Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-11
JOHNSON ON BROWN
The Ex-President Addresses the
Citizens of Nashville.

He Talks About state and National
Questions, Refers 20 the GranSers,
Speaks OF Convict Labor, and Re
views Gov. Browns WaveFIy speech.
Pursuant to announcement, ex-PIesident
johnson addressed the people Of Nashville
and vicinity on the Public Square, last
night. About Z O'Clock be was serenaded
at the Maxwell House by the Rock City
Band, an immense crowd being present.
When the band had played couple Of
airs, he was called for by the large crowd
which had gathered in the rotunda. He
appeared and offered bis thanks for the
compliment rendered him, saying he would
make an address on the Square in a short
time.
He was then escorted to the Square By
the band, qer. q. q. Stubblefield, /. Mr.. j.
B. White and w. G. Brien, Esq, accoinps-
nying him in the same carriage.
Upon reaching the stand, Mr.. johnson
was introduced to the crowd consisting of
several hundred persons, by Gen. Stubble-
field, who said:
-'Gentlemen, fellOw-citizens: | propose
to Introduce 20 you tonight a gentleman
who, 10 you, is perhaps better known than
myself, one who, in fact, needs no introduc-
ton He proposes to discuss issues now
before the public mind, and that interest
and agitate the community at this time.
/ ask for him a respectful and patient hear
ing and this know you will give him. Gen
temen, introduce TO You ex-President
Andrew johnson" fCheers.1
Mr.. johnson then came forward and be
gan bis address at 7:30, and did not con-
Al Al Nrfx s1,cfa H.,
speech was so long the crowd remained
patiently until the close, the speaker being
frequently interrupted with applause. OF
this speech, we are able to give only a
synopsis, In consequence Of the late hour
at which Ii was concluded.
He said:
ADDRESS OF ER-PREsIDENT JOHNSON.
Fellows citizens: | am here tonight for
the purpose Of addressing you upon some
of the important questions which now agi-
tate the public mind. And, in appearing
before you, 1t is with some disadvantage on
account Of cold and fatigue, that have
endured for some DAYS back.
There is little that | could say that
would be new TO yOu, but with your atten-
tiOn, will undertake To- present You here
questions, and In my own way. would
address myself 10 the laboring, the agfi-
cultural, the mechanical and mercantile
classes, and all other interests necessary 10
make society. It is not my purpose to ar
ray one Class against another, but, If can,
to lay down such principles rs will eause
all to work in harmony and result in pros
perity 10 the whole.
Let me sag that I think this is one Of
the IitOst Important crisis that las ever be-
fallen our country. attn no Slarinist-l
have no wish TO create any extended or
unnecessary fear Of danger. / have heard
it said that amongst practlced wOOdmen,
when they hear the wind roaring in the
trees, they can, 10 a very great extent, tell
the nature and character Of the storm ap-
preaching. ! tell Won there is a storm ap-
preaching in this country. We had orR,
and when that approached, /, humble Is
was, sounded my warning voice against the
dangers which #erS TO follow. The storm
came, and now, to some exteit, We are
feeling its effects. / feel and believe that
your country is in a more perilOus cOndi-
ton. so far as 4 change in the character Of
your government is concerned, than at any
time since it was organized.
Where are we now? We used to Ahink
there was a constitution asld that there was
a limitation to the government. There
should be limitation to all the institutions
that pertain to a free people. There should
be boundary marks beyond which none
should 90. But We find during the last
few years there has been a disposition to
abandon these landmarks and administer
IL.
cretion-Or l should say, indiscretion. Con-
gress, Eith its 2g2 members. If they were
disposed TO act without the restraints Of the
organic law, is power more TO be feared
than any power which can be vested in one
man. A large proportion Of the legisla-
tion, both State and Federal, has been of a
character without any reference to the or
ganic law. 1t used to be that we looked
upon Congress as being at distance and.
when it came. it came with acts of benefi-
cence to the people. Vow we find II comes
with exactiOns, with its detectives, with its
inquiSitOrial powers, looking into the de
tail and minutie law Of your own dOmes-
tic afiairs.
STATE FINANCES.
can go back to a time when the ex-
penses of our State were not more than
$4,000 wear. Go back to a short period
anterior to the late civil war, and you find
tina. our expenses are now three times as
great as they were then.
4 vOice-"And Andy helped do it,
[Cries Of "Take him Outl' Take him
Outr'J
Mr.. Johnson-NO, no, don't take him out.
He'll feel better after a while. But, my
friends, if helped to do il, am now will
ing to help undo il. Laughter.1 But let
us go hack and see whether 1 helped do it.
When 1 was Governor Of your State, for
four years, you will find that the expenses
of your government were much less than in
any other four years. Take the State
Bank, that was under the Governors con-
troll, and during those four years YOU will
find that, under the control of
the directory that 1 appointed, that
bank made more money and fewer bad debts
than in any other period of four years dur
ing its existence. We find that that hank,
with its capital Of 5000, ,OO0-all its assets,
was packed up and carried South. What
was the sesult9 The money was sqIander-
ed and the shell was brought back 10 Nash
vile. | did not do this, but | did all |
could to help ITS being done, but did not
succeed. We find that that bank, that was
taken away by those who should have ad-
ministered its affairs, placed in this cOndi-
tion aud you have to pay SI,0O0,0OO on its
account. Let me tell you, in this connec-
tiOn, You have S2,000.OO0 more yOu will
Lave TO pay on account Of what is known
as the TOrbett issue.
Here another interruption was made by
the individual yhO had insisted upon Mr..
JOhnsOn's completely in bringing the State
finances to their present condition; but the
speaker was encouraged to proceed by cries
Of ''Take that fool Outl" "DOnt pay any
attention To bummers,'
Mr. johnson resumed. IL has been inti-
mated i'm a certain quaIter that we had All
internal improvement system fixed upon
the country, in which / participated. Let
me say, that from the Inauguration Of our
internal improvements very large pro
portion of which are internal swindleS-
Won find that, as a member of your Degis-
iature, / never voted in favor Of It. On the
contrary, from the very first inception Of the
system it received my disapprObaliOn and
opposition.
The speaker then explained, al some
length, the disposition which was made OF
the bonds issued by the State previous TO
the war, in aid of railroads which were
then being constructed, which disposition
he claimed was fraudulent, and had re-
-..I.ol g, eoI1lipy rtpou the Sfafa n l9f rf