Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-24
GENERAL ". u. BATE.
speech OF representative Wilson in
Bates Defense.

Speech OF Representative Wilson in
bates Defense.
TIE Nashville American publishes the
following speech of Mr.. Wilson, Of Sum
ner county, which fully meets and sue.
cessfalIy defends Genera Bate against
the unfair and unmanly attacks which
we're made at Nashville, Memphis and
other places by those who grovelled in
the dirt to accomplish his defeat:
Mr. Wilson arose and said:
Mr. President and GeDtlemen-For
seventy-two ballots, | have voted, with
three or four exceptions, for General
I'm. B. Bate. Ny course in SO doing
needs no explanation and requires no
apology. | have supported him because
be was the choice Of my people, and
BECAUSE be was my choice-ths choice
OF my head and OF my heart. Aye,
more, gentlemen. We, bis friends, have
believed, and we believe to-day, notwith
standing the stream Of d~etraction that
has been directed against him, notwith-
standing the villi6cation that has been
hurled against his name and his fame,
that be is the choica of sevsn.tenths o.
the people Of the State for United States
senator. This belief on our part has
KEEP. him before this body. He was
wiling and ready to step aside at any
time; bat We told him that, as he was tn.
peoples choice, We would not consent tC
soc their will throttled, by bis withdrawal
as long as manhood and honor coulC
bold a footing to contend for his success
Htm We could give up, as much as vi
degred TO haze bis ability, his courage
bis power, bis fdelity to truth, his in
stincive patriotism, in the service Of hi
loved State and his loved country. Blu
tia principle involved in the contest,
principle constituting the central life O
our institutions ir all their relations was
Shall the will Of the people prevail
For that principle We fought throug,
him, and we would be recreaot 70 a sens
OF sscred duty we're We 10 assent for hin
10 leave the field 80 long as the will 0
The popular heart demanded his pres
epce therein.
Bat detrsotion hes dspe It's preier
work He is beaten down. But | 40
proud TO know that bis banner is untu
lied, and that, With those who know him
! HE fame and his honor are as blight c
ever before. But have heard aiDea
. have cone aere tks,. be was not a tru
man; that he had but moderate ability
: Alb, indeed Who says so2 Net thos
i, who ksow him, and know his history
: from his penniless boyhooi TO his mi
, tnred and grand manhood. Not true
. VIM. B. Bate not true ? There neyt
was q more wicked SANDER uttere
s against the name Of a man who sper
. himsplf for his couptry, for bis part,
for bic people, through evil and throug
good report, through fortune and mistc.
tune. Was he true iu Mexico2 Let h
records Of your country auSyer. Va
: he true to bis convictions Of dot,
a whether right or wrong, dnriag the la
war2 Ali traducers, memory Of Il
: facts should mantle your chsel
: With o conyicting aud psrpetui
shame Was be trae as 4 man an
: a cinzsn1 Back from the war penn
lass. battered, scarred aud cripple
ior life, bis properly usapeslrated, b
} ho6s. and home taken, bis energil
e morigaged for some twenty odd thcqsar
aollars Of security debts, with a bra'
4 haort be went 10 work ct bis professic
u end satisfied hungry creditors. askir
the aid Of no bankrupt courts nor Il
Intervention az deeds Of trust. Wher
IS the event, passage or chapter in b
" life that fails TO prove his fidelity, al
his pre- eminent abilities and wortl
" Ask those wlo have received from b
e LIBERAL hand Of charity. Ask the Dem
cratic party that could call for his che,
= signed in blank, to be filed with Vha
0 ever amount wss needed to accomplil
n its high purpose Of maintaining Il
supremacy Of constitutional governmer
u Bat they say he has but moderate ab