The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-08-19

| Inrule was very popular all over the mount
| ain, the subject uppermost in all minds was
| preached, and the crowd waited with breath.
! less interest what he would say. Robert In.
rule answered in his usual slow, gentle
! drawl:
My friends Pm very plain man, ez yo
| all know / come here, like all you'ns, to
| consult with one another, an IT larn my duty
| from wiser men. I've no larnin' nur knowl-
| edge o. politics. I've only the sense that God
| has gin me an what I've bin able to pick
up by closely studyin' His works. But
| know that my forefathers am the fOrefatherS
o. all YOU uns, come inter this ERE country
an fit an druv the 1njuns out years an years
afore any nigger-owner burst stick his nose
| this side the Great Smoky Mountngs. Alter
| they unsd civilized the country an made hit
| fit t. live in the nigger-Owners come in an
claimed hit. They've wanted t. rule hit an
rs Ell they uns do their plantations. an
| niggers They can't do hit. They shan't
do hit This land belongs t us-t'
the seed O the men who spied hit out,
who fit fur hit who redeemed hit from
the heather as the Israelites did the land o.
Canaan. Our forefathers air buried heah,
we wuz born heah, an we shell die heall
Who has any right t. rule this country but
we'uns? l say t yo' that jeff Davis, the
chief nigger-driver o. all they 'uns, and his
hull crew, air rebels agin God Almighty an
the United States of America"
There was a Deep fervent murmur of ap-
plause.
But, Uncle Robert, admonished weak
faced man, " Gov. Harris's done said that we
'uns air oblceged t ine the Southern Con-
federacy. He's our Governor, yo' know"
There has bin wicked an onjust Gov
errors aiore Isfam G. Harris" said In
rule, without change OF tone; "but none
wickeder nur more unjust nur him. Yo'
kin obey him, Sam Beartlslee, eff yo' want
t.. only speak fur myself l am gwine t
obey my own conscience an sense o. right -
The expressions of assent were so loud and
so strong that Beardslee, affrighted, slipped
back into the crowd.
Helloi What circus is that comm van
der?" called someone in the crowd. and
looking in the direction indicated, troop
of gorgeously- uniformed cavalry was seen
coming over the hill Behind it strung a
mob Of Sang diggers
Quite a number of Sang -diggcrs hanging
around the edges of the crowd had seemed
expectant of something all morning, and now
acted as if their expectations were fulfilled.
They sidled off down the hill to meet the
newcomers.
+" Hits Kunnel Rhea, with the Jeff Davis
Guards, follered by the Hoskins and Lump
kins riff-raffs," said someone.
The cavalry halted on knoll little dis
lance from the Westinghouse, and dismount-
ed. Col Rhea, attired in the full uniform of a
Confederate ColOnel- with stars on his collar
and gilt lace on his sleeves, rode to within
few feet of the platform that had been erected
outside of the church, and upon which were
seated Elder Stornmont and his assistants,
Ministers McGraw, Turnbull and others.
The crowd swarmed around the Colonel to
hear his mission.
Elder Stornmont and other preachers
said he in a loud, authoritative voice. q am
here by the direction of His Excellency. the
Governor of Tennessee, to give you admoni-
ton and warning against teaching the people
sedition and treason. His EXCELLENCE the
Governor, is fully aware of how much harm
| you have already done in this direction, and
is determined that it shall be stopped. do
| not want to interfere in the least with the
proper exercise of your lawful and proper
duties as preachers of the Gospel, but you
| must contine yourselves strictly to that
stop preaching politics and utter no word
derogatory to the sovereign State of Tennes-
see, the Southern Confederacy, or of the law
full authorities of either. You can now pro-
coed with your meeting shall withdraw to
my camp and remain in observation, to see
that this order is obeyed"
There was q spontaneous separation of the
crowd as each man walked over toward the
tree against which he had leaned his gun
Better git tile women an children back