The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-09-27
Speech of w. B. Scott, sr.
Jackson whig and Tribune.

d. AScOGts ea4LOF OF the MAR fFtlc 1eO-
publican. addressed large crowd OF
whites and blacks in the court house
in Jackson. Though not a popular
orator his language. was plain, cor
rect and forcible. He advocates
Squire Yardley. coIored Republican.
of Knoxville, for Governor. and also
fayors the election of Tilden and
Hendricks. Mr.. Scott is some so
years Of age, and is bright, good
locking mulatto. has a liberal educa-
ton, was raised in East Tennessee.
and has been an active Republican.
lie told his hearers that he was ad-
vocating free voting. that is. for ev-
cry one TO vote as he pleased. We
should vote for the best men and for
the wisest iaws. rather than to al
ways obey a simple party order. He
said the colored man owed much to
the Republican party for its favors
to his race. and that the whole race
ought to rejoice that they had been
enfranchised and clothed with equal
rights. He said however that il was
plain the leaders of the Republican
party gave the negro the power to
vote mainly to keep themselves in
office. That colored people were re-
quired to vote all the time for white
Republicans. and but few colored
men were ever promoted to office.
He regretted that his race we're used
only as tools or Monkeys TO elect
white Republicans. many Of whom
too had been corrupt and unfaithfui
in office. and that their management
had brought trouble, debt and dan
ger on The country. The .colored peo-
pie had TO suffer for all these wrongs
and plunderings as well as the whites.
1t was a wrong and tyrannical policy
to vote as certain leader or ring
would direct. Every man should
vote as q freeman, aud for whoever
he thinks would best serve the eoun-
try. lie wanted his race elevated,
to be intelligent citizens, and TO be
worthy freemen in all the rights
which the law guarantees to them.
As long as the colored race would
be led and used by bad and unprin-
cipled men. as so often heretofore,
just so long would they be poor and
ignorant slaves. He gave a full his
tory Of the State and National laws,
that first gave the colored men of
Tennessee the right to vote, to be
jurors and to hold Office, and that
finally endowed them with the full
rights and privileges of American
citizenship.
He said Hon. James II. Randolph.
Of East Tennessee, had opposed al.
+ lowing negroes to vote and hold of
fee, and Randolph was the. leading
white Republican of his section,
/ Gov. BroWnlow, also in the U. s.
Senate, voted against the Civil
Rights Bill, aud he said many lead
ing Republicans were opposed to al
lowing negroes to hold Office A few
days ago q Col in the u. S. Army
and leading Republican politician
spoke to him in Knoxville to gel
| Mr.. Yardley, co!ored candidate fol-
Governor, to withdraw, that stht
white Republicans would not vote
for a negro, and therefore harmony
in the party would be destroyed.
Mr. Scott said times were hard
and it was found that coloted peo
pie had 10 look out for themselve
and families, and that their whit,
political friends seemed to have n,
use for them only on election days
That they had to get labor and as
sistance, aud wages and protection
from Democrats. and the peopl
they had been taught to regard a
enemies. He mentioned that th
colored candidate recently in Hay
wood county for Circuit Court Clerk
was induced TO quit his school ant
run for the Office, and that his bone
would be made all right for him t,
take the Office. But now. after h
has carried the county, and caaset
| white Republicans to be elected tt
the county Offices, he cannot Civ,
his official bond, nor get into his OF
flee. The party was about dead il
/ Haywood, and certain leaders adopt
ed this shrewd plan to revive it
And it was the same everywhere
the poor ignorant colored man wa
made tool of, and gained nothing
himself, and was still left poor anC
/ helpless, with no resource but what
ever wages he could earn at hare
| work.
He wanted colored people. every
where, to study these things, ac
with sense and for their own best in
terests, and vote as they pleased
He favored Tilden and Hendricks
/ because the Republicans had hell
the national government SO lon:
they had become. corrupt. and dis
/ honest men were in Office all owe
the country. that change might q,
much good. At least change coult
not make times or chances any. worse
and it was wise and proper to try
change for the better. The right
I and interests of colored people couli
not be injured thereby any NOR
than others. What would henefi
our race would benefit the other, an,
their interests were in common. Hi
remarks were frequently tapplauded
! Whether Mr.. Adams il eIecte,
4 Governor of Massachusetts or no
/ his nomination will have an inspil
j ing effect in the Democratic nationa
/ canvass. His consent to be put i