Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-10-05
SPEECH OF SENATOR sCHURz.

In response to an invitation of the most
prominent citizens of Nashville, Senator
Schurz, of Missouri, recently made an
elaborate and able speech in that city, on
the political situation. The character OF
the speaker, his past and present party
identifcations and the political complexion
of his audience and the high respect and
dignifed bearing with which his opinions
were received, present an anomaly which
cheers the heart of the patriot with a
bright omen of returning peace and fra
ternity. Himself a devoted Republican
and a conspicuous General in the Federal
ARMY. whilst nine-tenths of his vast au-
dience we're participants in the rebellion
and mourners over its defeat, he made no
concessions or concealment of his princi-
pies aud plainly and fully recounted the
errors and follies of the Southern people.
He defended the late amendments to the
Coustitution-not as the dictates and de-
mands of a party policy-but as a neces-
sity produced by the revolutions of war.
The enlargement of free labor and citizen
ship required the protection, rights and
privileges, which these Amendments were
designed to secure. and the objection OF
partisan malice and hate could not right
fully be preferred against the Republican
party on account of their enactment.
General amnesty and universal suffrage.
In the opinion of the speaker, would prove
the most speedy and eficacious solution of
al o~urtroubles. The Ku Klux bill was
provoked By the lawless violence existing
in many parts of the South, and the
Northern mind could never be fully salts
fed Of the good intentions and conciliato-
~ disposition of the ex-insurgents, until
quietude, order and safely were restored
in their midst. When men were no lon
ger prescribed, hunted down and persecu-
ted for their political principles and color,
and equally enjoyed the benefits of gov
eminent, all prejudices. i'll feeling and
fearful apprehensiOns would disappear,
and the people of the North, forgetting
past alterations and feuds would welcome
their Southern brethren in the fold of the
Union with open arms and glad hearts.
The speaker advised his Southern
friends to go manfully to work to restore
their exhausted powers, to look hope fully
to the future, and with an honorable sub
mission, accept the results of the war
they had brought upon themselves and
the country.
The great favor with which the speech
was received is not less remarkable than
its logic was powerful and convincing.
The occasion and it, incidents were unique.
A learned apostle of Republicanism teach
ing its doctrines in the Capitol of our
State to a listening and approaching au-
dience of those who had fought its pro-
gress upon the field of battle, was an event
that the most ~sanguine Republican had
never contemplated.
We believe this speech will accomplish
great good for our State and the entire
South. 1t demonstrates to the impracti-
cable rebel who accepts nothing" that
his obstinacy is worse than folly, whilst it
exposes the tyranny, injustice and ruin Of
restricting political rights to one particu-
lar party.
There are some portions of the speech
that we do not endorse, especially the at
tack upon TIE Administration, and think
the distinguished orator would have acted
a wise and nobler part in passing over
these points in silence. Most certainly
the occasion was not one for angry animad-
version, but to explain to a Southern au-
dience. composed of the rank and file of
the Confederate army, the feelings of the
oonqueror towards them aud what they
might expect upon the fulfllment of the
conditions imposed upon them.