American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-21
SPEECH OF GENERAL TOOMBS.

The following extract from the
late speech of General Robert
ToombS, of Georgia, at Atlanta, in
favor of a Constitutional COnven-
ton, will show that the fire in the
heart of the "old man eloquent :"
has not yet died out:
You have shown
an example of patience to the men
of the north. Men ~ did | say !
My God, not men thieves! de-
mons! After seven years from our
capitulation-after our flag was
pulled down by the brave, you have
submitted to dedt, to deprivation
of property, and then to the Thir
teenth Amendment. This is the
last thing, they say. Then the
Fourteenth and last. Then they
said submit to the Fifteenth. We
bowed to that. Well, they said,
submit to reconstruction, and they
would not let the Supreme Court
decide upon that. They put their
ErSkineS here to do that and would
not let it go to the Supreme Court
Of the United States. Well, we
bowed again. Some kicked and
would not go to the convention.
And they had Hulbert, ''this right
man in the right place. as some
body said the "ConstitutiOn" called
him. Then reconstruction again.
Some did not bow. l did not bow
at all. l was II rebel-it is Il glo-
rious term. 1t means "patriOt."
After awhile they came again. We
have turned the negro free-and
they are the best people l ever saw
in their place, and "a little better
than the yankees are in any place.
I always liked them. They had
civil rights bill number one. We
groaned but took it-said, That's
a glorious thing Then civil rights
bill number two. Then men would
have thought some sentiment OF
pity would have arisen in seven
years. But it grows more and
more. And then even Grant him
self, that iguoble william, advised
them to pass it; and then, after
seven years, You have the seventh
vial of wrath poured out upon your
heads. Time cannot assuage their
animOsity. 1t is natural. The devil
hates the good. When we had
done everything we couid-dishon-
Ored our ancestors, crawled ON our
knees, sang peans, said "Iet us
have peace" they are like the
Frenchman. l never was much at
French, so l will give you IL trans
latiOn he said: Let us be breth-
rem, or | will cut your throat" But
this is the devil twice refined over
again. l am speaking the truth
every man knows it. And what is
that: To put your negroes in your
theaters, i'll these halls, into your
- stick the nigger even
into your own bed-chambtr. APP
plause, laughter, and cries of never,
never ! Fellow citizens, you have
nature. There is Il time when free
men must say, " Thus far shall thou
come and no furtherw Applause
The time comes when freemen must
seize their arms and live free or
not at all. If that struggle for
public liberty, if these expressions
L will show you, young
men, that All Old man can die. dip
men, perhaps, can die easily, be>
cause we have but little to sacri-
flee, while the young men have be-
fore them life and its various hueS
Of pleasure, with life and happi-
II IL.
for that reason | feel pore than YOU
because my few sands are fast run
ming out, and it is but small sacri-
ice that L should die in behalf of
DUR country. Go on then. Make
your Constitution yourselves. AL
Ow them to appropriate not "a single
lOllar for 6 outstanding your re-
The Greeks, the greatest
people in the world, laid down be
;ore the Turks. They are the |
shame, the scOrn CT the world
he slaves OF heather. The Ital-
ans lay five hundred years in shame !
md infamy, but that vital spark |
hat God Almighty has put in the
breasts Of all lovers of justice kind
ed into life-they struck, and to
lay are free. May He reserve that
or you. In the meantime, if you
ct any body govern you, base cor
thieves you will |
20 mad. There can be no social
rider without justice. Order your
to give justice. There
ire discoutents, and | thank AL
mighty God for it. There can be
10 peace without justice ia this
world. Give them that. T.:ey
owe peace. Bat if there is to be 40
nstice, then, as Chatham said, Let
iscOrd reign"