Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-08-27
ESTABLISHED 1910.

gift of the people, from the lowest TO
the highest, made many very warm
friends and some few enemies, though
the most dangerous enemy ever had
has been from my own camp-the most
treacherous arrow, one sped by the bow
of one of my own archers. With God S
aid intend standing up for the work
ing men of my country. TumultuOus
cheering.l / think have had about as
much ingratitude heaped upon me as
any other public man. [Cries, "You
have.n1 But to expect gratitude from
politicians for past favors is folly; the
future in glittering, dazzling prospective
Is the only thing that has sufficient ef-
| feet upon them to cause them to be
grateful. Since l came in your midst,
what charges against me have | heard?
Why, that while was Military Governor
of this State / prosecuted the people.
What are the facts? When / was milf
tary Governor of Tennessee, i came to
Nashville justas it was evacuated. Here
/ found the suffering wives and children
Of soldiers who had been cOnscripted in
to the army. In order TO alleviate their
sufferings l levied tax upon the men
who had paid to stay at home, with such
results as you all know. In levying this
contribution it was said that l was
''feathering my own nest" The truth
is, that not a single cent of this money
ever passed through my hands. If there
is any Confederate soldier who says that
l have done wrong in helping to sup
port his suffering family, while he was
COMPELLED to leave them, / would like
to confront him tonight.
As one important step toward cOnsti-
tutional reform, let us remove Grant
from the Capitol of the United States,
where he is mildewing and blighting all
that comes in contact with him. If Mr..
Greeley comes up to what he has prom
ised we viii support him. We viii stand
by him in every good that he seeks to
further. / believe him to be an honest
man, and above bribe.
With my notions of application to bus
iness, / have succeeded in obtaining a
sufficient amount of money to keep me
comfortably. Having no desire to obtain
more at present, solicit not your favor.
In reply 10 the request you have made
Of me tonight, to tell you my views
upon the subject of the political issues of
the day, l will say that if you are deter
mined to stand by the constitution, am
determined to stand by you. If you
wish that l should announce myself as
your candidate [cries of ave do; we
do; ~ why then you should nominate
me yourselves. Cries Of ave do; we
don If you make the nomination and
choose me as your standard-bearer, 1
will do as / always have dOne-serve
you with true fidelity and devotion.
1The excitement when this announce
ment was made beggars description,
cheer after cheer was vigorously given,
and for about five minutes the audience
fairly yelled with delight.
Yes, with the principles of the cOnsti-
tuition / would struggle, and in the
event that I should fall in vindicating
them, l ask no other favor than that
you wrap the constitution and flag of
my country about me, and bury me
among my own dear hills and valleys of
Tennessee.
In accepting this protfered position I
do so knowing full well the batteries the
enemy will open upon me; they may try
to debar me from discharging my duty to
my cOuntrymen. There may be pack
of hounds at my feet, but what care 1?
If l am thWarted in my course of duty,
old as / am, l viii use both mental and
physical force to preserve my rights.
I Loud cheers.
The house of the dogs viii be turned
open, though perhaps there will not be
any of big dogs there-any mastiffs " to
make Rome howl" Still there will be
Belle, Flora, Blanche, Sweetheart, and
all the other little dogs, who will do all
in their power to scare somebody.
[ Laughter.
l have never broken faith with any
one. 1 have redeemed all my pledges
that / promised, and / promise like
fidelity for the future.
FellOw-citiZens, in conclusion, all
ask is that you stand by the constitu- !
ton. The time is not far distant when |
the people will find that he who leads |
them out of their present difficulties |
will be as a second Moses TO them. !
have never before seen such
an enormous assemblage gathered
together in this State for a pur-
pose similar to the one for which
you are here gathered together. AS you
have tonight selected me as your stand
/ shall be in the field where
the contest is hottest. In bidding you
''gOOd night" you take with you the
wishes of one who holds the soil Of his
own dear State as sacred. Thanking
you for the harmOnyyO have displayed
on this occasion, l bid you all good night.
Prolonged cheers followed Mr.. John
sons speech, after which short speeches
were made by w. g. Brien, Colonel
COlyar and Colonel GOlladay. The i'm
mense crowd t1en wended their way
homeward.