Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-01

Constitution. They repudiated the Con
federate debt to satisfy the dictates of thei
rulers. Members of Congress were elected
and everything done that could be done t
satisfy the most fastidious. But anothe
change of base became necessary. They
did not want the country at peace. Thest
mendicants, who found themselves at thu
close of the war rich and prosperous
spurned peace. Congress was filled will
seedy adventures, insolent in Office, who
ignored the peace at the close of the war.
The soldiers came back, but what will
they do with them? The soldiers were
sworn into Loyal Leagues and the Grand
Army of the Republic by itinerant vaga
bonds dressed in clerical garments which
they disgrace. Applause. The civilized
world clamored for peace. yet these mer
desired war. What next? The carpet
Dagger must be sent out. The Freedmen;
Bureau must be established. Constitu
tional amendments must be presented fol-
the people to indorse as sign of their
degradation. They declared at last that
the people of the South were outlaws,
They erected infamous tribunals that
murdered without law, and hung without
mercy. Applause. They placed the
negro in position to dominate over the
white race, and the people were disfran-
chised. What next? The elections had
TO be controlled in the South. In Alabama
and Mississippi the colored man voted
with the white man and defeated the in
famous plan, and-Row in CONSCIENCE OF
this, no election can be had in these States,
in Virgins, 10 Texas, on pain Of imprison-
ment. These men in power desire to de-
stroy the last vestige Of liberty in our
land.
As long as the great mass of the people
of Tennessee are governed with dsspotic
power by few, there mnst be trouble.
The attempt of these men to rule by re-
versing the natural order of things, can
oaly succeed when the pyramid will stand
upon its apex instead of its base.
To-day this is a State of slaves. The
children of proud, imperious white race
are enslaved. But this cannot last. All of
Africs cannot do it successfully, even
though aided by all the carpet-baggers in
the universe. In my couEty the whole
Radical Loyal League could not pay for a
lot in graveyard. Cheers These men
are poor, save when they get into Office 1t
is no disgrace to be poor, but it is awful to
be both poor and mean. Laughter And
of such are the rulers in Tennessee. You
cannot find any man in Tennessee eminent
for learning and piety that is now in the
Radical camp. You can not find any
school master that can read or speak the
English language with propriety that is
now in the Radical camp. More, L assert
there is no man in Tennessee, who has
been known fifty miles from home as re-
spectacle, now working with the Radicals,
unless he is an oficeholder under the re-
gime Of Brownlow.
If any one here knows such a one, let
him call out his name. But mind, when
/ say Tennessee Radicalism, do not pre-
sumo to insult any Northern Radicals by
intimating that they have any respect for
il. Laughter. And why have they no
respect for it? Because there they said
the slaves must be freed as an inevitable
result of the war, but do not make the ne
gro their political equal; but it remains to
the loathsome things that crawl in the
dust-it remained 10 the scaIawag in Ten
nessee to place the black man upon US, aud
wrest from you your right to vote. |
thank God there is not one in a thousand
north of the Ohio river that descends to
such depth of infamy.
You citizens of Tennessee hold your
right to vote by the will Of Brownlow.
The time is near at hand whea foreign
emisaries cannot be called in 10 subiugate
a free people. The carpet-bagger, at the
close of the war, appeared in your midst,
meek and loWly, and condescendingly
agreed to Hold your offices, and, of course,
stole your money; but the end Of these
drawelh nigh. Tennesseeans will be free
again. tell you that any man who de-
MES me my personal lib, rty and freedom
is my enemy and foe forever.
1 have discussed the questions of taxa
ton and public liberty. l wantnot the peace
of despotism. / desire not the order that
reigned at Warsaw. We want peace and
liberty, and we can only have this when
we return to the original condition of things.
If you elect Grant and COlfax the future Of
this country will be ruin but if Seymour
and Blair al e elected, then right and JUS
tict will triumph. Cheers.l
This report is but an imperfect o e Of
The very eloquent and powerful address Of
Mr.. Etheridge, which consumed two hours
and half in its delivery. Ii ia difficult
for the most experienced reporter to take
down, in hoe rsrJo, Mr.. Etheridge's
speeches; and without revisal, it would be
injustice to attempt to publish report pur-
porting to be such.