Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-22


of il which of course relate to public ques-
tiOns Of national politics rather than to
Stale issues. | shall address myself
tonight, so far as | may, to those
questions that relate more particularly TO
the affairs of Our own Commonwealth.
One of the articles of that platform de-
nOunces the administration of Gov. John
C.. Brown, while a resolution adopted by
the Democratic Convention endorses it.
This brings us directly face to face with the
administration of affairs in our own State
during these last years, and we are called
upon TO say whether We will approve them,
or whether we willIdisavOw them, and look
for something different, if it be not better.
Let me run over, in your recollection, the
history of affairs in this State since the
war. You remember very well that the
result of the war in the land was
to deprive our State of all civil
government. Most Of you were no doubt
here and saw the State without
Governor, Legislature or judges. All the
authority we had was Mr.. Johnson, who
held by appointment of President Lincoln
the Office of Military Governor of Tennes-
see. Mr.. johnson issued proclamation to
every citizen who would come, or could be
induced to come and assist in establishing
and recognizing civil government in Ten
neSsee. Now, gentlemen, there is very
loud complaints as to the manner in which
that government was recognized. If they
took no part in it it was their fault, as the
invitation was extended to all. Of course it
was not sent to the cOlOred men for the
reason that they were slaves and not citi-
zenS.
The citizens came and organized the
government, and one of the fundamental
things in it was to declare the emancipa-
ton of slaves. Slavery in Tennessee was
not abolished by the thirteenth amend,
ment, nor by President Lincoln's emanci-
patton proclamation, but by the vote of the
people in Tennessee, who could beinduced
by request of Gov. johnson to assist in es-
tablishing civil government in Ten
nessee. The result of that was the
election of Gov. Brownlow as Governor
of the State, and in the election of Legis-
lature by the voice of the people, and ap-
pointment of Judges in all the courts, from
the highest to the lowest. That govern
ment has been very much arTaigned, de-
nOunced and abused, and attempts were
made to overthrow it. You hear a good
deal of talk about the governments in Lou
isiana. South Carolina, and other States,
but taking them all together, you will find
that the BrownlOw administration suffered
more abuse and denunciation than any
other. That government went on, and con-
tinued until the year 1869. Gov. Brown
low was elected to the United States Sen
ate, and resigned the Office of Governor
and took his seat in the Senate on the 4th
of March, 1869. During that time you had
civil laws all over the State; your courts
were re-Opened; your credit was restored
As long as BrownlOw was in the executive
chair, the credit of the State stood faireI
and better than it had since the war. Zap
| plause.) The controversy between MeSsrs
| Stokes and Senter resulted in bringing De
mocracy into power Oh the first Monday il
October. 1863. From that time to this
Democracy has had unlimited and UncOn-
trolled sway in the State, and it is to their
administration of the affairs in these las
five wears that | ask your attention.
Mr.. MAYNARD then quoted from Gov
| Browns statement in reference to tn,
many appeals for military assistance tina
were being made to him, and remarked
| that there were two or three admissions il
| that statement which he would call thei
1 attention TO- Vic was llldJ bAlClC nav
been recent atrocities of an appalling mag
nitude; another was that the public minC
had become feverish and anxious, and an
| other was that they were dissatisfied will
the protection of civil authority, anC
were, therefore, appealing for mil
itary assistance. The Government haC
gone very far towards decay fo
the people under it no longer felt secure II
its civil protection, but were looking anX
| iouIsly and impatiently for the man oil
horseback and his companions with thu
musket and bayonet to give protection e
their persons and property. There was N
use in Disgusting it, for there had not beef
that protection to property and person il
Tennessee such as every citizen hada RICH
TO expect. 1t was claimed that the whole
cause of this was the Civil Rights bill, anC
that there would probably be a war o
races, when the history of that race befOr
and after their emancipation would DO
Justify such belief.
Mr.. Maynard spoke of the Civil Right
bill at length, defining his position as t.
that part in reference TO mixed schools, ant
claimed that, instead of the bill being
Republican measure, it was first introduces
and advocated by such friends to the Dem
ocratic party as Greeley and Sumner.
He referred to the penitentiary question
describing in minute detail the manner il
which that institution had been leased, an
making a strong appeal against the cOmpe
tition between convict labor and that OF tn
honest mechanic.
After abiding 20 the present assessment
law in terms of strong condemnation, Of
the ground that under its provisions prop
erty was not assessed according to its Pre-
ductiveneSS, he denounced the Democrat
l. Legislatures which have had control {
State affairs since 80, for manipulating tn
State bonds, as he charged, so as to brin
much wealth to members of rings an
clidues who held the same. He closed a
follows:
"To sum up, in a single word, l hay
this to say: If | am made Governor {
Tennessee, and the Legislature gives m
financial officers with heads on their shOu
ders and brains in their heads-men WI
will not sell out pledge myself to NAL
good your public credit-pledge whatev'
of character or ability l have to relieve yo
l of these burdens which are so annOyiI
2 and burdensome. q voice Well n
j YOU thar if We CAM
I eThere are other topics of interest, al
. other questions Of importance, which mig
! be discussed. / have confined myself {
4 night TO questions of immediate concel
! to the people here at hOme-to the Peep
(. of Tennessee. ] have not branched o
e into the more inviting field of FEEDER
n politics, because know you are more ]
5 tereSted in matters nearer home. 1t shs
Il be my purpose, if elected-and all {
n Omens point in that direction, allow me
/ say-it will be my purpose to come al
IS take up my abode with you until my ter
, of Office expires; live in your midst and
e vote myself entirely to the duties that p
: tain to my office. "a voice-'Gs
81 GUNNER
"Fellow-citizens, l see before me not