Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-06-02
What a Reconstructed Rebel Says
Speech of Governor Brown, of Geor-
gia, in the Republican National Con-
vention.


The telegraph yesterday brought
us part of the noble speech of Gov
ernor Brown, of Georgia, in the Re-
publican National Convention, and
that somewhat married in transmits
sion. We publish the speech in full
to,day. 1t is good campaign doc
ument.
A RECONSTRUCTED GOVERNORS SPEECH.
Mr.. Conway said II suppose that
it is part of the settled policy of the
Republican party to. day, to have the
South come into the Convention I'm.
ion end foremost. Laughter +
But we have another marked event
of moment, that there is with US to-
day, in full heart and full fellowship,
one Of the former Governors IN the
days of ssreuellious States, who has
since become reconstructed fap-
plause1, and has proved himself true
as sGeeI, genuine Republican in fel>
lowship with the Republican party.
| now move that ex-Gov. Joseph r.
Brown, OF Georgia, be requested to
say few words. ITremendnous APP
plause, and cries Of Brown, /"
"Brown." w
The Chairman-It is hardly nee
essary TO put motion which has
such a reeeption.-Will Gov. Brown
address the Convention ? 81 It's
Gov. Brown-Mr. Chairman. As
ii has been announced that the com
mittee will be ready to report in a
few minutes, / think it might be i'm
>,opef fl should enterinto any dis>
pas i, "a of the questions involved At
this ti,ne, and in JUS ice to myself or
my secti,an, ii | should spe,s' without out
time to co nsider TO some exten. soe
questions in Toivcd l do not wish
to intrude upoo the proceedings OF
the Convention. | am here, as has
been well remarke d, a reconstructed
rebel. daughter .snd thnnders of
applause. was an original seces-
sionist. daughter, and That's
frank."l An open confession is good
for the soul. [Cries of platform,
platform, amid which Gov. Brown
to the stage.
The Chairman----Goy, Brown, of
Georgia, gentlemen. Tremenduous
Sow. Brown-Mr, President and
Gentlemen Of the Contention IA
voice, " Tell US your experience
Laughter and applause.l
Gov. Brown--As | remarked be-
fore | left my seat, | was an original
/ was born in South
Carolina, and growing up under the
influence and teachings Of that MAS
ter inteiieot--Calheun, rtSen in the
full glory of his meridian---t early
mbibed his States Rights doctrine.
and suppose that as sincerely and
believed that they were
a. correct as Won believed that your
view was sound. For years
before the unfortunate struggle we
have just passed through, | toresaw
that the issue which divided the
North and South must ultimately be
settled by the sword. There was no
common tribunal Of Judgment either
side would respect. 1t the Supreme
Court decided question bearing up
IN this great issue, the party against
y nom the decision was made refused
10 abide by it because it was political.
While Mr.. Clay lived-that great
man, that great pacifcator, lCheers
and great applauseJ-we were able
o avert this great issue but Mr..
clay was called from his field Of uses
illness. Webster died, and Calhoun
slept with his fathers, and when the
storm again arose there was no one
who could pour oil upon the troubled
waters and stop the deluge. Seces-
non was the result. I went into it
States Rights man, and
[ stood by it as long as there was any
chance to sustain it. When the Pres
dent of the Confederate States ahan
loned the great States Rights docs
,rine that we commenced Oh and |
agreed upon, / differed from him.
When he adopted bis conscript meas
ire, which gave him entire control of
he whole army OF the Confederate |
States and of every officer IN the ar
ny an error ynu. sir, did not com
nit, took issue with him. aa al
But we went through the struggle.
| will not attempt now to review its
history, but we of the South fell and /
you of the North were conouerers !;
and | think | had sense enough at
The end Of the struggle to know
when | was whipped. [Cieers,l
The President of the United
States, after the surrender of John
son, ordered my arrest and imprison- /
ment. After my release your courts
were open, and | was left free to act.
felt then that the time had come
when | should make my choice be-
tween this land and this government
and some other land with some other
/ still love my own ma
tive land [cheers and crier Of good, u
and with your construction of the
established by the sword
/ still prefer the government of the
United States to any other organized
under the armament. lCheers. -
The natural inquiry thcn was What
was my interest and what my duty ?
believe it was my interest and my
choice to remain in this government.
fl remained here | must seek am
nesty of the government for the
past, and must ask its protection for
the future. fit yielded that, was
in honor bound to return to my allies
glance and make good citizenif j
could. ECries OF good, good, and
cheers.l Hence | have advocated
every measure, from that time to
this, for reconstruction. lAppiause.
When the President of the United
States proposed his plan, | advised
our peopie to accept it, because we
had fallen, and we had no power to
negotiate with, but him, as ne did not
call Congress together.
When Congress, which had legiti--
81 T~<ly