Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-09
RADICAL MEETING AT THE CAP.
ITOL.
speech of Hon. III. Harrison.
Remarks OF Judge shackIefOrd, Etc

CLOCK, ana Judge SnacklefOrd was called
to the chair. On taking the chair ne stated
that Judge Trimble was unavoidably de-
tanned, but that Hon. Il. H. Harrison
would make short speech. Mr.. Harrison
took the stand and spoke substantially as
follows:
He regretted that Judge Trimble was
not present, for he knew that those present
would like to hear him. He did not feel
ike entering into the elaborate discussion
of the questions before the country as he
intended to have done. He regarded
those questions of the utmost i'm
portance, and felt that every citizen should
examine them carefully and weigh them
we'll 1t was the duty of every citizen to
do so, as having influence IN his State and
nation. he saw, in 1860, questions of the
most momentous importance presented to
the people Of the Sta Q. He saw themthen
hurled by the mad passions of the times
into the calamitous course they pursued.
They now had experience and should profit
by the same. There had always been in
this country two great parties operating
upon and shaping her destinies. Some
times there had been third parties, but
they were of short duration. Between the
two great political parties there
|
opinion as to the powers Of the Govern
ment. This conflict ended in a clash of
arms, and its result was left to the arbitra-
ment Of the sword. The bred Scott de-
cision, which was involved in this bloody
arbitrament, was, after its settlement on
the side of the Government, reversed.
The results of victory on the field we're
enunciated and proclaimed By the Supreme
Court. At the beginning of the war there
was q large party in the United States that
believed secession was right under the
operation of the Calhoun States Rights
doctrine embodied in the resolu-
tons of 90. This party in the
maintenance of this State sovereignty was
willing to overthrow and destroy the Gov
eminent. This produced the greatest civil
war that had ever been recorded. By war
the question was settled. The settlement
is affirmed by the Supreme Court The
people cannot now as they did in 1861, in
Provisional Government at Montgomery,
raise the banner of State Sovereignty. He
did not believe that there was danger of
recurrence of the bitter and bloody strife.
He did not feel that the South herself
would again plunge into so terrible mael-
strom. The memory of the late terrific
scenes we're too wildly fresh before people.
While he believed this, he felt that a
safe guard lay in full and free discussion
of the great questions before the country.
The Democratic party in 1560-61 was
largely responsible and mainly instru-
mental in the war. He knew that slavery
had great deal to do with it, but he knew
that there we're other causes than the cleo
ton of Abraham Lincoln that produced
the disruption. He knew that that party
was Instrumental in proclaiming and
making this appear the cause. He re-
ferred to the election in February, 1861, to
decide whether Tennessee should Sc
cede. South Carolina had already done
So and it was clear that the other
Gulf States would follow. In the
face of these facts, and in the face
of the fact that the people of the State had
failed to vote for Breckenridge in 1860;
the people voted against secession by
msjOrity Of 81, 600 That was a free cleo
ton. After that, as one by one of the
Southern States dropped of, it was the pol
icy of the Breckenridge Democracy to fire
| the hearts of the people of Tennessee, and
make them fOrswear their allegiance to the
| Government The most strenuous efforts
were made to that end. They succeeded.
Lamentably they succeeded. The war
came on. We all know its results. After its
close it was thought best TO reorganize the
government of the States, long surrounded
by q Gordon Of bayonets. 1t was thought
well to make this reorganization upon
basis loyal to the Government. OF course
it was not expected that those in arms
against the Government should be invited
to participate in this organization. In re-
establishing the Government, slavery or
involuntary servitude should be abolished
aud other parts of the old, fundamental
State laws modified. It was never his con-
viction that the people should be disfran-
chised, but he believed in 1865 that
restrictions should be rown around the
franchise. He felt that there were certain
| questions growing out of the war that
should be settled before the unlimited
exercise of franchise should be extended.
| After these settlements, the franchise
would regulate itself There were amend
ments to the United States Constitution
which were TO be submitted TO the several
States for their endorsement The only
objection worth entertaining he had ever
heard urged against the manner of this
endorsement was that some Of the South
| ern States were not represented in the
| National Congress when they were submit
| ted. But let it be borne in mind that
Constitutional majority was there, and the
requirements of the Constitution in these
amendments had been complied with.
Sovereignty consists alone in the people.
The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments to the Constitution have been
ratified according to Constitutional pro-
visions by these sovereign people, and
they are thus a part of the ST.
preme law of the land, any act
of Legislature or convention to the con-
trary, notwithstanding. He said that there
had been a race for Governor between
| Senter and Stokes, and he should refer but
briefly to that disgracgfm squabble. So
far a. he was concerned. he should never
| forgive either the part he took IN 1t. The
laws had been modified. The colored
people were enfranchised. The Democ-
racy had not then decls ed themselves
Under the euphonious name of CONSERVE
tives," they charged ruin and all business
prostration incident to the war to the Re
| publican party. They have now
stepped boldly out They are Demo-
Gratis. They declared void all the
acts of reorganization of 1866. They
vacated all the offices by their edi Is.
They have announced the same men to fill
4
| destroy the government, and have elected
to Office some who are not qualified TO fill
the same under the disabilities imposed by
the fourteenth amendment. He would not
| for all be is worth had the conflict in this
matter that il certain to spring up. The
course of the Democratic party in declaring
| all these offices vacant, and in assuming
the defiant attitude they had, by electing
men disqualified by the very constitution
itself, was dangerous experiment. and
for all the deplorable consequences likely
to spring from it, the Democratic party,
and not the Republican party, is re-
sponsible. Was it supposed by them
that the Government would sit supinely by
and see her loyal citizens forced to give
| official place to those who are disqualified |
by the Constitution which that Govern
men itself proclaimed. Let them lag no |
such Jlatterjng usctiOBS to their souls. He |
knew personally the Supreme Judges elect.
He was not here to forejudge the subject
of disabilities. But we have q Govern
ment; the high authorities and the Su-
| preme Court would decide upon these
matters. The Democrats had tried long
| and hard to get nd of the word Conserve
tive. They had about succeeded. While
they had recently nominated a
u =