10 the eolored portion Of our population wo SAP
in good faith that We sFe their real frieads We
Rave lived togrther IN the same commanity and an
oeFs'ana eaen other oetter than those who are I'M
sued to this association Of interests That which is
Tor cur good Is for yours That which benefits us
benefits you
Now In determining this question how you Are
gong % cl your votes IN thsfuture ask yourselves
who have been your friends in the pass lap 4
plause Who EAs II that gave you your liberty
a voice the R-pubican party and applause 4
y no was IL gave you the right Of suffrage The I
hadicais.Hl % the other hand, who vas II that
ensiaved you for generations that bought you and /
'o'a YOU tAat separated husband and wife parent