Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-06-09

seems to regard the black race as en-
titled TO the superior privileges to hi
own. / do not believe that the per
sonal freedom of all the white peOpl
of the South, and all their rights o
government, should be sacrificed
to accommodate few thousaI inso
lent negroes, or to crafty the caprice
of negrO-wOrshipping white men anC
selfish politicians.
Mr.. Bartlett, in the lecture he de
hvered. is represented as arraignin9
me for the letter / wrote in reply Il
the attack made upon me by the
Nashville Colored Convention. He
characterizes my letter as ''untimely,'
tout Of place" and "unchristian, and
in speaking of the white people Of
East Tennessee, characterized them as
white trash,n who should be com
PEELED to have their children educa.
ted with the blacks, as provided i'll tie
Civil Rights Bill. Now it is entirely
immaterial with me whether a man
holding Mr.. Bartlett's views, regards
me as a Statesman or a Christian.
The facts and incidents connected
with the Colored Convention at Nash
vile, and the iusOlent demands OF
that Convention, are familiar to a
large portion of the people of East
| Tennessee and to Mr.. Bartlett. He
knows that that convention passed
resolutions denouncing me by name
| as Judas and TRAITOR" because |
| had, in courteous and mild language,
expressed opposition to the enforced
co-educatiOu of the races. Recurring
again TO this convention, Mr.. Bartlett
knows that it publicly resolved that
they 1.-THE colOred people, would treat
all white men as their private, person
al enemies. who were opposed to mix
ed schools" This and much more of
even a more insoient description char
acterized the proceedings of that con-
ventiOn.
In replying to the attacks of the
convention upon myself | was but eX-
ercising the right of self-defense. Mr..
Bartlett says that it was "unchriStian'
in me to do this.
Here Mr.. Bartlett and myself differ.
[ never supposed that because the col
ored race were made free and enfran-
cEised it deprived a white man of the
right to defend himself, when publicly
denounced or knocked down on .he
street by negro.
Again, Mr.. Bartlett and myself diff
fer in our opinions of the rights of the
poor white trash" of East Tennessee
of whom he speaks.
This designation embraces nearly
all the white people of East Tonnes
see, because they are nearly all poor,
| believe these poor white people have
some rights which eren the Congress
of the United States is bound to re-
spect.
[ am opposed to this Civil Right
Bill because it is usurpation of the
rights and an oppression upon all elias
ses of white people in my State and
section. Bat no feature Cf it is, to ne,
mole odious than that it is especially
to the poor white people
and is in utter contempt of their rights
and interests. | am the friend Of the
poor white people, as / have always
been. Because [ want their children
educated in the public school at the ex-
pcnse of those more fortunate than they
who are able to send their children to
private schools. that | oppose this op-
pressive and abOminable uSurpatiom.
The passage Of this Civil Rights Bill
will destroy the free schools OF the
State, as it ought to do, for it is better
To have 10 schools at all than such as
are arbitrarily dictated under this bill.
The mere threat to pass it is the great
est-insult and outrage which has ever
been attempted upon the honest, hard
working people of small properly y. or
no property at all.
The negro scOrShippers, who believe
that Il poor white man in the South
should not have equal rights with the
negro and the pOlitIcians who urges It
in ignO, all e of the needs or in sre-
gard of the interest of the people of the
South, say To the 10 white men -
1--WE know that you DO not want 10
send your children to mixed schools,
we know if Congress forces this meas
sure iJ will destroy the schools, but
you shall have mixed schools or none
at all" The poor white trashn of
Massachusetts, whence Mr.. Bartlett
emigrated, may COVER and yield to the
insolent demands of politicians, but
the poor people of East Tennessee will
never be driven like sheep to the
slaughter pen by any class of pOliti
clans or by any political party. They
know their rights, and dare maintain
them. They have always been free
men, and they will always he such.
The whole Southern COnfederacy could
not subjugate them, and all the small
politicians and demagogues of their
own political faith cannot do it. The
invigOrating air and pure water of
their mountains and valleys are in
compatible with a state of slavery
East Tennessee is as invulnera5le to
this assault upon her liberties as hel
eternal hills.
THE hills, the everlasting hills,
How peerlessly they rise,