Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-08
snaern or Goyernor senfer.

As General Stokes was about TO take
his sest, Governor SsDter advanced to
the rostrum and shaking his competitor
by the hand, remarked:
~ am with you. William, till tbe first
Thursday in August" Loud cheers for
Seuter from the hall and answering
cheers for Stokes from the galleries
Governor Seuter plunged Immediately
into the subject matter in hand in reply
10 General Stokes. His competitor had
said that he was in the race and cant
get out" Very well, my fellow-ctizens,
have come to help him out. He APP
peared, he said, before his fellow citizens,
and fellow Republicans, under the most
embarrassing circumstances. He came
20 measure lances-not with one who had
been his political or personal foe, but to
measure lances with brother Republi-
can-althougb he did happen to be
heralded bald eagle of the mountains.
As to the unfortunate differences in the
Republican Convention, resulting in
their opposition as candidates, he him
self had had no hand in if. Just here
the colored men and women in the gall
leries, who had commenced leaving in
fauads when Stokes ceased speaking,
made q movement en- DldSse TO leave the
hall-a great many rising 10 their feet
Addressing himself earnestly TO these,
The speaker said, ask these men to stay
aud hear me, il not for myself, for the
cause / represent, and as they valued
their own welfare and the interests OF
their race and their wives and children.
Let not your passions or your prfjudices
carry you away from fair argument and
reason, but stay and listen and judge, il
you have judgments as to who is right
and who stands by the truth. just here
Stokes essayed to interpose in the speak
ers behalf to ask the negroes TO stay,
but the speaker moved him back, saying,
"Iet them alone and let me talk, will
get them to listen before ] get through
with this canvass.
He had never before, he continued, ed'
dressed so large an audience of his fell
low-citizsns never so many of the
colored freemen of the State in one as.
sembly. He asked them to listen to him
patiently for the cause he represented, il
not for himself. Be patient and listen.
don't ask you to vote for me if you can
indorse my sentiments, but stay snd
study your own interests. A few more
etraggled of, and some noise and hubbat
was kept mp 10 the galleries and refunds
oatside, with cheering aud beating o
drums. but the majority Of the coloreC
people remained
The speaker, as soon as he could MAKE
his voice heard above the din, continued
We had met in convention, but that con
vention had adjourned in disorder, with
out a nomination. As 1t is We are boil
now fairly in the field, and come veal
come woe. William B Stokes, am witt
YOU to the close. You claim to star
with forty thousand colored men. 1t
do not make more out Of that forty thou
sand than you do. I'll agree 70 abandon
the canvass The last colored slave u
the State Of Tennessee was sold by tn
man who makes this boast, let him denl
it il he eau That slave - the las
offered for sale in Tennessee - va
brought by my competitor TO Hayne'
negro sale house ia this city II
1861. he says he helped 10 have m,
hardened and my disabilities removed
But W. B Stokes pardoued himself ant
removed his Own disabilities by his iron
clad oath. And intend, WiIliBm-ex