Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-01
THE NARRAGANSETT.
Maynard Defines His Position
on the Civil Rights Bill.
His Opening Speech at TuckahOe,
Knox County.
Knoxville Chronicle, July so.

They had said that he would talk
about the Civil Rights bill From the
way some men had talked, one would
suppose that there was nothing else to
talk about. He would not express any
surprise if that question were discussed
in the Congressional canvass. Then
its discussion would be legitimate and
proper. 1t was question for the ac-
ton of Congress. 1t had nothing to
do with the election of a county officer.
He would Just as soon think Of STOP
ping a mill boy on his way to mill and
asking him how be stood on the Civil
Rights bill, and telling him if he wasn't
sound On that question, he wouldn't eat
any of the biscuits his mamma made
out Of the -four.
HOW BE STANDS.
But they would like to know how he
stood on the question. Well he was
tall. and it was not difficult to see
where he stood. He was not a candi-
date and did not expect to be, but he
was the representative of the people of
Tennessee in Congress, and they had
right to know where he stood. One
Of the results of the war, as he had
detailed before, was TO set the slaves
! free. The negroes had been set free
| and the Government was bound to
protect them in such freedom. For
| this purpose the 18th, l4th and 10Th
Amendments to the Constitution had
passed.
When each of these amendments
had been proposed, Il great hue and cry
was raised on the 'nigger" question.
The most terrible things were going to
happen. They were going to rayish
our women and murder our men, and
"big buck niggers" were going to
marry our daughters. Then when the
question of allowing colored men to
testify in courts had come up they had
said, they would vote for no man who
was in favor of Niger swearing.
They would have 4 negro swearing
away their lives, and they couldn't tell
how many OF them would have mulatto
children sworn to them.
The Lords prayer begins "Our
Father which art in Heaven" He
thought the Fatherhood Of God implied
the brotherhood Of man. He thought
the way to settle this matter was upon
the plans laid down in the Bible. In
1872, the Republican party had met in
Convention. A platform was adopted,
one resolution Of which said that CON-
plete liberty and exact equality in the
enjoyment of all civil, political and
public rights should be established.
That doctrine was endorsed by every
Republican who voted for the Repubh-
can ticket in 1872 This was ciUiI
rights and public rights-not social or
private rights.
He then read from the platform OF
the Democratic party as adopted at
Baltimore. in which the party had
pledged themselves to oppose any re-
opening Of the questions settled by the
thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth con-
stitutiORdl amendments TO the eOnStita-
ton. He also read from the platform
of the Democratic party in Tennessee,
where they recognize the equality of all
men before the law, and an equal par
ticipation in the rights and benefits of
Government.
The Civil Rights bill was not to give
new rights 20 any one, but 70 secure
rights already given by the Constitu-
| tional amendments. The papers seem
to have the idea that the bill means
nothing else but mixed schools. He
did not stand in his own defense, for
he had not voted for the bill, but he
would not skulk from his political
friends. He read from the Civil
Rights bill, and took the ground that
it did not provide for mixed schools
He did not so understand it, and those
who passed it in the Senate did not so
understand it. 1t provides that mixed
schools may exist, but does not say
they shall.
He said be was IN favor, and had Sc
declared on other occasions, of leavin!
ont of the bill, everything about com
mon schools. Many persons were Op
posed to educating the child of tn
poor man any way. Men who are hos
tile to common schools. viii seize upol
this measure to prejudice the schools
, hence he would leave the school claus
out of 1t. So would every Republican
Representative from Tennessee. H
: would not have his colOred neigh Dor
! boy hampered. but would give him a
' equal start in life with his own boy
2 and if he outrun him, let him run.
Knoxville Press ami Herald, July -.
/, After few Introductory remarks
= Mr.. Maynard proceeded 10 business
n and spoke for two hours, mainly on th
: Civil Rights bill, defiantly defendin
b 1.-The sum Of villainies."
: Maynard spoke at length concernin
i the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fl
e teenth Amendments, showing that the
{ merely led up to the Civil Rights bil
to which the Republican party wa
: pledged in its conventions and by i
p leaders. That he would scOrn to dOdg
d the ISSUES that were presented for IL
IT action Of Congress. That said bl
n was passed by the United Stat
le Senate by the unanimous vote of Il
il Republican Senators with two exec
ar tions-Senators Borcman, of We
2; Virginia, and Carpenter, of WiscOnsi
u That he did not vote for said bill, f
y the reason that there was no Occ
- sion to vote ou it. That he 1rds IN j
"a Uor OF the Girl Rights bill, bit for 4
:. reason that there 1rds so much prejUdi
n against public schools and so many dil
la cHIties to be OUercOHle that he thought
a best to sag nothing about the mir
school claim. and let that regulate itSe
He thanked God that he had t
manhood to comeup and meet the
sue squarely, and defend the action
) the Republican party. That it W
but right and justice, when a certa
81 class of citizens were required by Ia
: Z l.