The Van Buren press., 1870-10-25
Gratz Brown at St. Joseph.

b. Gratz Brown, independent, liberal
republican candidate for Governor Of
Missouri, spoke at St Joseph on the sth
inst. to an immense audience. After dis
cussiag the various questions Sat issue
between the liberals and the eternal hate
ites," he alluded TO the dismissal by the
President Of Mr.. Bennett Pike, L. S. Dis
trict Attorney at 81, Joseph, because of
his being in favor Of liberal principles
In this connection he said he had been
one Of those that were reluctant to be
liovc that the President intended to inau-
gurate in the State Of Missouri system
Of removal from public Office with view
of controlling the public sentiment of the
] State, that it was oily upon hSs arrival
at ST. Joseph that he had been advised
Of the removal Of a gentleman high in
character, pure in integrity, Of admirable
legal attainments, from office because of
his sympathy with the liberal movement
in this State; that in response TO any
such action he had no doubt that the free
people of Missouri would find the way to
make their voice heard; that they might
even resort to the language Of their an
ccstors in an old and more memorable
conflict, when they had declared in a
rhyme that had rung through the realm
And shall Trelawney die? and must
Trelawney die? If so ten thousand
Cornish men will know the reason why"
He went on to say that so far as this
indicated policy in behalf of the Presi-
dent and an intention ofremovals for the
purpose of controlling the action of the
people of Missouri, he had only to say
that it would be utterly without effect !;
that for his own part he had simply this
to say That he would not represent this
great uprising Of freedom in our own
State if he did not here and now cast
down the gauntlet of defiance to the Pres
ident of the United States and invite him
to come on with his removals and see
how far he could curtail the sovereignty
of a free people in opposition to the SEN
timents of peace, fraternity and brother
hood, that he had naugurated in the be.
ginning of his administration. So far ns
he was concerned he did not care the
snap of a finger for the opinions of the
President in this question Of internal pol
| itics. He had been ono of those who
had helped to teach the President what
| freedom meant when he came to Missou-
ri in 1861, declaring that if this war
meant the liberation of the slaves he
would strip ofhis cpauletts and abandon
the service. He intended to teach him
further that freedom meant the liberation
Of all the white men Of this nation rs well
as the liberation of all the black men of
this nation, and that he could not go back
under the specious pretences Of party
policy upon the freedom of the white
man, after having accomplished the free
dom of the black man. Col. Brown pro
cecdcd to say that for his own part, he
desired here and now to throw down the
gauge Of battle to the President of the
United States, and to invite him to the
encounter, and to make this the issue in
the State Of Missouri and we would
pledge his reputation upon the issue that
he would find that the people Of this
State were men neither to be bought nor
to be intimidated, and that they would
give q majority against any such sinister
manipulation Of more than fifty thousand
votes. Col. Brown added that il the
President supposed that he could pur-
chase denomination from the republican
party by system Of intimidation and re-
moval from Office he had mistaken the
people of the United States The Prasi.
dent of the United States would find that
in Missouri, at least, freedom had been
declared, and there were no longer any
slaves, either to the tenure of Office or to
the tenure of property.
For his own part he simply wished,
once and for all. to bid an effective de-
fiance to this whole system Of intimida-
ton on the part Of the general govern
ment, and, TO say to the President, and
Congressional Committees, and Cabinet
officers, and heads of departments, that
he did not care the snap of his finger for
all their influence in the State Of Nilsson.
ri. Aud he wanted 10 add that if any of
them wanted TO try it on in the State of
Missouri, he welcomed them to the con
nict, and invited them to the issue and il
he did not satisfy them before this can
vass was ended, that they had mistaken
their market, then he would never make
another appeal to the people of Nilsson
RI He had only to add in this conncc-
ton that the idea Of the President of the
United States undertaking to influence
the vote Of sovereign State in q great
question Of internal policy, was simply
intolerable. Who made General Grant
and what was he that he should talk IN
this wise? When the war began he was
one of the humblest citizens in this couD-
try, without voice and without influence.
who had never given direction to the
public opinion Of the nation: and by
what right does he assume to do so to-
day? Does he stand as one of the ac-
credited leaders Of public thoughts does
he stand as one of the men who has been
identified with the trumphs Of freedom
in the past does he stand as one of the
monuments that we have been aceustom-
ed to look to tor our inscriptions OF free
dom heretofore? If not, then have
only to say il would he wise and well for
such men to leave the completion Of the
freedom of this country to the achieve.