The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-02-03

4
would be successful the countr
would stiH be saved. Now. to-Dfgh
tiet me say, notwithstanding that
!, have had adver Saries or rivals. befor,
t'the Legislature in obtaining the DO
sition that has been assigned to mt
i, today, let me say to you that I hav'
no unkind feelings, and as it has
been my fortune To obtain the conf
dence and respect of the people
/, through tie Legislature. inthe honor
they have conferred, / want to turr
and extend the hand of Friendships %
peace, Of union, and harmony to this
. great people. EApplause.1 think
it would be for the good of the -coun.
try; as much as has been said about
harmony and concert, and all that,
in reference to the party in this State.
now is the time we should all gather
around the altar of the country. with
out regard to who has been defeated
and who has been successful. and in
one fraternal hug, stand around the
altar and proclaim that the Consti-
tuition and the country are to be pre-
served, although everything else
sinks into Oblivion. Applause.
In this triumph. how has it been
brought about? Look to the Legis-
lature and see how many Confederate
soldiers supported me. How many
officers in the Federal army, as it is
called? There they all united around
the altar Of the country. and gave
their decision in favor of the instru-
ment who addresses you tonight
! TApplause1. and for the manner in
which they have exercised the power
in selecting their instrument, humble
as though he may be, tender to tkem
my sincere thanks for it.
Then all this acrimony and bick-
! ering should be set aside. ] know
that as far as the Federal Govern
ment and the Federal soldier is con
cerned. have dobe my duty to-
wards him. / know, too, that so far
as the Confederate soldier is con-
cerned, when ever be needed a
friend whenever he was in adversi-
ty or whenever he was oppressed,
know who stood up for him and
came to his relief. Applause.
Then, when they in turn interest
| themselves in my behalf and come to
my support, / feel grateful and
thankful that we can come together
and act in one common cause.-the
good Of the country.
But fellow-cit / am not able
to address Won here tO>night and
while the Legislature has conferred
this distinction upon me. let me say
that ! look upon it as a reflection of
your will. and as their having mere
ly reflected and carried off the popu- |
lar sentiment ofthe country. In the |
interest taken and manifested by |
the citizens Of Nashville and Edge
field yes. Edgefeld. TApplause1 ! |
TOO, where SOME of the best and !
truest, friends have. reside. l am
thankful ard indebted to them for
participating in bringing about this
result. Well, the result has been
brought about and has placed me in
a position where
POUR INTERESTS AND RIGHTS
must come before me for condsidera-
tion Let me say to you tonight to
take my past course, my past con
duct. as has been alluded to here to-
night by my worthy, most respected
and long tried friend, and inquire
in hat instance did I ever prove
false to the people. Where is the
instance? When did | desert the
post or prove false to any promise
| made, or violated any principle |
assumed? [Cries of never. never,
never. Well, then, if 1 have never
violated any pledge, trampled any
principle under foot. disregarded the
Constitution of my country in the
past, it is evidence to you, in the
least, that will be faithful in the
future. A voice: "Tll bet
hundred on that" So long, as
long as the physical man be sustain
ed and the intellectual one CORES.
ponding. just so long will that man
be devoted to your interests.
l have. served you in every position in
the nation, but now the time has come
when we should cease to be controlled
by influences and notions gotten up for
Il
when Democracy, Constitutional Democ-
racy, and Democracy proper, should as
sumo a great national plan, when she
Shouldn't herself above the preiudices
of certain locality
Let me say in conclusion, for / cannot
address you here tonight as would like
to. Cries of 500 onl go onv'l Let me
say in conclusion that as my conduct has
been in the past, so viii it be in the fu-
ture. l have never proven faithless or
false to this people, and | never will,
saytoyou: Stand by ythe Constitution
of the whole country ['That's right,
Andy" !; stand by the Constitution, both
State and Federal, maintaining the Fed
eTal Government in the exercise of all
the powers that have been delegated to
it, but no further-no further. 1t is all
for want of a lack of observance of the
Constitution that these disasters to the
Government have been brought about
The time has come when must return
to first principles or the Government,
State and Federal, will be controlled by
rings and cliques. Let the people gov
ern; let us cease to be .partisans. This
Government was made for the people
and not the people for the Government.
But how is it now? Why, the Govern
ment Is running the people instead of
the people running the Government
| ICries of That's so"!l Let us now as a
people return to an observance of the
law.
A voice-How about Louisiana?
Mr.. Johnson-Well, so far as Louisi-
ana is concerned, have to only call
your attention to what did under SINH
lar circumstances in your own State, as
an aswer as to how / would have done
had been at the head of the Govern
ment when the Louisiana matter came
up. Here in your own State in 1866,
when your Legislature became a little
refractory and refused to form a quorum
for the transaction of business,
GEN THOMAS,