Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-11
RRownLoM.s MAN1rEsro.

AIC DCpFit VI ADAsSo1CNf - SNSSNNf
tute for speech which he says he is
physically unable to make He first
quotes his letter Of the 22d of last Feb
ruary to the nominating convention, then
the resolutions adopted by the convention,
and then his speech Of acceptance. He
then gives the vote on last franchise
law, and proceeds:
"The question of colOred suffrage in the
House and Senate was sprung by Republi-
cans, and passed by Republicans. against
the united and determined opposition Of
the so-called Conservatives The odious
sixteenth section Of the franchise law,
excluding colored men from holding Office,
originated with the Rebel Conservatives,
and by them was forced upon the House
as q means of securing the defeat of the
suffrage bill was all the time in the
hall, laboring to defeat the sixteenth sec
ton, and was an eyewitness to all that
occurred.
But it is urged against me now that /
have ali my life long been pro-slavery
man, and my debate with Mr. Pryne in
Philadelphia is largely quoted from to
prove me the ddCOcdte of the institution
i was challenged by Mr. Pryne, as the
debate shows, to defend the South, and
done so, with an ability creditable to me,
although ! was on the sorORg side Of the
subject In that memorable debate of
FIVE days duration, | notified to the world
that if a conflict of arms came on | would
take the side of the Union in opposition
to all other interests. These facts it does
not suit my opponents to publish. And
the same men who now censure me for
having formerly advocated slavery, have
denounced me for twenty-five years as an
AboHtionist, as well as the whole Wing
party with which | acted
The late Legislature of Tennessee has
been more bitterly and perseveringly
abused than any General Assembly that
ever convened in the State, and yet no
legislative body ever did as much for the
best interests of the State. Two years
ago this body Of men assembled in the
Capitol, and took charge of what little
was left Of the State and her records.
The State was pr0strated, her archives
gone South, her money squandered, and
her credit utterly ruined. War was still
raging, courts were nowhere held with
safety, and justice was administered only
within few fortified posts, protected by
bayonets County governments were
broken up, and peace officers could do
nothing Our schools and academies
were closed, as they had been during the
four years Of war and anarchy which
previously reigned Our grand system
of railroads was in ruins, while the mili-
tary authorities were running such as
was necessary to their success. Guerril-
las prowled without restraint over the
whole State, and our farmers were
liable any night to lose their last horses
and their only hope of raising bread
The Legislature, by its judicious legis-
lation, has placed the State upon her feet
again, enabled the treasury to meet all
aene~ls, apd put ths railroads in runs
ming order, and enabled them to meet the
interest Of their loans The credit of the
State is restored and the State herself is
restored to the Union The courts are
everywhere open for the transaction of
business. The farming operations of the
country are going on finely, and our
schools are opening in every county. In
a word, it has been the proud privilege of
this Legislature to restore this noble old
commonwealth to prosperity and busi-
ness and to her ancient position in the
| Federal Union And the members OF the
Legislature have done ali this in defiance
| Of the abuse of traitors, the ISLANDERS OF
their prostituted papers, and in the very
face of war made upon them by the
President, whose patronage and dictation
were brought to bear upon them through
bad men who had sold QUITO the Admin
istration, or lacked the manhood to stand
up against its denunciations. All honor
| to the patriotic Legislature of Tennessee,
and the brave men in both Houses who
have faced the storm Of Rebel abuse, Cop
perhead slanders, and the treason of those
in high places
There are but two parties in this coun-
try, and in the nature of things there
can be but two parties now-one the
party for the UuiOn, the Republican
party, or if you please, the Radical
party, standing up to and endorsing the
American Congress. The other is the
representative Of the Rebel party, some
times calling itself the Conservative
party, sometimes the National Union
party, and again the Constitutional Dem
ocratie party. This ring-streaked and
striped Rebel party led us into war and
rebellion, and it is time to leave it in its
wickedness We have but two alterna-
tives, We must 90 with the Rebel party,
with all their infamy and the blackness
of their record, or with the only party
competent to crush it. and that is the
Republican party We have again be-
fore us the issues of 1861, and the Re-
publican party alone has the power tC
save us Whether successful or other
wise at the polls, | stand upon this plat
form of principles.
am charged with inconsistency, il
that ] am, as an OLD LINE WING, advo
eating the principles of the Republican
party A Republican Congress has in
augurated HENRY CLAY's AMERICAN SYs
TEM-a system that have advocated fol
the last thirty years. A protective tariff
! the construction of the great Pacific
railroad, the improvement of rivers ant
harbors, the establishment of a nationa
currency, etc, fll Mr. Clays bill fully
and give the country what have all th'
time contended for.
With what show Of consistency car
Union men of any stripe now come on
and act with the Rebel-Democratic par
typ The Democracy of the South inau
gurated the rebellion, and the Democrac,
of the North aided, abetted, encouraged
and sustained the rebellion. The Demo
: cratic leaders resolved in their Chicago
Convention, in 1864, that the war for tn
Union was a failure, and Mr. Etheridg'
Joined them in the support OF their ticke
encouraging and supporting desertion
from the Union army.
The Southern Democratic rebellion
cost this country SIX HUNDRED THoUsANl
LIVES and SIX THOUSAND MILLIONS OF DOL
LARS, and carried mourning and desOla
ton into every household North anC
South The Democratic leaders instiga
ted riots at the North they conspired Il
release the Rebel prisoners at CAM
Douglas, and to surrender Northern elite
to their tender merciesl And this samt
party neryed the arm Of Booth to assas
sinate the patriot Lincoln
In perfect keeping with the rebellion
spirit of the rebel Democracy, North an
South, has been the action of the lat
reasonable conclave at Nashville TIE,
have nominated for Governor, Emerson