Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-18
THE CAMPAIGN IN EAST TEHNEssEE.
The Discussion between Senter ana
stokes I'm Belmont County.
MARYvILLR, June Is. 1869.

MARYvILLR, June Is. 1863.
Editors Press and Herald:
As per published appointment, Senter
and Stokes spoke here to-day. A large
crowd of our citizens we're present to
hear the discussion. Each man in the
audience seemed to feel that his ideas
aad principles would be shaped and
directed by the position of each candi-
date for the gubernatorial honors Of the
State. General Stokes commenced the
discussion according to rotation; it was
his time to lead; he said 80. His speech
was the same that he delivered twenty
years ago, with the slight alterations that
the Duncan letter, his enlistment in
rebel company, his quasi service in the
Union army, made necessary, in the Calf
Killer heros mind, to make. His head
glistened like dimly lighted skating
rink, and great drops of perspiration fell
from his illiterate vacuum, to prove his
position. Knowing his crowd and the
sentiments hitherto entertained by the
Union people of old Blount, he came to
the scratch and labored for two hours as
no other man could labor to defend him
self against the awful scathing he had re-
ceived in previous discussions with Gov
ernor Senter. He said in substance on
the all absorbing question ofthe canvass,
that be was two years ahead of Governor
Senter on the franchisement of the now
disfrgnchised citizens of the State, and
vet to-day he went back upon his former
assertions, and claimed to be unalterably
in favor of the franchise, claimed to
stand by his Single.ary Welsh letter. Ia
Knoxville, as all will remember, he used
the following language, II am two
years ahead of Governor Senter to-day
on the franchise question. voted to re-
move the disabilities of from five hundred
to thousand rebels in the Congress of
the United States the rebels owe me a
debt of gratitude, etc." Yet to-day he
labored TO prove that be was in favor OF q
rigid franchise law, told few anecdotes
in bad English, and retired. l5t
Governor Senter then came forward,
but just before the Governor commenced
hia speech, Captain d. l.. Mcdonnell
stepped forward and said that report
had been going the rounds in Knox
county that Governor Sentsr would not
be allowed to speak in Blount, and that
he, ss Republican Of the county of
Blonnt, desired 10 say that such report
was false. He asked the citizens to give
Governor 6enter patient and quiet hear.
ing:
Governor Senter then commenced what
proved to be one OF the finest efforts Of
bis life He spoke of Marysville, it's tenn
pies Of God, Its seats of learning, its
former history, its honored citizens and
its glorious record, both before and during
the war; it's soldiers were gallant, its
citizens were honorable, and that as an
East Tennesseesn he was proud Of the
previous record OF old Blount. The Gov
ernor dwelt with great feeling upon the
new issues involved in the canvass. He
said: M
~ know am addressing men who are
opposed to me upon the question of the
enfrane hisement Of the new DISTINGUISHED
citizens of our State. ! know that my
position upon this question, as taken at
Nashville, is here unpopular, but thank
God that have manhood enough to
boldly enunciste what ! there enunciated
universal suffrage for nll, except such
as the Judgment OF our courts pronounce
infamous Let the hand of forgiveness
be extended; let East Tennessee, true to
her ancient history, prove that mercy is
the brightest jewel in the disdem Of
heaven. Let East Tennessee remember
| that it is human TO err but divine to
forgive, aud that although the time was
when war swept over her bosom that
peace followed--that the armies we're dis
banded-tbat her fields that had been
thrown out in wars wild track had bios
somed as the rose 10 peace-that the fran.
cbise law at the time Of it's passage was
a necessity, bat the necessity had passed
that we are all Tennesseeans-that we
have q common interest in the future
glory Of our noble State, and hence ! sm
proud that am in position TO give my
humble aid in the restoration Of the citi.
zeus Of Tennessee to all their rights, civil
aud political"
Governor Senter spoke in q bold and
manly manner; be shrunk from no part
Of bis new position, although be knew
that be was addressing an audience thai
was opposed TO him at present. Unlike
Stokes, he played no double game, bu
stood graudly out on the great principles
be bad recently proclaimed.
The replies Of both candidates wer'
but the odds and ends Of both LEADING
speeches. Never was better attention
paid. Every bearer seemed to maintain
strict order. Both gentlemen wer'
loudly cheered, and the crowd separated
seemingly in the best CT feeling.
Governor Senter, accompanied b.
Colonel Brownlow, General Stokes, ant
Colonel Cate, left for Sevierville
where, on to morrow, Stokes will hav'
an opportunity Of again changing hi
position. REPuBLIcAs.