Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-10-01

the elements of our own destruction
| said no, let us remain here, not breal
up the government. Outside tn
Union is not the place to seek protec
ton. l intend to stand by that fla
that was carried by Washington-tha
flag that was carried by the heroes O
the revolution with the bloc spout
ing from their heels. I called traitor
abandon the flag. l didn't leav,
him, he left me. | stand now where
stood then. Arnold sold his country
| didn't. Who was guilty of treason
those who stood by the flag or thos,
who plotted for the segregation of til.
States? The t7te place to fight oul
battles was in the Union, under The
Constitution.
On the End of March 1861 an amend
ment to the Constitution was passed
prohibiting for all future time any in
reference by the federal government
with slavery in the States. This set
tied the whole question. Now all that
was necessary was TO ratify that
amendment. What did Tennessee
do? Instead of calling the Legisla.
ture together to ratify the Amend,
ment, it was called to pass the militia
ry league on the eth of May. Before the
State was voted out, they had sold the
people to the Southern Confedcracy
like sheep. Instead of staying in the
Union they marched out. i said no.
Then Huntington and 7 separated.
He went. 1 stayed.
When the war was over, this man
DunningtOn-my competitors friend
and speech-maker-when I had the
power to be vindictive, admitted that
he had been a traitOr-had violated
the Constitution. That's the sort of
man to charge me with being an as
sassin of the Constitution!
When III the Senate of the United
States part had withdrawn, Mr.. Da-
Wis asked me where | would fight l
answered in the Union. We had a
majority of six in the Senate and
eleven in the House. We had the
power in our own hands. The court
was with us. There was the place to
fight. If we had staid there to main
tain our rights the late disastrous war
would never have come. In the
South there was q violent feeling
against me because | was Military
| consented for the pur-
pose of using my influence in staying
the rigors of the rebellion. Who was
the Governor then? When Nashville
was evacuated, how did he leave it?
When the federal army left he fled in
fastardly precipitation. Did | leave?
back out? Those who know me
know | would have been carried out
feet foremost or have remained be-
meath the crumhling ruins of the cap
.tOl. | took the commission of Gene
raj to act as Military Governor.
But it is charged that / levied con-
Gov. Harris, traitor to the constitu-
lou and country. took the Bank of
Tennessee, with ti,e children's money,
he sacred school-fund, then in a
healthy condition, and fed in BASTARD
y precipitation, itinerated through
he South, paying himself AID friends
n gold and leaving the Confederate
soldiers to be paid in trash. Three
millions of dollars OF this trash the
people are paying for now. Three
millions eXtOrtCd from the people and
We are told the Tocbett issues are now
When | arrived i'll Nash
vile, the Bank was gone, the treasury
,mrty, men conscrirted and carried
,h, the people were destitute, the
wives and children OF conscriptcd sol
licrs. Many of the wealthy had sub
'criGed 10 get up batteries and equip
'egimcnts. l found list of them and
oOk these names and ordered 4 levy
lp0n them which was partially paid.
What did | 90 with it? The wives
md children Of Confederate soldiers
md poor got their part. Is there n
Confederate soldier here? II 50. ana
le had been in my place wouldn't he
nave done so? If not. let him speak
or him have I offended. If did any
wrong in that it was that | did not
AXE enough. 1t ought to have been
doubled. Bat Huntington says that
ime and experience have softened me
Except for selfish purposes. What did
D., ever do that self was out Of? What
5 lie doing now for his country? l,
and selfish | seek the
approval and good will of my fellow
citizens. am selfish to promote and
advance their interests. | pursued
he line of the Constitution up to The
inc Of separation. | allude to these
Kings not to harrow up the public
mind. Things were done in war. we
would not do in peace. Yes. let us
hake hands over the bloody chasm.
Let us close it, | don't want to revis-
I all that was done during the rebel
ion. That yawning chasm is full of
he cries of blood like that of Abel
rom the tOngueless caverns of the
'arth. Let there be neither seam nor
car. / want it closed. Let us be
gain band of brothers, with no i'll
ceiling, embracing each other, loving
he Union and Constitution of cur
Within a few days of the collapse of
he rebellion the President of the
United States was assiuated. The ma
ion almost reeIed and toppled under a
Durst of wild delirium. | was placed
u the Presidential chair. / look
d out upon the wasted and ruined
south. Many hards things had been
aid of me. My house had been taken
nd used as q hospital. My negroes
by the Confederate Gov
rnment. My family sent beyond its
limits. Indignity and suffering had |
cen inflicted upon them. " Chasten- |
d by.time" &c. as has been shown you, |
hen what did do? Was selfish?' |
Did | insult, confisCate, try for treas
n? l reflected upon the blood and |
rying and suffering around me. Did |
order the Attorney General to secure,
onvict, hang, confiscate? What did |
DO? L stepped forward to a party |
hat would have made me anything | |
ganted to be. said, you had laid |
own your arms and we must return
D peace and reconciliation.
Thank God | had the manhood and |
TO interpOse. l said TO
he nation, amnesty and good will to
H." How easy with the dominant
arty vindictivc, and my asperities
to have been otherwise.
he people of the South expected ven
canoe and persecution. Thank God.
said, pardon aud good will"
Doesn't look like | deserve what Dun
ington said. And the gentleman in
~ rear, did l prosecute him? / saw
,cession and desoIatiOn and ruin On
" right. I said no. Time passed
ON the 18th of APRIL 10 the 4th of
when / sent in my first
lessage. All but few of the States
sd been re-organiZed. They had
freed to abolish slavery. On the 5th
resolution was adopted appointing
4. ]