Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-18
Capt. Allen Introduces the speaker.
and stokes speaks Piece.

| az ACi1 do 1btAdt.
l Capt. Silas F. Allen, before Introducing
the speaker TO the audience, spoke in sub
stance as follows:
He supposed they all had heard Of
+ Moses. There are two great Moseses re
corded 10 history. The first was put in the
bulrushes when he was very young, and
owing to the favoIs Of the Almighty God
be was taken out all right and safe, and
was made the deliyerer of his people. The
other was put in there when he was quite
old, but from some cause or other, got him
self entangled aud never got out. Andrew
johnson, the ex-President Of the United
States, after having Glled all the
Offices comes back TO Nashville TO give an
account Of his conduct. He came here
and spoke on this same spot few days
since. He was present and heard all The
cheering he would get when be would give
expression TO Rebel sentiment There was
not man who had ever been ia the Rebel
army, but cheered han. Andrew Johnson
is too dead to live; he is just as dead
as any man who lived since the days Of
Pharoah, still we are resolved TO make
him deader. He then introduced Mr..
Stokes 10 the crowd.
Mr. Stokes thea proceeded to deliver
his speech which was about three hours
in length. He was frequently applauded
by the negroes The following is the SUBJ
stance of his remarks: Fellow citizens,
as you have been told by the gentleman,
who was kind enough TO introduce me to
this audience, that | was here to kill An
drew johnson deader than he is at this
time. i am not on this occasion here 10
instruct any one either white or colored.
am not here TO wound the feelings of any
man. l sm here ia the interest of the
| people; / sm here 40 the interest Of my
country; / am here TO endeayor if possible
ia my power, 10 aid in the restoration of
peace, quiet and order in our noble
State of Tennessee, and / would
not have appeared before you to-day had
il not been for the extraordinary attack
upon Congress by one of our distinguished
citizens. Irepestthat it is unprecedented 10
The history of the United States. Never
before has there even been an ex-President
of the United States, leaving that high and
exalted position returning to his home
where the people we're struggling as no
people ever did, to restore the peace and
quiet of the country, start out of his own
will and accord in defense of his own
record, aud denouncing one branch of the
Federal government. l appear before you
to-day in behalf of the people, and l ask
you, my countrymen, did you ever know
before an eKPresident Of the United States
to 90 through the country denouncing one
branch Of the government; one political
party of the country; attempting to destroy
the peace and order of the country; engen-
dering bitter feelings among the people;
attempting to bring about the state of
affairs through which we have just passed.
When lac comes forward and makes the
attack, and throws down the glove, pro-
pose TO come forward in defense OF the peo-
pie, TO clear them Of the charge Of cOrrup-
ton, etc. i am here to-day TO put Con-
gress right, aud at the same time will en-
deavOr to put him right. Laughter /
have 40 unkind feelings toward him, but /
am determined, so far as my physical
strength will allow, to be break water in
his path wherever he travels.
stopped here 10 1861, and was called |
upon 10 raise my voice and to arrest the |
tide Of destruction. | am here to-day for |
the same purpose, 10 appeal 10 you not as |
Wing, Democrat or Rebsl, but as Ameri-
can citizenR, 10 assist me in arresling this |
downward marx which be is attempting TO
carry you TO. l propose to take him up |
and deal with him fairly and squarely. He /
starts out ia his speeches saying that he |
had endeavored 10 protect the constitution |
and all he asked was a fair examination |
Of his record" IL was his duty TO pro- /
tect the cOnslitution. Over three hu5dTed i
men swore 10 protect the constitution, i
and ] am inclined TO believe that 4
there was as much patriotism ia three /
hundred men as there was in Ar
drew johnson alone. His record we |
have. There is not a colored man here to- /
day, not even those who are illiterate, but /
has his record. / ask you il it was neces-
cary for Andrew johnson, the ex-President
OF the United States, TO lesve has home
after having toiled in the White House as
long as he did and worn himself OFT Do
you not think it would have been better
for him If he had staid at home little
longer and started out afresh? We have
his record his name ia recorded. You
will not hear such a speech from me as
the ex. President made, 1t cannot be done.
/ havs not been through the routine of Of
fees and have not tho experience he has,
but as an old gentleman in Cannon county
had remarked l am not as fast as some,
but You will find me mighty constant"
Mr. johnson also ssys that lac intends TO |
devote the remainder of his life 10 the |
yindicatioB of himself and his State from
the foul FLANDERS which have be,l heaped
upon him. / shall not stop to defend him
or excuse anybody for hesping anything
upon him, but / sm here to defend the
State and the State government.
The speaker then read the dispatch sent
TO Gov. Brownlow by President johnson,
dated July 90, 1865, authorizing him to
call upon Msj. Gen. Thomas for troops to
nut down all violence and disturbance
when needed.
There was the beginning of the horrible
State government you have. Andrew
Johnson is the man who has caused all the
trouble TO exist in the State. lie travels
around and tells you that he is defending
and taking care of the constitution. Have
we not taken care of the constitution?
Have you not got a President, and in my
opinion, a better one than johnson was?
| think our enemies will before long find
such to be the fact. You have got your
Congress-all the machinery is running.
The constitution, in every part and every
word, remains "a steadfsst as your fathers
handed it down 10 you, with the exception
of the amendment which has been adopted
recently; and yet that man comes around
and attempts 10 fasten upon you the idea
that Your constitution is destroyed and
whitfield away by Congress. Mr.. johnson
said that he had received seAeral obituary
notices of his death aud that he would be
believed as one speaking from the-deatd.
do not propose 10 do him or any other
man any harm, but / intend TO present 10
you what Andrew johnson said when he
was living, and then ] will tell you what
he said after he was dead aud resurr cted
What are we to do,-believe man when
be lie dead, or when he is liying2
Mr.. johnson goes on 10 say that the |
constitution divides the government into
Ina da ma rtmenfs-laloisi iniieiary |