Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-02
.,..urrv nrnocnAr1C coNvENTroN

A Mastery speech by EK-ts0veEnor
NefII s RrOwn-SOund democratic
Doctrine Enumerated in the ResOsa-
ftous-IfsG OF Delegates 90 the state
Contention.
In pursuance OF the notice heretofore
given By the County Central Committee, a
Convention Of the Democratic voters Of
Davidson county met al the Courthouse
yesterday at II AN.
Ex-Governor Neill S. Brown was, on
motion Of Col. T. T. Smiley, called to pre-
side over the Convention. After regretting
that some one more fitted for the position
had not been elected, the Chairman an
nounced his cordial sympathy with the
great Conservative Constitutional Union
movement now in progress throughout the
United States. IL he knew HIMSELF he was
in favor Of the Constitution, the Union and
the enforcement Of the laws. Applaase.
He belonged 10 the great political church
which embraced the principles upheld 10y
the fathers and founders Of the republic.
With no disposition 10 enter into the dark
chapter OF the late terrible contest he would
nevertheless glance at the condition in which
Tennessee had been left by the war. lie
had reioieed when that struggle ended, and
no man was more miserable while il lasted.
But '65 and &c and 81 had come and
gone, yet this people were treated as il they
had never known the rights or condition
Of freemen--as If they had been born
slaves. Was eser before a people in such
a condition? What had they done that
thew should have been followed with such
unintermilting, such implacable hatred?
HesaW many gray headed men before him,
some Of whom had assisted 10 establish the
supremacy Of the white man over the In
dian in this country. Their fathers and
themselves had laid out our fields, founded
our cities and built our churches aye, car
ried the flag Of their country through the
war Of 1929, and through the fierce
Indian wars hatfollowed. Yet these very
men, whose blood and treasure had made
our State all that il is were not good
enough to vote. They were good enough,
however, TO pay all the taxes. while their
late slaves were vested with the control of
affairs. This system had, in fact, gone on
80 long that il had lost its novelty. Those
who had done this thing knew that the now
dominant class were not in any sense fit
TO rule the country, but they were deter
mined to thus get possession of and keep
the political power in their own hands. II
no other question was before the American
people than this robbery of suffrage, it was
enough TO make any mans blood boil to
think Of il. Yet, when we demonstrated,
we we're called "Rebels," " traitors" Was
the late rebellion the only one the world
ever saw? This republic was the ofshoot
of rebellion which, because it was sue
cessful, we call a great and glorious con-
summation. Even the prosperous condi-
ton Of the English people and the security
guaranteed by their laws, are owing to fire.
Quent rebellions against the eneroachments
Of the crown. When the war of the revo-
luton ended, there lived in South Carolina
a man who, more than all others, had been
prosecuted and hunted down by the tories
Gen. Francis Marion. Yet, when he was
sent TO the Legislature and a proposition
was made to exclude the tories from suf-
frage, he made speech against, and by his
influence, defeated it, although the
measure was popular one at the
| time. There was something sublime
| in this exhibition of magnanim-
ity. Who ever heard of Washington
even when his hour Of supreme triumph
had arrived, displaying the prosecuting
| spirit by which the party in power 10 now
actusted The tomahawk should be buried,
and the sooner the better Cor the country.
He rejoined with exceeding Joy at the re-
suit OF the cruel and unjust attempt to re-
move the President Enthusiastic APP
plause Whatever some might think Of
Andrew johnson as a man or politician, he
had as the Chief Magistrate Of the country
committed no act not justified by the Con
stitution and laws. From the very hour
that lac had reached the Presidential chair
he had done everything for the protection
of this people that was consistent with his
position. We were here to-day TO see
whether some man who could restore peace
and prosperity TO the country could not be
selected. Whoever the man might be,
whether Pendleton, Hancock, johnson or
Chase who was to be put forward on the
4th day of July, the speaker would strive
and pray for him, even though he could
not vote. We wanted Moses, a real Mo
SEES, chosen prophet of the Lord God who
would lead us out of bondage carrying
the stars and stripes, and representing the
constitutional principles upon which the
republic was founded. Our only hope was
| in the defeat Of the Radical party. Should
il again be successful the gray haired men
now present would be buried under the sod,
| and the young men would have sighed
themselves into premature old age, before
the lost birthright of suffrage would he
restored. The supporters of Grant deemed
IL almost an outrage TO speak against his
i pretensiOns, yet a man whose head had
/ grown white in the service Of his country,
who had won more battles than Grant, and
4 the latches Of whose shoes Grant was not
1 worthy TO unloose-no less a warrior than
1 Winfield SeOtt-had been beaten, aud badly
beaten. The speaker took heart from this
fact. If General Scott had been defeated
with such A record, how many thousand
i times ought such man az Grant to be
beaten. Although knowing nothing OF
Grant personally, he was disposed TO re-
spect any honest conviction he might
entertain but IL was not to be for
gotten that he represented set oil
| principles which should make every true
lover OF his country vote even against q
Washington. Many Of us could not vote,
bat we could pray for the success OF the
Democratic standard-bearer, and II was a
good thing 20 have Providence on our side.
Grant represented the party whose policy
il was 10 keep up the tyrannical and eKpen-
sive Freedmen's Bureau in the South, nm
der the pretense that the negroes and Union
men needed protection. There was never
less crime Of any kind in Tennessee than
now, and 20 Of the other Southern States
Were these expressions never TO end? How
longcould human patience endure such out
RACES? But a. for the speaker he had no com.
promise whatever 10 make with Radicals
Applause lie had never been Radical
in politics; he was above those tiendish
sentiments Of hatred that could never know
forgiveness. lie hoped TO God that ",
would succeed For this he prayed as fer
venlly as ever Hebrew prayed for the rec
toration Of his people-nOt, however, witt
the temple occupied by sacriligious allan
and false gods, Ior," he said with mucl
emphasis 81 swear that ] never will wor
/ pthe Radicalgods" ifrighlmade might
wewould be sureto succeed. The people ha,
already shown that the excuses of th
Radical party must be stopped, and tn
{ latter would Ia two years acknowledg