Year: 1867

Tennessee-The Conservative Convention
Sensible Speech by Colored Man.
| The nomination of Emerson Ethefidge
for Governor by the Conservative conven-
| ton recently in session at Nashville, Ten
nessee, has already been announced. After
| the nomination of Mr.. Etheridge had been
announced, Joseph E. Williams, the leader
OF the colored Conservative clement in that
section, was called for from all parts of the
hall, and promptly responded in the follow
ing address


| Gentlemen of this Convention-I am
proud Of the honor of standing in your
| presence on such Il great and noble occa-
sion. L thank you for this great honor,
given in a country where we are so closely
connected. I have had the subject of the
relationship Of the two races much in my
mind, and [ feel it my duty to express my
sentiments here to-day in the presence Of
| the two races. | came to this country be-
cause [ love my race. I took up arms in
defence of their freedom, and I stand to-
day in defence of their rights-rights on
the terms of equality. I see the condition
of my people in this country. They are
| living with you and you with them and my
! policy is for peace and harmony hereafter.
| ICheers.


| have been a soldier and have been mus
tered out among the people here, who were
said to be our enemies. We had 10 toll
and work for them, and [ see no reason
treated us kindly.


| Now, gentlemen, one word | have 10 say
it is, that we are in a relationship to you,
and it is our duty to support your interests
| because you support us. / have the honor
to state to you that we are on your side for
| peace and tranquility. ] believe that God
reigns in the heart of every man that is
here in this convention to-day, for right
and for Justice, and it is this we demand at
the ballot box. [ believe, by a proper
management, that this will come. We arc
dependent upon the soil for our living, and
we cannot get our support without being
in peace and harmony with you. hope
you will do well by us, that we may be
friends forever. Cheers There is no
use of any separation in this country when
We are loyal people to the Government of
the United States We wish to be law
abiding people. We do not wish to live in
a land of outlaws. We wish to have free
dom Of speech. I have never been in
the condition that [ am in now. [
am threatened with assassination by
party calling themselves Radicals -
| Cheers. [ claim protection from the
Government under which [ live
do not wish to be troubled by despera-
does or assassins, as they are. Cheers.
[ have been in this city four years, among
| the soldiers OF both armies and among
you, said to be the enemies of our race,
and [ have never received such i'll treat
ment as from this body calling themselves
Radicals. A voice-You are right. I
| have visited different countries and have
not received the treatmentthat have from
you in the past few weeks. [ am for the
moral and political elevation of my race
IN the country in which [ live, and for this
[ am scorned and threatened, but will for
ever stand to the true policy of the people
with whom L am identified, Cheers. =
They may say what they WILL [ will stand
upon the stump and speak my sentiments
if shot; therefore [ will walk the streets
independent Of their threats; and if I am
taken Off [ will die Il martyr for the cause
of liberty and humanity. Cheers. [
stand to-day for the defence OF and benefit
of humanity, though [ am threatened by
desperadoes. [ might as we'll live in a
| heather cOuntry-in the interior of Africa
as to live amongthese Radicals. Cheers. |
[ see Radicals here that have been negro
traders.


see a man running for Governor who
has devoted his life for the destruction of
my people. / can never vote for man
ready for our destruction, and [ shall speak
| against nlm forever, because he Is not
changed yet Cheers. He has published
volumes against the interests of my race.
| Voice" the name ?" The name of that
man is William G.. Brownlow-a man that
has excited more prejudice against the alb
olitionists of the North than any other man
in the country, and to-day he wishes to use
me and my people as his tools. Cheers.


What does he do ? He makes law for
me to vote for him, and if l vote for any
body else L am rebel. / cannot vote
for those of my own color. l look at this
in the light of tyranny and OPPRESSION
am insulted in the streets because
do not wish to adopt his principles. In
the light of this civilized nation this is
wrong, and | demand redress from the peo-
pie of Tennessee. I want my people to
vindicate their honor, and not support the
man who has devoted his life to their de-
struction. What does he propose to do
with the colored people if they are free :?
He says colonize them. This is his policy.
If we adopt it we may yet be driven from
this country. But [ shall stand to the true
friends of the colored people, whose inter
ests are allied to themselves. [ thank you,
gentlemen, for the honor you have con-
ferred on me in rendering and calling me
| to the rostrum.


At the close of his remarks the speaker
was loudly cheered, his hits at Brownlow
being received with especial satisfaction by
the vast audience.


|