The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-05-03

|. his freedom was involved in the struggl
and he desired liberty, yet in most il
stances he remained true and faithful
his masters fortune and family until
superior force intervening in his fave
, set him free He was affectionate ra,
: erous, and obedient to the end. rrhoug
' there were four millions OF these peonl
in the slave States yet there was no il
, surrectIon, insubordination, or incer
j diarism. History furnishes no exampl
; of such forbearance under like circum
. stances t<
: The new relations of the white an,
l eolored races toward each other at th
close of this revolution were to them 5,
strange, so contrary TO their education
: habits, and previous ideas, as to lead t,
mutual distrust. This feeling of dis
, trust is passing away, and as it disap
| pears there IS nearer approach to agree
ment. In my State, and in others, many
colored men are now Democrats anc
vote that ticket-a thing almc st unhearC
OF some years ago. The master, in MANY
instances, was sour and sullen at the
close of the war, and would not vote
with his late slaves. Time and suffer.
ing have mellowed his acerbity. He
has grown into better disposition, is
taking an interest in public affairs, and
now votes in elections, so that Republi.
n
to Democratic majorities, not by fraud
or intimidation, but because of an i'm
proved feeling of patriotism.
The northern States no doubt are inn
patient under what they conceive to be
the tardy progress made by their south
ern brethren under their new depart-
ure. The southern people have much
to do to repair their shattered fortunes.
The white and colored races are begin
ming to better appreciate and compre-
hend their changed relations. and in
consequence, are cooperating more har-
monIously. A great societary revolu-
tion such as the South has undergone, a
revolution which has torn up at once
and by the roots the habits, modes of
living, and the very thoughts and ideas
| of the people, demands time, study. ex-
perience, and use before there can he an
adjustment of the various disturbed. dis
ordered, and scattered elements evolved
! by it. When the foundations of society
have been overturned, time must be al
lowed its population to accommodate
themselves to the change. The South is
! passing through this process, and it is a
difficult one, but it is marching thrOugh
1t manfully, and better than it hoped.
| No section of the Union is more in
| terested in the enforcement of the laws
than is the South. 1t is poor and weak.
Beaten in the late conflict, it has neither
the desire or the ability to resist the au-
thority of the Government. 1t needs
| peace. 1t needs the protection of the
law, the security that its enforcement
/ gives. Sir, the South wants repose, peace.
fraternity. 1t is time for us to forget
that we have North or q South 1t is
time for us to forget the bitterness of
/ past controversies, remembering only
their lessons, so that we may become as
undivided in affection as in government.
The union of our States is indissoluble :;
let the hearts of our citizens be knitted
together by ties as strong.
The victory over the rebellion was
complete Those who gained this vic
tory have the right to enjoy their tri
umph, and to exult in their success. /
have no fault to find with the terms they
gave. They were more liberal and mag
unanimous, l am free to admit, than /
for one, expected in the event of our de-
| feat. | expected terms would be die
! tated to us, and hard terms at that /
have no quarrel with the terms given I
want no quarrel about anything. [ want
an amity that is heartfelt. On the part
part of the South desire to see a full
| and unFeseFved submission to and ac-
! quiescence in the terms imposed. Can
not the North, while condemning our
rebellion, sympathize with us under the
woes, untold and undefnable, which it
has brought upon US, and continue to
/ exercise Toward us a magnanimity
| which, by reason of its magnitude, shall
| be known as American, surprising any re-
corded in history? Let it be of the very
highest type, that shown by brave men
! to brave men under defeat.
/ Our distinguished President, in his an
nual message to Congress, in vigorous
and truthful language, has called to our
minds the glories of our nations Centen-
nial year. Our hearts glow with pride
and swell with pleasure as we gaze upon
this splendid picture. Sir, shall we not
make this Centennial year year of ju-
bilee also, so that a general joy may per-
wade the land from lakes to gulf and
ocean to ocean. Why, sir, God has Civ
en- us the best country upon the face of
the earth. A pure and healthful atmos-
phere surrounds US. Fertile plains and
valleys are spread out before u.s. All
about us are rivers, lakes, and oceans
ready to bear our commerce. The earth
under our feet is full of the most useful
and of the richest minerals. And this
magnificent country is peopled by those
whose ancestors came, or who have come
themselves, from nations which, togeth-
er with our own, control the destinies of
the world. England, the German states,
ireland, Holland, France, and Spain laid
the foundations of our population upon
which we have builded as never a nation
did before. Let us be men and do our
duty Let us tighten the burdens which
press upon the shoulders of the people,
and give them fair field and good op-
portunity for work. Let us encourage
them, and not appal them with the hoarse
cry of blood, nor paralyze their efforts
G.. ~ i,
in their path If we shall do these things,
if we fail not in our duty, the people
will come out of our present difficulties,
as they have those in the past, grandly,
gloriously. Sir, American genius, in
dustry, energy, and perseverance, prop
erly directed and encouraged, can and
will overcome anything which men can
subdue and erect anything which men
can build.
Mr.. President, as / have said already,
the South has neither the means nor the
ability to resist the authority of the Gov
ernment. 1t needs the protection of the
law, the security which it's enforcement
gives If there have been violations Oh
the law, if colored voters have been pre-
vented from voting by fraud, intimida
ton, or violence, let the vioiators of the
law be punished. The Judiciary of the
State of Mississippi, State and Federal
belongs to the party defeated in the late
election in that State. IF the laws have
been so fiagrantly broken, why sit these
judges idle? For one [ say frankly thai
/ have no fear of the proposed investi
cation so far as its sdevelopments may bt
concerned; but if the facts be as alleged
they ought to be exposed and punished
and for myself, and for myself alone,
speak when I say that I feel it my duty
a most disagreeable duty, too, 60 vote
for this resolution, for in doing sol may
| he Che only member of my party Wht