Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-04
NAIL HIT ON TIE HEAn.

at the markethouse was Judge NJ. Rrien,
who seemed to feel that the franchise was
prostituted to worse purposes than the
butchers blocks from which the Radical
speakers were trying to delude the poor
negroes. He had no thought at one time
of things coming to what they are. He
was thoroughly disguised with the exhibit
tions that the interlopers az he terms them,
made of themselves.
The following remarks we're made by
him to a number of persons who were
present, not as a speech, but as defending his
position and expressing his feelings.
They are well worthy of consideration.
He said that we may well inquire the OBJ
iect of the meeting, and another at the
courthouse at the same time, and various
other private speakings at night in differ
ent parts of the county, to the colored peo-
pie? The answer is plain. 1t is to dictate
to you; vote and control you at will. AL
though ostensibly freemen, you are to be
controlled by designing men; in other
words, to humbug the poor, uneducated
colored man, and to create a prejudice
against his only true friend, who once
owned and controlled them, by which they
expect alone to control their votes, and TO
get into place and power, when and where,
by your aid, they can Cypress the unfortu~
nate disfranchised Southerner. The prop
erty holders and Taxpayers are COM
PEELED to support them in Office against
their will, without even voice to say no.
In addition to this these same taxpayers
are forced to feed and clothe a large num-
Der of those unfortunate colored poor. Not
a dollar do those ofice.seekers contribute
by way of taxes, or otherwise, for the
support of the government or to feed
paupers, vet they claim to be the
exclusive friends and benefactors of
the colored man, especially in elections.
He would speak to his colored friends and
ask what are yoH about have you mind
and freedom or are you yet slaves, to be
thus dictated TO and controlled by undue
influence, and unfair means, by such men
as Randall Brown, whom we are taxed to
pay some 60 or 100 per cent. per month,
and how much more | can't say,
to 90 round and lecture you, and
then boaNt how many he can vote.
Reflect my colored friends, that although
once slaves, yon are now free, and also
Southern citizens; assert your freedom and
manhood; come ont from under this dicta-
ton, and vote like men for who you
please. These adventures aud Office
seekers only desire your votes to do this :;
they stir up strife and make a war be-
tween the races. | warn you this night
against such a conflict; such people care
nothing for it. Instead of this conflict, let's
cultivate friendly relations. The Southern
man is your true friend, and able to aid
and assist you, and will do so unless
forced against their will to abandon you
altogether. Then who is able or willing to
aid you? You are freemen, and will res
main 80 for all time TO come; don't be
slaves to any party think and act for
yourselves l know you do not desire
that while you are free, that our Southern
people should be slaves to others, and ssup-
port you and this swarm of pauper Office
seekers. The Southern people prefer TO
divide with you instead of them.
May again ask you to think of this
imposition. The handwriting is plain
upon the wall, while these Southern OPP
pressed people, your former owners, are
willing and intend You to remain free.
But in the language of Old Hickory, by
the eternal God, they Of right should be,
and will be free also"
In republican form of government, all
men, white and colOred should be free.
Their main qualifications, honesty, ups
rightness and citizenship should alone be
the passport to Office, where the ballot-box
should be free, pure and uncontrolled by
demagogues or passion. To the end, that
the blessings of liberty should be secured
to all men, our forefathers fought and died,
There blood was freely poured out upon
the altar of liberty. To secure and per-
petuate these ends the Declaration of In
dependence was penned by Thomas Jeffer-
son, and by this all power is vested in the
people, the whole people, and whenever
any form Of government becomes Oppres-
siye, or controlled 80 as to Cypress the
people, it is the right of the people to
amend or change it. This oppression, die
| tation, tyranny and usurpation, as is now
clearly and unauthorized, attempted to be
heaped upon these people, Is infinitely
more oppressive and grieyous than those
| complained Of in the Declaration of indie
pendence. The people then declared their
| grievance and resolved to be free. This
| people will never cease, and we will never
| be happy people until we are again all
| free. Patience has almost now ceased TO
be virtue, yet as good citizens We will
bear il az best we can, and abide by and
| sustain the laws and those in authority, be
| they white or colored. The people car
| and will change these unjust and unequal
| laws, and God grant how soon.
The bone and sinew of the government
I-the.tax payers-are burdened with it
support. and yet DISTINGUISHED; no voic,
| in the government. Not only so, not ever
loyal enfranchised resident-citizen
however competent, is allowed TO hole
Office if one of these jaybirds can't b.
| found to be pressed ont to take 1t. Yes, W,
now have quite hungry swarm of sucl
Office adventures among us, unqualified
army-hangers-on. who have no position O
standing at home, and now by the aid o
the colored vote alone are in high places
purposing to make slop-pens, under tn
name of soup-houses, to feed our poor, ant
are to be taxed with more offices for then
to deal out the soup or Stops. Isn't it
disgrace to a Christian community? Tn,
honest foreigners, merchants, mechanics o.
labOrerl come here for no such purpose
Such are dJtooys i0elcome The other class
not entitled to a decent respect from an.
quarter They whisper poison in the ear
of the colored man that these Southern
Republicans won't do to be trusted the,
will put you back into slavery. Is such
man fit to be trusted in any Office ?
But look here my colored friends, the.
don't say turkey 10 you nary time. The,
want all the offices worth having, none 70
you. Oh, how they love you.
Even the Office of Circuit Judge, impOI
tant a. it Is to this community, il to b
brought into disrepute by q stocked, Randi
Brown, log rolling, street and corporation
work hands, Metropolitan Police fore
mass meeting, called convention, gotte
up solely to deceive the colored men, an
force them to vote Tor a foreigner Wit
neither qualification nor legal ability. n
lawyer, never been sworn in and admiite
to any bar or court in Tennessee, or any
where else as far as heard from, and no
even a citizen as required by the constitu
tion and the laws Of Tennessee. But
this as it may, he can impose himself upo
the colored people as their peculiar an
only true friend. Calls for a convention
; for what? Is this a political Office,
one to be used to serve party ends Ii 81
i | was not the man for this, Mr.. Cary ma
} do as far as he knows.
! But Mr. Cary, what about this eandi
t and soap factory Of Ayres & Co Was II