Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-22
sENTER AND STOKES.
The Discussion at MOrristOWn,
Some OF What was Said.

MoRRIsTowN, June 20-Yesterday 8
large crowd, from several counties. as
sembled at this place to listen 10 the dis
cussiOn between the sspirants for gnber-
material hoDors. The assemblage was too
large TO be accommodated in any build.
ing in the town, and consequently the train
on the Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap and
Charleston railroad made several trips
out 10 a beautiful grove, about three
quarters of mile from the depot, where q
stand had been erected and seats prepared
for almost all present. The gentlemen aI-
pear.d upon the stand at half-past
twelve, and Gen. Stokes commenced the
discussion. His speech was about the
same a. delivered at Knoxville, for il is
known that in this community there are a
good many who, in times past, belonged 10
the "so-cslled," and IL WAS policy for the
General 10 walk softly on the franchise.
Stokes said: 81 stand square upon the
nt-Republicsn platform" He then
scattered little; read the Singletsry-
Welsh letter and his reply; said again,
al stand where ] stood in Nashville
ON the 9Th of june" and said he was
ia favor Of extending the franchise
TO the disfranchised AZ soon AZ the spirit
of disloyalIy died out. At cambridge, two
days before, he said that he (Stokes) would
have his ''his throat cut, his heart torn Olu
and his body discovered before he would
ever agree TO universal suffrage. He then
passed on to speak Of Senter's Supporters -
his leading supporters-and said a man
was best known by the company he keeps,
etc. Just before taking his seat the Gen
eral said of BrowulOW "Brownlow en-
dorses Senter. Hou loyal men, yen 'bOys
in blne,' will remember that Brownlow de-
nounced Grant and his cabinet, and de-
nounced them az a gift enterprise" etc.
The General gave Brownlow a good mary
hard blows, and retired.
Gov. Senter was a little hOsrse from
speaking in the open air, but after break
ing the crust, commenced in his usual
style. Never did lac feel 80 much at home
az here among the people with whom he
was reared. He spoke of the prosperity Of
the country, its rich harvest now yielding
its growing wealth as n reward 10 industry;
the mineral prosperity of the State. He
then referred in feeling and eloquent
manner 10 the day when, twenty-siK years
APO, hiss father crossed the mountains aud
came to the good old county Of Granger TO
live, ] was but a small boy; | have
EtOhu UP WIN Nuo J ouuB hcu VI my Njuu
try; and whatever there is of me
you have made-you have hOnored
me with a seat in both branches
Of your Legislature time and again, and
am now before you asking your votes fOr
the highest State Office in your glft. II
you think me worthy ! shall expect yOur
votes 10 August, IL you do not, then vote
against me, and ! here say, if there ia 3
man under the sound of my voice whC
knows of any act Of mine, while men OF
boy, for which the finger of scorn shonlL
be pointed at me; ] say TO You, rise, let y
be known, for my competitor needs al
the help he can get in this race.
The Governor then referred to tn
charge made by Stokes, that he was il
the State Legislature-hsdv voted the Stat
out Of the Uniou--and said he was glsC
10 he1r aim make the same charge here
was in that Legislature, fellow-citizens
as YOU all know, and believe that a nlS
jority Of you present voted TO send me 4
that Legislature and gave me my instTuC
tructions when | went there. As 10 hoN
we'll ] complied with your wishes, ca
only Judge by the hODors you have con
tinued To beslow upon me since th
-var closed: You have placed me in on
or the other branch of your Legislator
every year since and If any one who know
all the facts can say that / did not con
ply with your views and policy agree
upon, let him speak. But nc voice wa
heard. My competitor says | vote
money 10 the Confederate soldiers while
that Legislature. SO did. Why did yo
not tell these people under what circun
stances | voted that money-will you te
them now, Genersl2 Well, will tell yo
/ voted money 10 buy Overcoats and blanl
cts for the boys of good Union father
who you, by your Duncan letter and 9th
devices, induced 10 join that Rebel arm
aud then deserted them.
The Governor then passed 10 the co
yentiun. He read the Duncan letter al
the iron-clsd oath, and turning 10 Stoke
said "You FAY Congress removed n
dissbilities; III that you state q
truth; but, General, YOU, according 20 d
Duncan letter, had some slight dissbiliti
yourself. According TO that letter y,
we're a rebel soldier. How did you get o.
Of that company you said IN that lett
YOU had enlisiel? Have You an honor
BILE discharge? If 70, produce it. Did y,
desert, or WAS you drummed out for {
good Of the seryioe2 Answer these queslio
and tell this people how your dissbilit
were removed. Answer, or if silent | "
also throw the mantle Of charity over ID
oath, snd leave the question with "
your conscience and your God.
Governor Seuter reiterated his spec
made At Nashville, Knoxville, Maryvi
and other places, relative 10 the frsnch
law. Said IT was n new position 20 hi
bat he had taken il in good faith, and
tended TO stand OF fall by the prinCip
-, Of universal suffrage and equal taKati,
The Governor concluded his
marks 10y saying There are NJ
present who have known
from childhood, and ] am proud TO eta
here among nv own people and boast q
never injured any msn; that | never '
gully Of = dishonOTsble act that | net
sued a man aud was never sued tina
never sat on a jury; that | never WA
witness IN yOnF cOnrts; that, though
NAV differ on political affairs, in my he
rankles no i'll will to any citizen of
old county of Granger"
The Governor closed AMID a wild bu
e applausa