Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-16
SPEECH OF GEN. A. H. COLQUITT
Delivered in Warrington, Ga. Oct. 1.


From the Atlanta constitutional
General Colquitt rose after Judge
Alderich, of South Carolina, and after
acknowledging the compliment paid to
Georgia by the preceding speaker for the
steadfastness with which the State has
resisted The invasion of Radicals and
carpet-baggers, alluded in handsome
terms to the fact that there was scarcely
female Radical to be found within the
entire limits of the State, so far as his
observation extended. The speaker then
most feelingly recounted the acts OF
harsh treatment which the whole South
had bsen made to bear since the surren-
der of the Confederate armies. Twas,
he said sad sight to see whole COM
munity, stricken and confounded, as we
had been, by our grievous trials, bereft
by statute and the persisting misrspre-
sentations of hostile press, of the aid
and guidance of our trusted leaders.
But left simply to our own common sense,
their Difference for the wishes of those
leaders and their words of honor, our peo-
ple had, from one extreme of our country
to the other, evinced regard for order
and determination to keep the peace
that almost surpassed experience or
belief. He asseverated, in the most SOL
emn manner, that the South was ear
nestIy for peace, and desired no better
fortune than to be allowed to do the best
we could to restore our prostrate for
tunes.
General Colquitt then addressed the
colored people, and from his well known
humanity and tenderness for that class
of eur populatiaD, we are induced to be-
lieve that his words fell upon willing
ears. The speaker then adverted to the
popular Radical doctrine of Thad. Ste
vens. He said as to coercion in the
Union and this novel doctrine OF dicts-
ton by Congress of State Governments
upon the broad ground of the conquer
or's power and the right of conquest was
simply monstrous when considered In
the light of American republcanism and
constitutional law. Analogy will not do
for us, who swear TO follow a law known
and read of all men," Our form of
government and the limitations under
which the government moves and has
its being" can almost be said TO be sui
oeneris. But for the sake of the argu-
ment, let us admit this new-fangled doc
trine of Stevens and Butler" the right
of the conqueror r"-and behold the bot
tomless pit into which it leads us. Say
nothing of the bad faith-a treachery
which lends deeper tint to Car
thsgenisn perjury implied in the
violation Of the terms Of surrender !;
say nothing of the wonderful and cruel
disregard Of Christian mercy and for
giveness implied in this relentless perse-
cution pass by the impolicy and folly OF
keeping fearful element of diseord IN
the very heart of the country, forever
stimulated by oppressive acts to out
breaks and revenge. Let all this pass
for the present, and let us discuss the
shocking doctrine upon which the very
existence logically speaking) of the
Radical party depends The right of the
cououerorl Merciful Hsaveul is this
language of Attilla and Alaric the plea
and vindication Of American Christians
and statesmen for weighing down their
own brothers with fetters made expressly
for eating into his very soul, while they
gall and break the body7 Where does
this plea leave Garrison and Phillips
where Lincoln and Seward-where the
ten legions Of sniveling and lachrymose
humanitarisns, who, for forty years, hsve
been vexine. With weary Iteration, the
soul OF Chrisiendom with their arguments
Of African slaveryf Are these people
90 judicially blinded that they cannot
see3 Can't they. IL they would, see that
By q parity Of reasoning with the argu-
menis employed against Us, We might re.
tort By asking Why, then, By an appeai
in behalf Of innate bumsn rights. did you
disturb slavery here iu she South ; Was