Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-27

plause). 1 think it would be for Chs 200,
Of the country; as much as has been SAID
about harmony aud concert, and AL that
in reference to the party In this State
new is the time we should all gathe
srOUnd the altar Of the country, without
regard % Eio has been defeated and who
has been successful, and in one fraterna
hug, stand around the altar and proclaim
that the Constitution and the country arC
to be preserved, although everything els
sinks into oblivion. (Appiause).
In this triumph, how has it been brought
about? Look to the Legislature and see
how many Confederate soldiers supported
me. Bow many Republicans do you think
supported Ene2 How many officers IL
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 instrument who addresses you tonight
| [Applsasel, and for the manner in which
they have exercised the poWer In selectine
their instrument, humble as though he may
be, I tender 10 them my sincere thanks f0I
Then all this acrimony and pickering
should lie set aside. know that as far ss
the Federal 6foyerrmient and the Federal
I 1lAANCL - NNLlaNAAElF AA-AHN 1NAAN ny AA-s
! towards him. / know, too, that 50 far IS
| the Confederate soldier is concerned, WheH
/ ever he needed q friend; whenever he was
| in adTersity or whenever he vas oppressed,
know who stood up for him and came to
his relief. tAppiause.l 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-citizens 1 am not able to ad-
dress you here tonight and while the Leg
islaturs has conferred this distinction upOn
me, let me say that I look upon it as a re
hectiOn Of your viii, and as their having
merely reflected and carried of the popular
sentiment Of the country. In the interest
taken and manifested by the citizens Of
Nashville and Edge6eld, yes, Edgefeld.
Applause I too, where some Of the best and
truest, friends l have, reside, 1 am thank
ful and 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
YOUR INTERESTS AND RIGHTS
must come before me for consideration.
Let me say TO you tonight to take my past
course, my past conduct, as has been
alluded to here tonight By my worthy,
most respected and long tried friend, and
inquire in what instance did ever prove
false to the people. Where is the instance?
When did L desert the post or prove false to
any promise l made, or violated any prin-
ciple l assumed? ICries Of never, never,
neyer1 Well, then, If have never Vio-
lated any pledge, tTampled any prin-
eiple under foot, disregarded the COnsti-
tutiOn Of my country in the past
it is evidence 10 you, in the
least, tha. viii be faithful in
the future. "a voice. nI'll bet q hundred
on that."1 So long, as long as the physical
man be sustained and the Intellectual one
corresponding, just so long will that man
be devoted to your interests.
Ihave 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 par
tieular localities. The time has come
when Democracy, Constitutional DemOc-
raey, and Democracy proper should assume
a great national plan, when she should lift
herself above the prejudices Of a certain
locality.
Let me say in conclusion, for / cannot
address YOU here tonight as / would like
to. TCries Of 'sGO on 90 onr'l Let me
say in conclusion that as my conduct has
been in the past, so wiz it be in the future.
l have never proven faithless or false to
this people, and I never will, and, in bid
ding YOU goodbye, let me say to you:
STAND BY the Constitution Of the whole
country C''That's right Andy'li stand by
the Constitution. both State and Federal,
maintaining the Federal Government in
the exercise OF air the powers that
have been delegated to it, but
no farther-nO further. 1t is all
for a want Of a lack Of observance Of the
Constitution that these disasters to the
Government have been brought about.
The tine has come when we must return
to first principles or the Government, State
and Federal, viii be controlled by rings
and cliques. Let the people gOyerDi let US
cease TO be parJisans. This Government
was made for the people and not the people
for the Government. But how is it now?
Why, the Government is running the
people instead Of the people running the
Government. TCries Of That's sO!'l Let
US now as a people return to an Observance
Of the organic law.
A VOice-HOW about LOuisiana2
Mr. JOhnsOn-Well, so far as Louisiana
is concerned, l have to only call your at
tentiOn to what did under similar circum-
stances in your own State, as an answer as
to how would have done had been at the
head Of the Government when the Louis
lana matter came up. Here in your own
State in 1866, when your Legislature be
came a little refractory and ref lsed to form
a quorum for the transaction Of business,
GEN. THOMAS,
who was in command here, was called
upon to have the military interfere, and
give assistance in bringing in members, 50
that there would be a quorum. 1t was
practically asking the military TO interfere
Just as has been done in Louisiana. What
was done? Gen. Thomas sent a dispatch
to Washington, stating the facts to Gen
Grant. was there then. Inthat dispatch
Gen. Thomas said the Legislature could
net be controlled and he had been applied
to for military aid, and he asked if he
should furnish it. That dispatch was
brought TO the Executive Department, and
Gen. Grant was directed by me to answer
that there was no cause for the interference
Of the military, and Gen. Thomas viii
therefore refrain from all military inter-
ference with the concerns Of that State.
ICries Of "that's the way to do it.'l 50 l
answer that 1 would have done In Louis
lana as 1 did here. [Applause.l
You remember in 1866 this same little
man Sheridan was sent to New Orleans,
where he is now. But he didn't remain
long, but for violation Of law was ordered
TO the Department Of Missouri, there to
take his part in the frontier disturbances
and exercise his tyrannies in that direction
instead Of upon the people Of louisiana
IApplause.l At this time Gen. Hancock
issued an order which set forth in a re-
markable manner the true doctrine Of the
distinctions between civil and military
rule. l was so impressed with that order
that ! sent it to Congress with high eulO-
gy upon it, for l thought it strange that
military man should be able to make such
a fine and correct distinction between mil
itarv and civil rule. Had been President
at the time Of the late interference az New
Orleans, 1 would again have ordered Sherl-
dan to the Department Of Missouri.
[Laughter.l
Ny cOuntrymen, when l talk to you
about Democracy, 1 talk 70 you about cOn-
stitutiOnal DemoCacy-nOt Democracy
based upon party hacks, and expect TO en-
dOrse that Democracy until L 60 down 70
my grave. But, my cOUntrymen, let US be
calm. let US be patient. let US be thoughtful,