Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-17

| the men of the political community: tho
there was no divine right to rule; thai n,
unauthorized therighttogovern; that Their
were classes by which power and place de
seconded to families, but that all station,
were equally within the grasp of eacl
member of the body polite. These wer.
the great principles they announced
these were the purposes for which theY
made their declaration these were the end.
to which their enunciation was directed
They have no reference to the slave
| else, how happened it that among the
i items of arraignment made against Geeroe
III. was, that he endeavoTcd to do ms,
what the North has been endeayorinr OF
late to do--to stir up Instruction amono
our slayess Had the Declaration an
nounced that the negroes were free and
| equal, how was the Prince to be arraiened
for stirring up instruction among them
And how was this to be enumerated
among the high crimes which caused the
| colonies to sever their connection with
the mother country When our Consti-
tuition was formed, the same idea was rem
dered more palpable; for there we find
provision made for that very class of per-
sons as property; they were not put upon
the footing Of equality with white men
not even upon that of paupers and con
victs; but so far as representation was
concerned, were Disseminated against as
lower caste, only to be represented in
the numerical proportion of thrce-fifths.
Then, Senators, we recur to the com
pact which binds us together-we recur
to the principles upon which our govern.
ment was founded; and when you deny
them, and when you deny to us the right
to withdraw from government which,
thus perverted, threatens to be destruct-
i've of our rights, we but tread in the path
of our fathers, when we proclaim our in
dependence, and take the hazird This
is done, not in hostility to others, not to
injure any section of the country, not
even for our own pecuniary benefit, but
from the high and solemn motive of de-
tending and protecting the rights we in
herited, and which it is our sacred duty
to transmit unshorn to our children.
l find in myself, perhaps, type of the
general feeling of my constituents to-
wards yours. am sure feel no hostil- |
lty to you, Senators from the North. | |
am sure there is not one of you, what
ever sharp discussion there may have
been between us, TO whom / emmett now
say, in the presence of my God, wish |
you well; and such, l am sure, is the |
feeling of the people whom / represent |
toward those whom you represent. | |
therefore feel that but express their de- |
sire when l say hope, and they hope, |
for peaceful relations with you, though
VIC must part. They may be mutually
beneficial to us in the future, as they have
been in the past, if you so will it. The
reverse may bring disaster in every por-
ion of the country; and if you will have
i thus, we will invoke the God of cur
fathers, who delivered them from the
power of the lion, to protect us from the
-avages of the bear; and thus, putting
our trust in God, and in our own firm
hearts and strong arms, we will vindicate
he right as best we may.
In the course of my service here, aSso-
lated at different times with a great varI-
,ty of Senators, l see now around me
,Ome with whom | have served long.
There have been points of collision; but
whatever of offence there has been to
ne, | leave here; | carry with me no hos
lie remembrance Whatever offence |
lave given which has not been redressed,
n for which satisfaction has not been
have, Senators, in this hour
# our parting, to offer you my apology
or any pain which in the heat of discus
ion | have inflicted. go hence unin-
of the remembrance of any
injury received, and having discharged
he duty of making the only reparation in
ny power for any injury offered.
Mr.. President and Senators, having
lade the announcement which the occa-
ion seemed to me to require, it only re-
Mains for me to bid you final adicu.