Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-03-22
From Harper's Weekly.
EX-GOVERNOR BROWN OF GEORGIA.

1
seph f. Brown at Atlanta, Georgia, il
the most sensible and manly speech.
made in the South for half a century.
II is plain and forcib,e statement OF
the situation. The orator neither
whines nor spouts,, but talks like gen
uine American. We invoked the de-
cision Of the sword, he says, and the
sword has decided. 1t is childish to
quarrel with the result. The victors
naturally and properly determine what
is necessary to secure theirvictory and
ourhonor requires acquiescenceinw what
ever is not personally dishonorable.
Ex-Governor Brown does noteven, like
the New York Times, aliege that the
proposition of Congress is harsh, and
unjust, and unconstitutional; but like
man and statesman, having declar-
ed it Inevitable, he declines to criticise
it. The practical question, he says, is
what the people of Georgia ought to DO
under the circumstances for he is very
sure that they ought to do something.
AS for the passivity which is recon-
mended by some persons, the Elk. Gov
ernor declares it to be foolishan undig-
nified. The true model fer Southern
action is General Lee. When he sur
rendered he submitted to the best terms
he could get. If the people of Georgia
refuse the terms now offered they will
never get any better. Congress, indeed,
disfranchisc highly intelligent class,
but it is not Il large class and 1t is GER
tainly much better to submit to such
disfranchisement than to have all the
white population which sided with the
rebellion disfranchised, and the proper
erty OF the whole people confiscated.
Nor can it be said, he continues, that
acquiescence is degrading. If SO, the
people who acquiesced in the Presidents
requirements are already degraded.
Nor is it wise to argue that enough has
been yielded, for that is matter for the
other party to decide. Moreover, mac
ton is really want of loyalty; and
those who, with every opportunity OF
removal offered to them have chosen to
remain in the country, have chosen its
government rs their government, and
are bound in honor to acknowledge and
support it. There is neither manliness,
dignity, nor good faith in any other
course, says the Ex-Governor; and he
adds what follows, which we commend
to the grave reflection of the people OF
all the States which are unorganized
like Georgia:
81 am assailed because have recon-
mended our people to do what the con-
quernrs require on the suifragequ question
Men are yravely discussing the ques-
ton whether the Negro shall be allowed
to vote. This is useless waste OF
breath. Congress has settled that cues
ton for US. We have no power to pre-
vent it. They are now voters. That
is not now the question. 1t is, shall the
great mass of our white men vote? Ii
we accept the position and act upon it,
the ballot will remain in the hands OF
nine-tenths Of the white men of the
South. Ii we refuse to do 50, it will be
taken from them and given to a very
small class Of white men and the ne
groes. During the war the blacks act
ed nobly. We sent our white men to
the field, and the negroes, who knew
our failure was their freedom, staid at
home and acted as protectors to our
families, and made support for them
and their masters in the field. The for
tunes OF war have placed them upon
terms of civil and political equality
with us. Many of them have nursed
our children Others have been the COM
panions of our boyhood and the SER
wants of our manhood. Their interests
and ours must be in great degree iden-
tical in future. What sense is there,
then, in such action on our part as will
ALLEVIATE and make them enemies? /
think We had better keep their friend
ship, aud show them, by kind and Just
treatment, that I'VE are their best friends.
In giving this advice trust may not
be considered rs selfish. L am not
counting their votes. They have no
right to vote for me, rs / am ineligible
to office. / am caught on three horns
of the dilemma, if you will allow the
expression, as / have been a member
Of the State Senate, Judge of the Su-
perior Court, and the Governor of nv
in the rebellion. While I may be de-
MED the political privileges of a citizen
| am not unconcerned about the future
of the country. l have children, rela-
tives, and friends who are not iisfran-
chised. i wish tosce their Government
and their country the best it can be
made"
The speech Of Ex-Governor Brown is
wisdom itself compared with Mr.. Al
exander Ii. Stephens theory of the
right of States; aud when
tine people of Georgia agree with Mr..
Brown and utterly repudiate Mr.. Stepb-
ens-when they believe, as Mr.. Brown
tells them, that the theories of Calhoun
are utterly obsolete and absurd, they
will begin to be happy and prosper
BUS people. H."
sI.R,