Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-05-20

hundred ana nine nlemUeIS, anu ii JntIe
had not been colored man in the State
there would not have been exceeding q
dozen Democrats elected to the Legislature
because of the policy of disfranchise-
ment, if nothing else. J was elected 10y
twenty five majority. had the support of
the four Democrats then in the Legisla-
ture, and If there had been twenty, j
would, perhaps, have received the votes of
as many of them as Stokes, Maynard or
any Republican aspirant.
| have gone somewhat tediously into
detail because of the falsehood published
to the world by this convention that L
owed my elections as Governor and Sena-
tor to the colorcd voters. j was elected 10y
the votes Of the loyal Uhitc men of the
State, and by the disfranchisement of
those who participated in the rebellion.
When ! was elected Governor and Senator
the supplemental Civil Rights Bill, as in-
troduced by Sumner, or interpreted by the
Nashville Convention, was not an issue.
On the contrary, the leaders Of the colored
race and - the colored race univer-
sally, earnestly protested that they
did not desire social equality, or to
force themselves or be forced on the society
of white people by Congressional enact
ment or otherwise, as provided in the
compulsory co-education of the races.
Had not the colored people themselves,
anu lutII hDllt ''1duGlSt OCCuHlCN lIlo
titude the sixty thousand white men of
Tennessee who are identified with
the Republican party would never have
touched that party with ten foot pole.
NO BETRAYAL IN THE CASE.
Instead of betraying the Republican par
ty of Tennessee, by opposing the co-educa-
ton of the races, ] would be traitor to
that party were ] TO act otherwise. The
Republican white vote of Tennessee is
largely in excess of the whole colored vote
of the State, and beside rejecting the senti-
ments of my political opponents, who are
entitled to some consideration in ques-
ton OF this character, l am rejecting the
views of almost every white man i'll the
Republican ranks.
In my election to the Senate 1 gave no
other pledge than my past personal and
official course guaranteed. The question
of "Civil Rights rs embodied in mixed
schools was not an issue, nor did it, in any
sense, enter into the contest. Had il cen an
issue before the Legislature, and had | been
its advocate / would have made a poorer
race than did the late Mr.. Greeley for the
Presidency. And am free to say there has
never been an hour of my life when l
would have accepted an election TO any
office on that platform. Since my election
to the Senate ] have voted in Congress for
the kulsluX bill, aud for every measure
which any friend or pretended friend ofthe
cOlOred race has introduced or claimed ne
cesSaTy for his interests, except this mixed
school bill.
1 have done all these things for the col
ored race without owing my election to it
or having the remotest idea of ever being
a candidate for its votes or support. l have
acted from a sense OF duty and because of
a sincere and unselfsh desire to ameiorate
its condition. / do not refer to my services
to the colored people by way of apology
for my opposition TO mixed schools. NV
position on this question IS the result Of
mature deii5eation. ] has the approval
Of my judgment and conscience, aud soon
sr than apologize for il or recede from il, /
would see every political organization in
the land a. go the way of Wards ducks, 3"
and every politician buried without hope
Of resurrection.
So far from betrayinc the colored people
or violating any pledges to them as insu-
lently and falsely CHARGED by delegates in
this Nashville Convention, who seem to
have reversed Taney's decision and pro-
in substance, that a white man
has no rights which q negro is bound to
respect, ! have. since attaining power a.
Governor and senator, done far more for
the COiOreG race than I was even com.
mitted or pledge To DO and more than they
had a right to demand in view of the is
TO office.
And now because I adhere to principles
OF practical utility instead of running wild
after d5strHctiOH7, ! am denounced as re-
creant TO duty and pledges. If the mem
bers of the late Coored Convention can
afford to present to the world such evil
dences of base ingratitude to myself, who
has done more for them than any other
Tennesseean, can well afford to be indif-
ferent to their abuse and despise their
threats. 1t will not injure me. nor does it
afford me any solicitude, except in so far as
the bad blood engendered between the races
by such conduct and such spirit as char
acterized the proceedings of that convention
will tend TO their injury, the destruction
OF the common school system, and the
detrimept of society and good govern
ment.
would remind my colored fellow-citi-
zens Of the folly of the South in making war
for what they called their rights" in the
Territories. Under the policy of the Gov
eminent when slavery existed, it was
claimed that the Territories, being the
common property of all the people, prop
erty purchased with the treasure and by
the vaior of the people of the South as
well a. of the North, aud that therefore
the south had the right 10 take their
slaves into the Territories. When those
making these demands were asked
what they expected 10 gain by the conces-
sion of this right they would respond
that slavery was not profitable in the Ter
ritories, but they insisted on having the
" right Notwithstanding.
Thus the COlOred Convention have
reached out after an abstraction the civil
right to mixed schools, or as penalty OF
the failure Of the whites 10 accede to their
demand the civil ripht - Ia tear m and