Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-06-03
A Reconstructed Rebel.

Chicago Convention was a speech by Elk
Governor Brown of Georgia 1t is short
but satisfactory, as follows:
As remarked before left my scat | was
an original secessouist was born in South
Carolina, and growing up under the influence
and teachings Of the master intellect OF
Calhoun then in the full glare of his meridi-
an, eagerly imbibed his State right doctrines,
and suppose that ! sincerely and religously
believed that they were correct, as you believe
that your opposite views were sound. FOR
years before the unfortunate struggle We have
passed through, | loresaw that the issue which
divided the North and South must ultimately
be settled by the sword There was no COM
mon tribunal whose judgment either side
would respect.
If the Supreme Court decided a question
bearing upon this great issue the party against
whom the decision was made refused TO abide
Inv it. because it regarded il as political
While Mr.. Clay lived, that great man. that
pfUiicator--t Cheers and great appause) i've
were able to avert this great issue But MIR.
Clay was called from his field of usefulness.
Webster died aud Calhoun slept with his faith
CTS anu ""o,' ''' 9'','n "s''" Al
was no one VINO could pour on uPo" '"o
troubled waters ana s'op ,he uo'uE,' .''" '
cession was the result l went "'o .'"
ditonally as States rights man. ! stood
iv it as long as there was any chance to sus-
tain it, When the President OF the Conted-
crate States abandoned the great States rights
doctrine that we commenced and were agreed
upon dlhered rom h'"' "'n n' 'uoP,,'
( AZ conscr'pt measure "n'Cn gave "'',. 'no
; entire control oil the Nhole army oi 'no
Confederate STATES ana OF every o''o'I ]"
the army--an error SIR you ana NOT 'orn'n''
took issue with MN Du' we went 'n'o"e'
the struggle ana wan not attempt no" 10
renew ITS history. but Weo' the SCUM ''li
I, you OF the North were the coh9n'ForS anu
think hau sense enough at 'he emu Oh INC
struggle to know Wheh l was nilPe"'
(Cheers) The President OF inc 1''ou stats
after the surrender OF Ten 'ohns'oi' Or
b dered my arrest o" lmpr''on'heh'' AI''r
p my release your courts We're open ana was
left free to act felt then that the t'n'
bad come when l should make my chol'e De-
tween this land and tins government ana some
other land with some other government |
o still love my native land the best cheers
, and cries of good y and with your eonsirnc-
ton Of the Constitution established by the
sword, | still prefer this government OF the
u United Statcs to any other organized govern
ment. tCheors) The natural inquiry then
/ was, what Is my interest ana what Us my du-
. tyP | believe that 1t was my interest ana
my duty to remain IN this government II
remain here ] must seek amnesty OF
I the government for the past and must
i seek its protection for the future. II
h it yielded me that, was bound m hon-
, or to return my allegiance and make a
good citizen if | could. lCries Of good ~
and cheers) Hence ! have advocated every
i measure from that time until this for reeon-
struction. ! have been denounced as au cne-
my my race and a traitor to the cause for
which ! wrought so much. think my course
= more honorable than that Of the man who wa.
a rebel and sought the same amnesty that
: receive, and the same protection from the gov
. eminent that | receive, and then stays in its
> bosom to sting it when an opportunity offers
; (Cries Of good, good and applause) When
: | fought you | fought you boldly and openly
= when | surrendered did so in good faith
and when took the oath took it with a
purpose religiousy to observe it,
As | understood the doctrines OF Democra'
: cy, they were State sovereignty and the
right Of secession" The sword has establish
7 ed different doctrine, and hence IT is that
. | am no longer bonnd by allegiance to that
doctrine. If our white race act properly ii
regard to negro equality, there will be no diff
fculty.
In conclusion let me say, that while W.
J, have hard fight to make in Georgia, If yol
= will give us the fruits of the victory we have
lately won IN desperate hight, we expect t.
i give Georgia to Gen. Grant (Great APP
!, plausel We have elected our Governor We
have adopted our Constitution and elected q
large majority OF both branches OF the Gene
g raj Assembly. Yet our Governor Is not IN
augurated, our Legislature Is not called to-
i gethor. We desire that the Stevens bil
: which passed the House OF Representative
- the other day be slightly amended IN the Sen
=, ate and then passed. The amendment we de
" sire Is to allow Governor Bullock TO convene
i his Legislature. Do that and they will adop
- the Constitutional amendment. Then lie
= them receive US INTO congress and give us tn
control OF the state Government ana ITS pat
ronage, which we fought Tor and won, an
must nave II we succeed IN thls contest
threat applause.
The hamlltonlan ana WeDsterian eonsiruc
= uon oil the constitution has been es,aohshe
n by the sword, and l have acquiesced In tha'
and L ma that the hepGohcan party to,da
1 abandoned by the Democratic party and tina
' naturally nav ie2os me into tne nepupiican parry
te doetrinc ot che South Int 7 belieye t5ot if
true. But let me tell YOU, Mr.. President an
: gentlemen, that there are many white men i
g. i iDJ' o us; IN ,ho sonib %nro o.
T. " s''''' soe'','o''a.' - A. q"