The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-03-15

posterity might some day see. The
war then raging, since closed with
puch honor TO our national arms and
10 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 them.
selves together inaone general propo-
sition, which, by common consent, has
been, denominated Reconstruction. 1t
is new principle in political affairs,
and its, novelty in this country arises
from the firct that we have Two large
and important classes of people In
our midst of whom we previously
knew nothiDg--the first, the. defeated
Rebelsj tho other, the emarcipaled
slaves. LApplausc,] In reorganlziHg
the Governments that have been dis
turbed in some particular States, as
in yours, and overthrow \ altogether
in Others, it becomes Il very grave
and important question what part
these classes respectively shall DC per.
mitted to sharsy BY almost Ilnani,
nous consent it was early determined
that che man who raised his hand
against the flag of his country was
not entitled to WELD The ballot, or re-
main in the possession Of our sover-
eign franchises aud powers. [Ap-
plnusc. Yoa 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 " time as
tho loyal men might tbntk il safe and
prudent. [Applause.] So far, thso,
retically at least, aDd, in, principle, u
was easy. Butlhis other class, tbese
four millions OF disenthralled beings,
what should be done with them n
That WAS more difficult question TO
settle. While they Represented an
amount OF property greater consider.
ably than our prcSont national debt
the idea of allowing them TO vote
was, of course, not to be thought OF
for a moment, For, in such d case,
the moment you allow the black nten
TO vote It would not be long before he
would ask that somewhat uncomfort.
able question OF his master, (" BY what
right can you hold NE us II shaver"
But that institution was OVerthrowti
slavery was annihilated, or rather
this property WAS Temittel back to
tho black man himself Still there
were the old prejudices. .the old-tlme,
lifelong beliefs, more difficult rtill 40
overcome, thatlay ~ insupsrabIe Ub-
stacles 10 our,path. You, the Gnioh
men Of Maryland, with snguciqiIs
foresight beyond that Of mort other
citizens Of our country, saw very eur
ly, earliest, ;, the necessity of declaring
the black man free man. You did !
so declare bin BY your own voluntary
act But, unless | am q eatly miSta-
ken in the history Of Your opinions,
il required some Iittlo time, after hay.
ing performed that great, humane
and magnanimous act, before you
were quite willing 10 recognize the
fact that the black man was II human
being aud entitled to all the priyiIcg-
es, franchises and immunities Of a hu.
maR being. [Applause.] AS il was
with you, it has been in my own
State, andlargely through this land
Of freedom--idras travel slowly aud
old prejudiceS prove obstinate. Some.
times IL takes very stern teachings |
some rigorous and stubborn school
masters to beat them into our WnwiIl-
ing heads, The couDtry has, in its
difierentparts, by It's legislative ms
semblies, through the. prcss, by. its
public speakers, discussed this vexed |
question, until il has practically set
tied down into a proposition applica-
Bile to both resr classes Of people.
And that simple proposition may bc
embraced 10 the two words-loyal I
suffrage. GGreat appIause.1 Such IL
the action of Congress with references
to the District Of Columbia, over
which it exercises exclusive 'legisla-
ton. [AppIause The result was
in the listlo city Of George
town on,MOndayl last (groatapplauseb |
to which you have Kindly and wisely
alluded in your resOlutiOns Loyal
men, and loyal men alone, in that Dis
trict are allowed 10 vote, No man is
allowed TO vote because he is black,
No man is excluded from the ballot
box because he is white. Laughter
and appIause.l But white and black
alike are excluded il, in the time Of
our eountry's extremity, they raised
their hands against the flag Of the
nation. (Applaase.), Both alike are
admitted TO the exercise Of political
power, Il, during thit dark and dread
ful time, they maintained their fealty
and obediencc. (Applause.) 10 my
own State the people, in the order Of
events, have adopted the same policy.
Our people, like yourselves, learned
sometimes by hard and hnkind teach
ing, but by that teaching they adj
yancsd step by step until they have
established the principle Of admitting
-. - A. k.Ilof.ho.r ar awoludinO