Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1876-10-26
ADDRESS OF hon. WM.
MCFARLAND.
To the People of the Fret Con-
gressional District of Tennessee.

your representative IN congress-
NV term of service will soon ex-
pire. / am a candidate for re.
election, and invite an examination
on the part of my constituents, of
all political parties, of the manner
in which | have discharged the
duties of the position which | was
lhonored. And, while | make no
claim to ex raerdinary ability, |
DO claim to have been true and
faithful to the interest Of my con-
stituents without regard to past
political differences. Iwas elected
as a candidate Of fhe Democratic
party. l have not in the past,
nor shall l in the future, if re-
elected, follow blindly the lead of
party, but shall, rs | claim to have
done, give my support to such
| measures as | honestly believe is
demanded by the best interests of
all.
1t has been my purpose and de-
sire, in conducting the present
canvass, and in my official acts, to
recognize the fact that we are one
people--a union of states under
the constitution, with common
hope and common destiny-with
equal rights to all the states, and
all the people of the coontry, and
to cut loose from the dead issues
and measures of public policy, sf
, fectiug the present and future Of
d common country; and to cult,
vate feeling Of nationality; of
kindly and fraternal feelings
amongst all our people of every
race aud section, and to bury in Il
! grave that shall know no resurrec
ton, all the hate, ill-wilI, bitter,
ness and strife engendered by the
war.
1t is we'll known that | was a
Union man and opposed TO the
war. Every issue OF that war has
been settled forever, and no man
or party desires to disturb the set
tlemeht thus made. Slavery was
abolished, the slave made free cit.
izens and voters, with every right
and privilege guara nteed to white
men, and no party desires to take
from them single right secured
to them. | am sure | do not, not
withstanding the false and foolish
effort of party leaders, for party
success, to prejudice the colored
race by charging that ''it is the
purpose of the Democratic party
TO re>enslave them" The men
who make it, know it is false. The
right of the states to secede was
settled forever, and every issue
submitted to the arbitrauent o.
arms was settled, and cannot, anc
will not, be questioned in the fu-
ture. Why, then, should we dis
cuss these questions of tie right
or the wrong, of the war?
1t is said that | sm the Demo;
cratic candidate, and the Demo
cratic party is the party that made
the war, and if they get inte pow
er will destroy the government
How absurd, how foolish and UNI
founded is this charge, as will ap
pear to every unprejudioed min(
by the statement of a few facts
The war was not q war between
parties, but between sectious o
the country--the North againS
the Southland it will be fount
that tie Northern Democrat,
States sent more soldiers into tn,
Union army, more generals, thar
did any other part of the country
Look to the long list of distin
, guished officers who periled theil
lives on the battle fields of tht
country t, maintain the Union
Gems. Hancock. Hooker, Slgel
Mcclellan, and large number o.
Others whose names | cannot emu
merate here, who ere now coop
Grating with the Democratic party
Look to the fact that largo nun
ber of prominent leading men
: heretofore republicans, in every
State in the North are now, from
a sense Of public duty, co-operat'
ing with the Democrats in favor o.
reform and honesty in the admin
istraticn Of the government. Sem
ator Trumbull, of Illinois, G. W
Julian, of lndiana. Gen Blair, Of
Michigan, Gov. Palmer, and 9th.
erS who we're Republican Govern
ors Of Northern States, with q
long list Of leading public men in