Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-13

say that from the time when / first entered
upon the discussion of public affairs to this
hour, have not much regarded party, con-
steering party always simply means to an
end ten times more important to the well be-
ing and upright conduct of our Government
and our people. Always acting upon that
conviction, l have sometimes alenated
friends on either side, now here and now
there. But this was indespensa-
BILE to independent and honest
political conviction. No man has ever yet
pursued thoughtful, observant, manly and
independent course without some
times offending and alternating friends here
and there. He must do so if he is to be
entirely and rightly faithful to bis highest
convictions. Well, friends, there is much
said about aspiration and ambition in this
country of ours, and it is well that they
should be aspiring and it is not i'll
that they should be ambitious. The
grand result, the forwardment of man.
kind, is created by agitstors, by the
men who stand out, by the men who dare
be wiser to-day than their fathers were the
day before yesterday (applause.) 1 can
only say for that class, the class Of whom
am representative, the class who are said
to be agitators, this: That many times
when man is accused of absorbing ambi-
ton he has been thinking not of
the plaudits of the multitudes, not
of chances or prospects of personal
elevation; very often bis mental
eye has been fixed on some cottage in the
land of his boyhood where sits an aged
mother, widowed, perhaps gray, wrinkled
and tottlering, diyiding her attention
between that book wherein are
gathered up all her hopes of blissful
Immortality, and these journals or
records wherein she reads the
story of her sons efforts, possibly achieve
ments, and hope for the day when he may
return and find her still living to greet and
honor him, as no shout of an applauding
multitude can do. So | say that tens of
thousands who are misjudged as looking for
some grand opportunity for themselves or
advancement for themselves, are thinking
only of some spot where fond affection
keeps watch over its loved ones career and
hopes that it may be, if not distin-
guished, at least useful to the
community. Friends and neighbors,
| am older than was when our late
terrible trial began, much older in feeling
and in years, but old as am have an ear
still think not deaf to the call Of duty. l
have heart which trust does not fail to
beat responsive to the impulses of patriotism.
Therefore am glad to see this company of
people here tonight. Many OF
in the present or have disagreed
with me in the past, or may disagree with
me in the future, for we cannot read the
future. But trust the most of them be-
leve that, whatever have done unwlsely,
it may be harshly, 1 have done in faith and
love for the best good of my country and
her people. In thatE l trust. Friends
of my native State, / greet you in that
trust. l hope you will follow me in the
future as you have followed me in the past.
Judge me kindly if you may. If sometimes
you are obliged to condemn me, judge me
kindly and believe that whatever of
human error or imperfection l may
have exhibited in the past or may
exhibit in the present, still rejoice that
here in my native State have been appre-
ciated; that if my lot should bear me back
to this my native State to spend here my
latest years, if such future should befall
me, shall spend them among those who
have looked upon me, many of them kindly
from boyhood, and who will be glad at least
to welcome me among them whenever have
little time to spend here, and rejoice
with. me that through my efforts. or
their efforts our country is great, prosper
Gus and free. And our people may say
are destined in the future to work out a
magnificent destiny which shall be guild
ing light for the nations Of men through all
coming time.
The reception accorded Mr.. Greeley has
been more enthusiastic here than at any
place since he left,C Concord. Men, women and
children crowded the streets, waving flags
and handkerchiefs, and struggling to get
near his carriage as he passed by.
Senotor Doolittle made speech here to-
night. Greeley leaves tomorrow morning
for Gorham, Me.
Senator Wilson Worn Out.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. IA dispatch receiv-
ed from Senator Wilson to-day says that he
is obliged TO go home in consequence of be-
ing worn out. He will speak In this State,
however, early in October.
Charles Sumner Writes to Commits.
siOner White.
Special to the Louisville Courier-Journsl.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 11.-Senatol
| Sumner leaves tomorrow for Boston, and
as he goes fires parting shot at President
| White, of Cornell University, who has
lately assumed to defend the President:
course of studied neglect toward Fred
! Douglass on the return of the San Domingo
| Commission. Mr.. Sumner begins by say.
| ing that in his mention of the affair in hi;
recent letter to the colored men, he did moi
refer so much to the Presidents omission
| to invite Mr.. Douglass to dine will
| the Commissioners as to his failure
to notice his exclusion from the table
| of the Potomac steamer. He then continue!
in reference to the alleged neglect of the
President: "On this you are represented a!
remarking that Gen. Siegel was also omit
ted; but in fact Mr.. Douglass and Gen. Sic
gel had already left for their homes, forget
ting that Mr.. Douglass continued in Wash
ington; and you don't allow yourself Il
doubt that had they been in town they
would have been included in the invitation
Your apology clearly shows your opinion
that they ought to have been invited. Bu
please not forget that there was reason
for inviting MIR. d. that did not exist in thu
case of Gen. Siegel; the General was whit,
and he had suffered no indignity on boari
the mail packet, which it was in the power
of the President to rebuke by example.
"But you are mistaken in facts, as ap
pears by the newspapers of the times. Tn
commissioners reached Washington on th
evening of the 9th. They were entertain
ed at dinner by the President March 80
On the day before the dinner Mr.. Douglas
presided at the convention to nominate
delegate to Congress from the District 0
Columbia, and on taking the chair, made
speech. Mr.. Chapman was nominate,
against Mr.. Douglass, who made anothe
speech, thanking his supporters for thei
votes. To crafty the friends of Mr.. Doug
lass, there was an understanding that HI
should succeed Mr.. Chapman as Secretar.
of the District. These things show tina
Mr.. Douglass was not only in Washington
but conspicuously so presiding at a public
convention, and being voted for as candl
date for Congress.
"But we are not left to inference. Mr.
A. M. Green, of Washington, who at tn
Convention nominated Mr.. Douglass TO
Congress, assures me that he did not leav'
town till some days later. Mr.. Green fur
Their states in note dated Aug. 10, nov
before me, that about this time he and an
other friend called on Mr. Douglass In rela
ton to his appointment by the President
Secretary of the District; that Mr.. Doug
lass, while thanking them for their earnest
| pasS in bis hahalf asSnrad tbarn that he hai