Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-07


had done. Then the storm commenced.
The committee Of thirteen-the Committee
Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT to admit the
men who had been elected TO represent the
South in the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives. --4-,s
Then the Freedman's Bureau bill was
passed. The next thing was the Civil
Rights bill that you have heard so much
recently; and l have been asked how L
stood on the Civil Rights bill. [Langhter.]
The first Civil Rights bill, which I vetoed
in 1857, contained the germs Of the present
bill.
The bills laying the South of into mill
tary districts came next, and those | We
toed. Against this time We began to have
things pretty lively. The executive power
is wholly negative. It is not aggressive.
With it you can simply interpose the veto
and postpone a measure until the people
have time TO consider. This veto power is
one Of the most harmless powers in the
world. 1t can do nothing, but only prevent
wrongs being done.
1t seems to me that what I did for the
people of the South was pretty fair for an
s'ex-Republican President" Laughter.
While exercising this veto power, distin-
gIiSbed Senators would come in and say,
"D-n the Constitution; we have the num-
bers,p and tell you, my friends, that Con-
gess, with a two-thirds majority, exercises
power greater than that of the autocrat of
Russia. 1t does very well to talk about
Stokes and Hawkins. Let me tell YOU
something about Hawkins. They can say
what they please about him, but when the
country was in danger-when the COnsti--
tuition was being trampled upon, Hawkins
came to the rescue Of the Sople Of his own
State.
THE CANVASS OF 1872.
In 1872 we had contest in this country
for the Presidency. At the same time our
Congressional canvass came off. My
friends, the mechanics and business men of
Nashville, feeling that the, wishes Of the
people had been violated by the State Con-
Fention, nominated me as the peoples
candidate. | accepted the nomination and
ran the race. In that race, Grant and
Horace Greeley were freely discussed. We
had no candidate, it seems, at the start,
but so anxious were some OF our folks for
power that they joined in with dissatisfied
Republicans and nominated Mr.. Greeley.
was in Washington when the delegates
passed through ON their way TO Baltimore,
and L talked with them, telling them that
if We took Mr.. Greeley we stulti6ed our
selves that we gave the lie direct TO all
the principles of the Democratic party;
told them that Mr.. Greeley had said more
bitter things AGAINST us than any man in
the country. urged that if we couldn't
get a man TO our liking, IL Was better 10
make no nomination at all, but go home,
elect our Presidential electors, and then,
when December came, they could look
around and cast the vote of the party for
the right man. Then if we failed to elect
him, We would have the consciousness Of
being true TO orr principles.
In that canvass uf 1872, / was fighting
AGAINST Mr.. Maynard and my friend Gen.
Cheatham-against whom have nothing 20
say. You know what an able, willy man
Mr. Maynard is. He pressed me to say
whether l supported the nominee of the
Democratic party, and was finally COM
pslled 20 saw that | used Horace Greeley as
| would use 4 ergalscd stick to beat back 4
mad dog. (Laughter.) | hare said this
much with regard to the past in orIier to
set history right.
was arraigned and tried for doing my
duty, by tIrat very party it IS insinuated /
" We 4 all " NOttli-
trymen, upon this subject, that IL ; could
he sent back to the Senate again. from my
knowledge of the men, from my expert
eRce in publiclife, from my familiarity with
theNy0rruptions that have been transpiring
lhGreA could render my State some service.
HIS DEFEAT IN 1870.
90 tli iIuiia1i,is my name was presented to
the Legislature four years ago. The DEM
ocrats had a majority i'm that body and four
DAYS were consumed in balloting
without result. You know ] was beaten
by two votes, and t0;t knov the steps that
were taken to secure those two Fote.. In
that race, the UNION AND AMERICAN
was nv friend, and | am no more a Repub-
lican now than then. tBpplsase.l vt
midnight a secret, foul coalition, was form
ed at the CITY Hotel. Nashville, which de-
fested me. Who was connected with that
c0aiiti5ns Why candidate for the Sena-
torship at this time who is hsld In reserve.
The UNION AND AMERICAN cs'n suggest
who ought rot go to The Senate, why not
suggest who ought to go? Possibly the
man in view, is one who was party 70 that
ctalitiOn.
We HAVE A GOVERNOR,
who a. that time was a private citizen.
He came to Nashville. He declared to me
be was not in that City Hotel cOnclave,
but there is one thing positively true:
When the arrangement was made-when
the conspiracy was formed, he was very
prompt in carrying it into execution. / am
going to name hint was Gov. John G.
Brown. He is at the head Of this clique
that is trying to control the State. he is
now the standard of Democracy, while l
who stood by the party through all
the past, am TO be classed as AN "ex-Re-
publican President" Why, John c. Brown
never drew a Democratic breath in his life.
daughter aud applause.) Before the war
he was Wing. Gentlemen, | will mem
ton another thing. At the close of the
war he was amenable to the laws OF the
country, and when he was engaged in this
secret cOnclave against Andrew johnson,
be had Andrew JOhnson's pardon in his
pocket. (Laughter.)
His speech made al Pulaski was reported
in full for the UNION AID AMERICAN,
and YOU find in the head lines statement
that he was not a candidate for any office,
but the next morning this is corrected in
en- editorial paragraph, which stated that
he was not a candidate for any office in the
EiAi VI VI Noathhfs AA@Ntt7A
teri. This speech he closes with these
words:
'sThene is another subject upon which |
would like to advise you. The Congress
sional contest bids fair 10 create some eX-
element in the various counties. Let me
say to YOU, elect no man TO the Legislature
with whom you are not willing to entrust
your honor and that OF your State. Elect
capable, honest men-Inen who will do
their duty fearlessly, and don't ask them
whom they will vote for for United States
Senator, but trust to their Judgment for a
selection OF the proper man."
Why? Is he afraid of the will Of the
people? Are they so afraid Of an intelli-
gent public that the Governor Of the State
should give them this advice? L say to-day
that if this Government is TO be free and
continue tree, the people must look into
these matters for themselves. As early as
jan. 10, 1867, John C.. Brown received a
direct pardon from my hands, and with
that pardon in his pocket, he
seeks my destruction. IL this man
is. the candidate of the UNION
AID AMERICAN, | say let it speak out,
that the people may know it. So far as
am concerned, l would not be Senator if L
had TO buy the place by intrigue and fraud.
fApplause.1 Thank God, / have learned
that the difference between a competency
and more than a competency is too small
II