Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-06
Stokes EquIyocetes,

when Gen. Stokes entered the Hall, il was
entirely unobserved. .sta ~
Shortly after two o'clock, Newton
Hacker, formerly Representative in the
Legislature, took the chair, and in a few
words introduced Gen. Stokes TO The
audience. He said that we had entered
upon a canvass of equal or more import
ance than any that has taken place since
the war. Gen. Stokes was candidate OF
large majority Of the Republican party
of the State, and was here 10 speak for
himself Gen. Stokes, remarked the
speaker, will now come forward and ad-
6ress you. loud calls for Stokes and i'm
mense cheering by the negroes.)
THE SPEECH OF GEN. STOKES.
Gen. Stokes then took the stand and
spoke in substance as follows: He said,
he was here to-day for the purpose Of
addressing his fellow-citizens. He had
come before them as candidate for Coy
ernor. He fully appreciated the high
and responsible position of the office Of
Governor. 1t was without solicitation on
his part; be had never for a moment
aspired to the position, and never sought
it. He had submitted to the will of the
people, who we're the best judges of a
mans fitness for Office, andhad thus yield
ed to the wishes of his numerous
friends, who insisted that it was
necessary for the success of the
party that he should make the race. If he
believed that he conld advance the inter-
ests Of his noble old State in the direction
of peace and happiness, then he could
yield TO the demand with pleasure.
Since the war had ceased, he had been
at the other end Of the line, and in another
department of the government, lab6fing
for the good of the country, and faithfully
devoting himself TO his country. He was
not posted in State affairs, but intended to
learn something before he got through with
the race. After the adjournment of the
stormy convention which had met in this
city, he thought he would &c TO
Washington to take a survey jof
the situation. He visited the President
and the different departments, and was
grsti6ed to know that the machinery Of
the federal government was running
smoothly and TO his entire satisfaction
The finances were all right, and he was
assured that the government would be able
TO pay its debt without crushing the people
to the earth by taxes. He had determined
after this visit to attempt to change the
affairs of the State government with an
endeavor to place the State in the same
healthy condition that he found existed as
regards the federal government.
Gen. Stokes said he entertained the
highest esteem for his competitor, the act
ing Governor. He claimed to be Repub-
lican, like himself, and in referring to
him, he would remain within the line OF
legitimate debate. His (Senter's) record
was before the public, and SO was his as a
member Of Congress. He had no war to
make on anybody, but having been at work
on the other end of the line, he must be
pardoned for putting interrogatories 10
those who had been in service here, with
view Of getting information in regard to
affairs at home. There is something
wrong, and somebody is responsible, but
first he wanted TO answer charges that had
been made regarding himself.
He said there had been some ugly things
poked against him in the canvass, aud he
intended TO punch them out of it. He
then referred to the charge Of midnight
conspiracy against his competitor, and said
that justice to himself required that he
should make a correct statement of the
whole facts, which be had done in a letter
published in the Press and Times Of this
morning. He read from that letter as fol-
lows:
Now, sir, as TO the Cate and Stokes
conspiracy against Mr.. Senter, as il is
called / will first notice Capt. A. @. Sharp,
who had procured a horse and buggy for
himself and / TO travel through the east
ern portion of my congressional district.
We were invited, at Harrison, by Capt A.
M. Cate TO spend the night at his house.
After arriving there we we're sitting quietly
aud conversiHg on various topics, Il viii
mention, right here, that George o. Cate,
Capt. Sharp, A. Cate, his son any myself
only, were presently and in the course OF
conversation the question of Mr.. SsnteIs
disabilities was alluded to. | WAS asked if
the ID section of the 18th article of the
constitution did not debar him from casting
the electoral vote. i answered, i thought
it did. | then remarked that | would get
the book and read it. / then read the Sd
section, az follows:
''Sec. 3. No person shall be Senator or
Representative 10 Congress, or, elector Of
President and Vice President, or hold any
office, civil or military, under the United
States, or under any State, who, having
previously taken an oath as a member Of
Congress, or IA an officer of the United
States, or as a member Of any State Legis-
lature, or az an executive or judicial officer
of any State, 10 support the Constitution
of the United States, shall have engaged
in instruction or rebellion against The
same, or give aid on comfort 10 the enemies
thereof But Congress may, by vote Of
two-thirds of each House, remove such
As will be seen, this section declares
that no person shall be an elector etc, who |
had been a member of any State Legisla-
ture, and had sworn to support the coDsli-
tuition of the United States, and had after
wards given aid or comfort TO the enemies |
thereof, unless previously relieved by a |
vote of of two-thirds Of each House Of Con-
greTs.
Now, there is no getting around what
This third section declares. Then the only |
question involved is, did Mr.. Senter ever
5ccupy a seat in the Legislature of Ten
nessee prior to 1861? Yes, he was mem
Der of 1859 60, and took an oath to support |
he constitution of the United States.
Then be afterwards became candidate IN
1861, after the State had voted and allied
tself to the Confederate government, on
he Sth of June. This, of course, was vol
lntary on his part, as there was no con-
eript law to compel him to run for an of
ice. He was elected, and appeared at the
lesk and swore allegiance to the rebel gov-
.rnment, thereby ignoring the old flag. He
at there as a member, and east divers
,otes while in Nashville, and also after
hat body left and went to Memphis.
among those votes was oneto give tiugie
nan fifty dollars bounty, TO induce them
0 enlist in the Confederate army. Now,
{ This ia true, was not Mr. Senler ineligible
cd couId he cast The electoral vote with |