Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-10

Than That 10 which we live and I
which blesses u.s. Did-we not expel the saw |
age and add to this territory all these |
streams, and mountains, and valleys, and !
plains? We and our fathers did il. We |
wrested it from the savage, and carried
that flag nearly seven hundred miles South |
and thousand miles West. Who does the |
country owe it to II owes 1t to the pa
triotism, toll and energy Of the pioneers Of
this country, our fathers and mothers-to
those who are now sleeping on a hundred
battle fields: and the streams along whose
borders they fell will murmur their melo,
dious lullaby as long as time shall last.
We who follow them have our rights too;
we have Inherited them but they say you
forfeited them by this rebellion, and that
you are entitled to no respect. / do not
stand here to discuss that chapter in our
history which we have past. This is not
the first rebellion that was ever known.
There is difference between our rebellion
and that Of '76, viz: Ours was unsuccessful
and theirs was successful. Success generally
sanctifies the means without the motives.
Whence came this war through which we
have gone? One says it was Seward and
his allies. Another that IL was JEFF. Davis
and his allies. 1t came from antagonism
an antagonism found in the camp of
Washington while he held Boston in siege.
1t was found in his Cabinet when he became
President The rebellion did not have its
origin upon the subject of slavery Those
Radicals from the Northeast whoare crying
so for the cOlored people were the authors
and importers OF slavery from Africa.
These are the men who talk SO much about
their love for the Southern slaves. 1t is all
humbug, and they will find it to be so in
less than five years. This antagonism
went on increasing in force and volume.
Did we not try to prevent it Did not
men from the North and South, men that
loved that flag, men that loved the Consti
tuition and Union, did they not exhaust
themselves trying TO prevent this terrible
strife? Can all the men in the world stop
an earthquake or stop the flow Of the tide
Of the Mississippi as il bears its tribute TO
the ocean? / speak of it as l would of a
great swell of the ocean that was raised up
by the imprisoned winds.
Our troops came home after having sur
rendered and taken the oath, and renewed
their loyalty. As in war; 80 in peace, they
are in earnest. / do not believe there is
more law-abiding people than those whom
YOU represent, at home, in the fields, noun
tains and plains of Tennessee We are
in mourning for our friends and neigh
borsy Many of yon have been caused to
mourn, occasioned by the death of your
friends by the late war. Is that not suffer-
ing? Is not suffering Necessary to atone
for any eyilthatyou have committed Have
Won not suffered in the loss Of fortune
Industry can repair fortune. New friends
can take the place Of those whom you have
lost but liberty lost is perpetual sorrow
till regained Now, gentlemen, do not
know how to talk of these things have
neither time nor language to let out my
soul upon the tyranny that Expresses us.
/ say ii is Ihe most cursed state of despo-
tism that ever the world saw. You may
go TO Austria, or Russia, or the world over,
and you cannot find tyranny and degra-
dation equal to that placed upon us by this
Radical curse. There has been one man at
Washington who, clothed with the vestue
of power, has undertaken to do, and in
our opinion has done his best towards pro-
tectinga down-trodden nation, and that
man is Andrew johnson. / admire his
course. | approve it. j rejoice that he
was lately acquitted before that high court
of impeachment. 1t was his fortune and
mine, for many long years, 20 be antagonists
in politics. 1t was my misfortune to be
under his control for period, and it was
very uncomfortable to me. But say to-
ward him for myself, all honor. thank
God that l have a spirit Of forgiveness
While he has been trying to cover us with
amnesty, we should move on ike band of
brothers. Look at the vast extravaganza
of the government; why, you hayea b.
reau that costs you eleven millions of dol
lars year. That is just what John Adams
administration cost, and / have, when a
boy, heard him denounced as the most ex-
trayagant man in the world. What use
have you for Bureau? No more than an
animal has for a dictionary. 1t is said by
the Radical press of the North, that we are
full of Ku-Klux and every other klux; that
we are for killing Union men and enslaYing
the negro. This is false-utterly false.
Now my colored friends, let me say
word to you. There is not white man in
this State that would put you back into
slavery. / say for one that | will not do
il as long as my head is on my shoulders.
IL say the thing was not fairly done, but it
was done, and we will not alter it. We
are your best friends at last. Where do
you get money to build your cottages?
Where do you go when you get old and de-
crepid Do you not 60 to your old masters
and old homes. Yet there is an element
who seeks to win you over so as 10 get your
votes TO put hungry aspirants into office.
These evils will not last always; and they
will not be brought to an end by the sword.
The appeal is to the ballot-box. We are
entering upon the most important contest
that this country ever saw. Stars are pass
ing over our heads, and before long You
will see the morning start will rise in the
East A star that does not go down in the
West, but melts away in the light ofheayen.
That star, the star of hope, will be dis
placed by a luminary that shall rise also
in the East and the fires will set this CONT
nent in glowing flames. More than
two milEou of men are mastering for the
great campaign. Their columns can be
seen and heard for miles around; they are
marching under national airs, the same airs
that were played at Yorktown and New
Orleans, they are marching under that old
banner, with no new emblems, the same
plain old banner which gives liberty to all,
the Constitution the supreme law, and the
right of all men 70 vote; banner that
means that this is white mans govern
meut White men did make this govern
ment, white men have preserved it, and
white men are capable Of preserving il;
and by the grace of God they intend to do
it. This vast army, as said, is moving,
ard il expects, by the time il reaches the
summit of the political mountain, that it
will be Joined by its great leader, who is
coming forth on the 4th of July next.
When his voice will ring out an order TO
march, such an echo will reVerberate over
this land as was never heard before. Their
destiny is in the future. Whothat favored
leader will be, | will not undertake to say
but, my friends, this work cannot be accom-
plished without effort. The Almighty has
20 organized His domains that nothing can
be achieved without laws. If this thing is
worth anything, it is worth working for.
Those Of us who cannot vote can
speak and reason. Do these men who
happen now 30 hold the reins expect to
ride ms under the saddle and, in the Lam
guage of Jefferson, Boot and spur us by
the Grace Of God" The victory that
awaits us will not bring the dark drapery
that covers us with sorrow. Success can
be achieved il we are true 10 ourselves. By
courage nv that DoWPr of endurance