Tennessee staatszeitung. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-187?, 1867-05-03
GRAND ENTHUSIASM IN
SUMNER COUNTY.


more enthusiasm or unanimity. During the
progress of the deliberations one of the MEM
bers, rising to his feet, and pointing at the ma
tional flag against the wall surmounted by the
name of VIM. G. Brownlow, called for three
cheers for the hero ofloyalty. These were given
with hearty vehemence that might have been
heard to the heart of Gallatin, and made the
roof resound again. They were followed by
three other clamorous ones for John Lawrence
and them by three more for that fayorite friend
of freedom, nationality and justice, Thad. Ste
vens. $3.50 s-s5ls 81
After the business of the meeting had been
transacted, D. H. Mason, ofthis city, was called
to tho stand. He laid bare the record of John
Trimble. He showed how persistently that Sc
nator had chung to the idea ofcoupling disloyal
suffrage with colored suffrage on all occasions
when the subject of admitting freedmen to the
ballot box was under consideration = how he
had followed up this notion when the present
franchise law, though pending in the Senate,
was looked upon as an accomplished fact, by
introducing a bill in lieu to arm with the ballot
the body of the rebels as well as the colored
men how inconsistent it was in radical voters
to support as a leading exponent of the ad-
vanced principles of the Republican party a
man who had voted to give vote to those very
men that we are told that we cannot safely vote
for = how John Trimble's record in voting
against the franchise act is in opposition to four
of the resolutions whichwere adopted at the 22d
| of February convention which nominated Wm
G. Brownlow, and were re-affirmed by the
county convention of Davidson county on April
| s7th, and by the county mass meeting at Gala
tin on April 20th - and how improper it was in
! q man to attempt to push himself forward as a
| standard bearer, and ask men to vote for him
| when he had voted against the bill which gave
| them the right to vote. Various illusions he
made to Gov, Brownlow and to John Lawrence
were applauded yociferously, y
| Mr.. Mason was followed by I. Mckinley who
| showed up the conduct of prominent rebels now
claiming to be the best friends of the colored
men. He stated. among other things, that Bale
Peyton, in 1864, had extorted from his former
slaves various sums in payment for their free
I dom, and had taken from some ofthem their in
dividual notes for various amounts in compeR-
sation for their emancipation. He then asked
what kind of friends such men were. Next, he
ventilated the city ordinances of Gallatin, pro-
hibiting the negroes from assembling ever to
hear preaching under the penalty of public
cowhiding, and wanted to know, if the rebel
city authorities were such good friends to the
odious and infamous ordinances had not been
repealed. His remarks elected considerable
applause, and round of cheers at its close.
Columbus NJ. johnson, a prominent colored
man of Gallatin, the Secretary of the Conven-
tion was then called on for an expression of his
sentiments. He told the large assemblage what
he knew of John Lawrence from his intimate
association with him for two years = how he
had found him always vigilant and faithful in
defending and protecting the colored people =
how he had not been afraid nor ashamed to go
into the eolored mans house and to the colored
peoples meetings, and take them kindly by the
hand before anybody thought they would be
enfranchised, and when such acts made the
man who did them bye-word and scorn for
rebel tongues = and how he had written and
spoken against slavery when John Trimble had
his bills of sale to his chattels locked up safely
in his strong box. When the speaker asked the
question if his audience believed that John
Lawrence could be induced, with such record
as he had, to do anything against the interests
of the colored people, a laundering ,,ust' went
up in response. During his remarks he declared
himself emphatically in favor of John Lawrence
as the radical candidate for Congress in this
district, and promised to do all he could to Sc
cure his nomination. Mr.. johnson was fire.
quently applauded, and, as he took seat re-
ceived three hearty cheers.
Rev. Hillery Key, colored minister having
pastoral charge of Gailatin, was next called to
the stand. He also gave lively picture of his
long intimate knowledge of John Lawrence's
character and his treatment of the freedmen.
He said he had never found him acting as if, In
his association with the colored man. he was
afraid he would smut himself with the contact
and would have to wash off before he could go
into decent society, as the rebels acted. He had
always found the ear of John Lawrence open to
the tales ofsuffering, destitutiol or persecution
of the colored people, while his power to right
wrong had been exerted promptly and effect
lively, and with warm sympathy. The speaker
went on TO say that, whathe knew ofJohn Law
renee made him certain that he was such imam
as could be relied upon whenever the rights or
the interests of the colored people were in dan
ger. He announced himself warm supporter
ofJohn Lawrence, and pledged the strength OF
his name and influence in that gentIeman's be-
hall. As he was about to sit down, loud cries
of ,,go on, compelled him to extend his re-
marks. As he closed, three cheers for his speech
were proposed and given with a hearty good
will. as.s
The next speaker was Emanuel Wallace colored
~
fine effect, admidst much laughter and applause,
fable about the snake that let of cage, and,
after it had got out wanted to bite somebody get
ting that inclination and worse until it actually
did bite somebody but claimed that ought not to bs
blamed, because to bite was its nature. He applied
this fable the conservatives and to all who could
not be implicitly trusted said the rebels were nov
in the cage but If they let out by the colored
voters, they might bite somebody, and then claim
that they not to blame, because Congress did 1t
the Legislator did it, He urged that the rebels be
kept the cage He wound up by advising the wives,
sisters and sweetharts of those present work like
beavers for John Lawrence, for all knew the iruance
Of woman The cheers that greeted the speaker as he
ceased7were as enthusiastic as they were deserved
The convention then ended its deliberations as set
forth in the published account of the proceedings at
half past eleven o'clock.
We regret that we have not space to give a fuller
outline Of the remarks Of the various speakers Our
report is meager indeed, and does not do them the
Justice they deserve.
We gratified say that large escort Of honor
will accompany the delegation from Sumner county
to this city. They win be welcome. We hear that Mr.
Mckinley has made arrangements to charter cal
to bring them to Nashville.
We sayto our friends everywhere, be of good chez,
The popularity Of John Lawrence Is increasing every
hour and the better his character and his record are
known, the more certain his prospect Of nomination
becomes. Let every true Republican contribute his
help to the good work.
SIR Seitnn8sb erans8eber.
SD BABE ftnf siemlib srO6e Gnantitat
beuti6er 9cnpareil in lebr gutfm !3ultanb Be-
fntlid, fsrnfr etpa Elm Dayenb stanbe unb
3tpei Dubenb Gd,Fiftfalfen, aud anbere Mr.