The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-10-07
Speech Nf Senator Schurz.'

l. Speech OF Senator Schurz.'
Nashville, September 20.--Carl
Schurz made his promised speech at
the capitol to-day. An immense au-
dience attended, representing all
sections of Tennessee. His arrival
in the hall of representative was
greeted with applause. Governor
Neil S. Brown made a few remarks
in introducing him.
The speech of Mr.. Schurz was OF
great length, liberal, candid and
impartial, and was we'll received.
He began by stating that not
withstanding the captious remarks
which had been made relative to his
acceptance of an invitation from
prominent men who had been rebels,
lie was happy to meet all steadfast
Union men, equally happy to stretch
out his hand to all men who had
stood against the government dur
ing the war, but are now ready to
work for the restoration of universal
peace, harmony, friendship and true
brotherhood, and thanked the union
lists and confederates, Republicans
and Democrats, natives and adopted
citizens, whites and blacks, for the
very friendly welcome extended to
him. He had no selfish aspirations.
His audience had nothing to give
him. He had been allotted the high
political position attainable to for
eign born citizen under the constitu-
ton. He would utter the natural
convictions of his mind without fear
and impartiaiity. Proceeding to dis
cuss the present condition of public
affairs, he said a general amnesty
should no longer be postponed. It
would tend to disarm the feeling of
alienation caused in the South by the
results of the war. A just, generous
and conciliatory policy should be
adopted. It was necessary to return
without delay to sound practices of
constitutional government. Local
self government should be restored
to that freedom which belonged to it..
Great abuses had grown up in the
civil service and must be. corrected.
Our system of import duties needed
! a change. Taxes must be reduced !;
a return to specie payment, must be
made; corruption in high places re-
buked; the influence of corporations
of tremenduous power guarded
against, and donations of public
lands stopped. These were, he said,
problems to be solved, and his views
were shared by millions of liberal
Republicans North. Some of them
were of special interest to. the South.
He impressed on the audience the
| importance of the attitude Of the
South in laboring for reforms. So
long as disorder prevailed, the North
would not yield to it's liberal and
progressive impulses.
He said the war was caused by the
antagonism between slavery and free
labor. Slavery brought on the strug-
gle. Its cause was hopelessly lost,
| and can never be revived.
| He referred tothe change of affairs
| in the South, and the necessity of a
change of social and political organiz-
alton based on principles Of equality.
| The reconstruction acts of Con-
gress were not the offsprings of
hatred and yindictiveness, but of
stern necessity to protect those who
stood by the Union, white and black,
and 60 prevent a reaction or future
troubles. The Southern people would
resort to all possible expedients ac-
eept of free labor in it's true form,
and free labor must and weuld be
maintained, secured and developed,
or the struggle be fought over for
those. political privileges by which
freemen maintain their rights. He
asked if the South had been placed
in the position of the North, would
they have done less !?
Mr.. Schurz was emphatic in his
disapprobation of the policy of the
present administration, and in his
frequent expressions of apprehension
of the result to our republican insti-
| tutions to allow it's perpetuation in
power, the only deliverance from
| which he considered to be through
the cooperation of the sincere pa.
triots of all parties in the political
organization which would insure the
obliteration of sectional bitterness
from national politics. Such an OF.
ganization would command the con.
!. fidenee and secure party co operation
of his faith. who would support it in
preference to the administration par.
ty, but could not conscientiously act
with the Democratic party. Such a
movement would receive the support
of the entire German element of the
nation, and the true patriots of all
parties, and result in a genuine res
toration of the Union.
The remainder of the speech was
devoted to the exposition of his
views on other topics mentioned In
the outset of his remarks.
-----..-a1H~.~-~--~----~ %&
i Two thousand women are nov
doing farm work in Wisconsin
They stay IN the fields from sunrise
/ to sunset.