Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-05-24
Address to the Cclored Citizens
Of Montgomery County.

VOte ~ u puUitc ofoCbiOu ioi Vmccfo.
to represent you in high places. 1t
is right that you should know, before
casting your vote, for whom and for
what you are asked to vote, so that
you may not be deceived or impose d
upon.
1t is for this reason that I now
address you. I have been nomina-
ted by the people as candidate for
Representative in the next Legisla-
ture and, as / should be very hap.
by to receive your votes for that
position, / deem it proper and just
to you that state, in plain words,
what my principles are, aud what
they are not, so that you may not be
in any doubt as to where l stand.
And first, let me say that l did
not desire to become candidate for
any Office for I have lived in the
State of Tennessee only four years
and 1 do not apr rove Of new corners,
in any community, running for office.
Older citizens should do that, and
younger ones should wait. But a
large majority of the Union men of
the county did not agree with me in
this, and they insisted that my name
should be used. 1t is at their re-
quest, and not pine, that I am now
before the people for their suffrages.
The Conservative Union men of
the county, on the LIST day Of April
last, adopted the following as their
platform Of principles, viz: -
"Resoived That, as loyal Union men, we
most earnestly desire that peace and all Its
attendant blessings, should reign supreme
in our midst; and tina, the most fraternal
relations should subsst among all classes OF
our people. To this end, we are in favor Of
extending equal civil and political rights
to all classes Of our citizens, without dis
tinction OF race or color = ,li 5u
"Rcsolrcd That the peace, safety, happi-
ness and prosperity of our people, require
that our DISTINGUISHED citizens should be
restored to their former status, as members
Of the body polite, and az speedily as pos
fsble. a r.H lItea-
"Resolued, That we are in favor of free
religion, free schools, free discussion, free
la Dor aud free ballot for all.
"Resolped, We believe that the interes,
of our people, both white and colored, are
the same, and to this end we viii strive to
cultivate the most friendly relations with
them. .
These four resolutions embrace
the whole field of civil and religious
liberty, and on them stand. know
of nothing good or right, or which
any man would desire either for him
self or his neighbor, which is moi
stated in this platform. 1t is the
very essence of freedom, and this il
the platform of the Conservative
men of Montgomery county. If ]
shall be fortunate enough to be elect
ed, you will have a right to expect
that l will do all in my power tc
create and preserve the most friend
ly relations" between all classes of ou
people; that will give my earnest
support to all measures looking tt
the mutual interests of our Whol,
people, without any regard to theil
color; that will use every hon ora
BILE and peaceful effort to secure the
"tuH and complete" rights of citizen
ship to all our people, and this EN-
braces the right to sit on juries anG
hold Office; that will render al
possible assistance in building up &
good and permanent system of pub
lie schools for all of our children
that l will aid. the poor man, the
laboring man--the mcchanic--tht
man who earns his bread by the
sweat of his own labor, in all Lawful
ways; that I will teach the doctrine
that the interests of our people, O
both races, are the same ; that the
destiny of all is the same; and tina
in no way will 1 sustain any legisla
ton which will bear burden on one
class Of people more than on another
or recognize, as just or proper, any
system which discriminates between
the two races. Let the laws be equa
in their bearing on all. Let every
man, who has the right to marry q
wife and own a house, have all the
means known to the law of. protect
ing himself and them. Let every
man, who pays taxes, have a voice il
selecting the men who are to expend
the money; let every man who obey'
the law have voice in making the
law; let every member in the com
munity have an education; in short
let every man, ,oho is citizen, hap,
all The rights and privileges of citi
zenship. When his rights, or III,
rights Of his neighbor are IN danger
let him be called to the jury boz
,ohen public officers are to be elected
let him come 10 the ballot bos; aSc
tohen his country is in danger, let hin
come TO the cartridge boz. In nut
shelt-equat rights for all-no dis
tinctions, no determinations, no elias
pririteges, in any eiua or po1ftica
matter. .
Let the School fund be shared
equally, and let the poor be taker
care of at the public expense, anC
let not the question be asked, as tn,
child or pauper black or white,
further than to know to which hous,
he shall be sent. Let the schools b,
separate; but let their rights ant
privileges be the same.
Having stated what l favor, I viii
now state what oppose, i am op
posed to taxing the people for any
thing beyond what is absolutel,