The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-07-23
To the voters Of Polk, McMinn,
..tarR q ~ ~ A and Meigs

In response to the numerous and en-
couraging calls from various parts of
the district, asking me to become can
didate for the State Legislature, and
having consented, and owing to the
short space of time from this to the
election, rendering it impossible for me
to canvass the district, l have deter
mined to address you by letter, be!iev-
ing it to be the most efficacious method
of conversing.with you upon the great
questions of the day bearing upon your
liberties and dignities as freemen of a
Constitutional Nation. In answer to
all questions relative to Internal I'm
provements, it is sufficient for me to
say that | am an advocate of all just
and economical measures of that nature
being convinced that judicious sys-
tenn of Internal improvements is the
life and soul of the trading interest of
any people. However, in the present
embarrassed condition of the States
credit and the heavy debt hanging over
our people, / do not think it either wise
or expedient to further involve the
"a State by granting aid to Internal I'm
provements. But let us dismiss this
subject for the present and discuss the
great question of the day--of present
vital interest and future Importance
q question which involves the very
constitutionality of our political exis-
tence.
Friends and countrymen, for by that
name love to address you, knowing
and feeling that we are the same peo-
pie, bound by true sympathy to q great
and good cause, come before you adj
vocating those principles which we all
hold just and sacred, as old as the gov
ernment, and which have made us the
pride and envy of nations; principles,
which if kept and guarded, will con-
serve our strength, concentrate our en-
orgies and preserve our national indi-
viduality even down to the last hour
that sinks beneath the departing waves
of time. And those rights and those
principles which have advocated con-
tinually and shall defend so long as
live, are Constitutional Freedom and
the Elective Franchise, upon which are
based all other privileges dear to the
souls of freemen--political self-respect,
untrammeled freedom Of opinion, and,
IL particular, the liberty of expression
by ballot [ have always believed and |
maintained that my race, the Great His
torical Race of the Nation, possessed |
inalienably the birth-right of Franchise,
and that to arrest or subvert this right
Is a stretch of power which the Gov
eminent never possessed--a stretch of
power as violent as it is un just, as dan
gerous as it is unwarranted. | most
heartily subscribe to and support the
late decision Of the Supreme Court of
the State relative to the Franchise law,
q law that was direct and tyranical
attack upon those just and true maXims
of civil privilege and exalted liberties
as confirmed by the Great Constitution
and the Constitution of all the States.
Therefore, stand upon the Great Union
platform of the Nation for Universal
Suffrage. I am for Senter for Cover
nor; and l shall always labor to re-
instate that portion of my race to their
Just and inalienable rights from which
they were debarred by political oppres-
sion and trickery. But let US remem-
Der that while we extend this God-giv-
en- right to other people and other races,
that should u sing lie citizen, native or
enfranchised to these inherent rights,
be debarred from these same political
and civil privileges, except by due
course of law, that the Just design of
the government has been arrested or
subverted-a policy which, if pursued
to the threatened extremity, would dis
solve the original compact between the
government and the governed.
From the beginning of the late war
to its close, was and yet remain an
original Union man, faithful to the
United States government, never falter-
Ing in my loyalty for moment and
that Constitution for the sake of which
suffered and was imprisoned and driv-
en- from my home, vests in every citi-
zen, whether native or naturalized, all
the rights, immunities and privileges of
citizen, which is all that l claim for
myself or others. Why, then, in the
name Of justice and reason should we
continue to prosecute our fallen broth
ers and stalk among them like barber
GUS warriors Of savage tribes, oppres-
sing them to our own shame and re-
proach, instead Of raising them to that
position which is their due by birth and
which is not denied them by that Con-
stitution which is your pride and pro-
lection. Freedom of opinion and I'M
controlled expression by ballot are the
great distinguishing features between
us and the oppressive monarchies of
other nations. Then let us be consist
ent with ourselves; let us show to the
world that we not only understand the
spirit and force Of our institutions, but
most nobly appreciate them in their
beauty and grandeur; let us come up
and vindcate those very principles
which confer upon us such noble rights
and dignities, which if once subverted
or arrested and passively submitted to,
will introduce a precedent that may
hereafter degrade your own children
below the reach of law and Constitu-
al power.
And here I would only add, that l
have always been an old Wing, and
though that party is wrecked--submerg-
ed beneath the connections of adverse
interests, leaving but the pleasant and
mournful memories of better days,
which may never come to US again.
yet, let us be hopeful that their refec-
ton is not wholly faded and eradicated,
and that, sustained by those just and
honored principles, we must go on
striving to improve the condition of
our people.
And now, in conclusion, 1 promise
you, if elected, to vote and legislate to
the best of my judgment and ability,