The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-05-16
JOHN C. BROWN.
His Speech before the Convention,
AeeeptIng the RenominatiOn.

the Convention. This unanimous
expression of your confidence fills J
nv heart with 0hspeakable graft
tude, because in the conscientious
discharge of duty there is nothing
more agreeable to the public ser
want than to have his official acts
publicly indOrsed by the repEesen-
tatiyes of the people. Less than
/ two years ago you did me the honor
To place me IN the chief Executive
chair of your State. / found N.Y.
i self surrounded with almost innu-
merable difficulties. The finances
of your State were prOstrased. Your
treasury was exhausted. No stable
and fixed policy had been inaugura-
ted. The details Of the State Gov.
eminent had not been discussed be-
fore the people and neither the leg /
islative branch Of the government
nor the Executive were certain how [
the State stood. We came to adj
minister the affairs of the State in
4 the midst of all these difficulties.
/ Difficulties almost insurm0untable
met US at every step; and in the midst
of these trying difficulties l have
done the best i could. 1 thank the
people whom you represent for the
compliment Of my denomination. 1
thank the people OF Tennessee for
comforting upon me this unmerited
honor. But, gentlemen, to say more
on this subject would be egotistical-
We are now on the eve of, perhaps,
the most important canvass that has
ever TRANSFERRED in this country.
Certainly Fennesseeans have never
been called upon to act on an occa-
sion franght with greater interest to
the American people.
For seven years we Of the Sonths
particularly, have bowed at the foot
Of power and asked for constitution
al guarantees; We of the South have
; been beyond the pale Of the gov ern-
ment. When l say we have bowed
at the foot of power, begging for
constitutional rights, speak literal
IN the truth. The best men in the
land-men who were pioneers in es-
= tatlishing the government of Ten
I nessee-because of supposed treason
= have been denied the rights which
; they formerly enjoyed; men who
Z held the smallest office within the
i gift of the people, because of sup
: posed treason in the late war, have
I. been denied the right to hold office
y or to exercise the heritage of free
u men, and when, too, they have ae-
/ cepted the situation in good faith,
u laid down their arms and bowed at
> the foot stool of power and begged,
as suppiiaRt slaves, to be restored to
e the rights Of citizenship. The prae-
J tice has been 70 deny this again and
y again by the present administration
e which came into power pledged by
= every sacred obligation to restore
= these rights. But no, as l have
: said before, these rights have been
le d snied and denied again.
9 In a time Of profound peace we
: have an army invading the South
4 The writ Of habeas corpus is denied
Il We have been denied privileges al
le lowed even to our former slaves
y The treasure of the United States
II has been expended with a lavish
H' hand, never before known in the ex
= istenee of any nation much less il
y the annals of the American Govern
y ment. A proud tyrannical party ha!
4 seized the reins of government anC
! with the hand Of tyranny has ad
u ministered it to Us and we have en-
n dured it alL not without murmurs
y I admit, but we have endured ana
o suffered, and still endure aud suffer
and we have no hope of relief iron
u that quarter at least. Unfortunate
n " ours is the flag of the party tina
he is in the minority although we hav
= three millions of voters. Year ate
year we have taken the census o
n that party amt nothing but defea
he and disaster has crowned our ever
effort, and to day, seven years ate
he we commenced, we are no nearer T.
those lost rights than we were at tn
beginning. At the end Of seye
raj years we find ourselves still in th
Dr. minority and l think ana other
nj think so too, that brighter day
,ra now dawning upon us. and other
{, think that the day Of deliveranee
''e now at hand. A large body of th
ire Republican party, representing
still larger body at home, recent
met in Cincinnati and nominated
ticket and invited its acceptance b
i all people; the people of all partit
opposed to the administration /
tai power. 1 understand you, as th
representatives of the people, declal
I'm ed it is the duty Of every patrioti
ar citizen, opposed to the present &C
ministration of the General Govern
ment, to indOrse the Cincinnati non
y. inees. Whether you have aete
~ wisely or not, the future will dete
mine. tits an experiment fraugl
ae- with immense Importance. Blu
lst gentlemen, believe you have don
TX right. / believe your efforts will b
crowned with success in a mannC
never witnessed before in the cOuI
.o III try during the last thirty years.
~ don't wish to be understood as bl
'@9 ing Jealous advocate of the nom
" nees of the Cincinnati Convention {
that am an admirer of the gsntl,
On men put upon that ticket; and
nd want it understood that / do not b,
he long to those who would disorganiz
he the Democratic party, but, on til
contrary, I am in favor of havin
en- our party redOuble its vigilance an
gal perfect It's organization in all il
it purity and watch all encroachment
ne made upon it; for in my humb
ors Judgment the salvation Of the coul
&c. try must be worked out BY an
see through the Democratic party. TIL
ker is but the cradle and nursery of
in To-day the note has been sounds
The in my humble judgment, for the su
All cess Of our principles through tn
ticket. I would not Surrender
IL single principle, I would not surrei
Ter man from our ranks. On I'll
- contrary, / believe the action Of th
- Convention VIII perpetuate our @
=. -, gaization in Tennessee, and ] b
- leive nothing else would have pr
Ne served It, and that il it was not f
~ what you did to-day that it woui