The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-10-18

is only that OF many other honorao'e
and cultivated Northern men who
have met the same cordial treatment
at The hands of the voters of this ira
duced and maligned section of our
country 9lf s llIt- Ita
r.tesis THE SPEECH.
Indianapolis Sentinel October 6.
. Fellow-C'itizens-Itis is most graf
flying sight to behold so many brave
men assembled in the capital city of
this great State on such an auspici-
Gus occasion and for such patriotic
purpose as that for which you have
come together to-day. 1t shows that
the union of the whole country for
which you fought is still as dear to
you as when you defended. it with
your -swords-now that it has become
necessary to defend it with your bal.
lots from the dangers of corrupt ad-
ministration and official dishonesty
That entire and unbrCken Union
which your valor in the field declar-
ed to the world should be forever
maintained inviolate, has for eight
long wears been rendered a nuIlitv
by Republican legislation. The
States of the South which your BRAY
cry held in the bonds of union, have
been driven without the pale by or
pressive laws and Republican, mis-
rule. When the gallant Sherman
marched his victorious hosts through
Washington and disbanded them af-
ter the consummation of the immor-
tai work, every lover of his country
rejoiced that the war was ended and
the Union saved. But what brave
army achieved by the sword, the hate
and malice of the Republican party
would destroy. With that party the
war still goes on, never to be ended
so long as its baleful memories can
be used to keep them in power. But
the war is over; and with the full re-
alization of that fact by the people
of the country. will come the end of
Republican misrule and the inaugur-
alton of honest government. Re-
gardless of its solemn pledges to the
citizen and soldier at tile close of
the war that party commenced a sys-
TEN OF reconstruction so atrocious,
that in orderJto carry it ont it was
found necessary to blot out, the po-
litical existence of nearly every
Southern State. And this infamous
system has been continued In sever
al OF. those States even up to this
Centennial year, paralyzihg the en-
ergies of their citizens, and biighting
the prosperity OF the .country and
all in order that the Republican par.
ty should continue in power. 4scr1
You. my fellow citizens, who, since
the close Of the war have enjoyed all
your privileges as freemen. can have
but little idea Of the evil entailed on
the, people OF the South, by reasons
of their having been deprived oi
them. ~
Fhe ballot was taken from the
hands Of the, property holders and
tax payers, and given to negroes
who used it by the aid and advice
of uhscrupulous white adventurers.
to levy taxes so heavy as to amount
to a practical coDfscation of the
property in many of the States. YoU
can form some estimationo the vast
extent to which this was carried
from the fact that the debts of tbs
Southern StaGes were Increased un
der Republican rule, over two hun
dred and eighty millions of dollars
from the close of the war until 1872
In the hands of these men, elected
by negro votes, the administrator
of justice became a farce and secur
ity for life and property almost ceas
ed to exist. / speak Knowingly OF
this point, for | have lived in Ten
nessee for the past eleven years. al
through the dark days of reconstruc
tion, and know how the people have
suffered. Fortunately for US in tha
State, about six years ago, The dis
honest crew that held control of tue
State government, quarreIed amons
themselves. You know the homeiy
adage, When rogues fall out, hon
est men get their dues One wing
of that party in order to win needed
The votes OF the white people and SC
enfranchised them. Since that time
under Democratic rule our State ha;
prospered, peace abides within oul
| borders, and violence and disturb
ance on account of politics are IN
known. And it is singular fact
but none the less true, that in all Lht
Southern States where the properly
holders aud honest voters have OBJ
tanned control of the goyernmen
these 'bloody-shirt outrages' hav,
ceased as If by magic. i have bee
amazed at the unbiushIng effropter,
with which Republican speakers .ant
! newspapers continue to clamor abou
lawlessness in the South. Neve
was there a more UNJUST charge.
know ofbno State in the UnIon NOR
tranquil at, Lhe present time than ou
State of Tennessee There whit
and colored voters go Quielly 10 tn
| pollss The one deposits. his Reput
llcan ticket and the other his Deme
cratic ticket in the bailot-box. az
having done this duty, they, peact
| fully resume their daily avocaL. .ous
/ canpot remember a single case {
violence. at the polls during Tue las
SIX years. There is no illumination
no interference, ali are free TO vol
- rhatye., ,t,o.ssos ,.44 s5.t,+y - 4.,..s3 ),