Year: 1868

fore, We were richly entitled to our freedom
for saving them from fnsl defeat.


But the radicals say that they gave US the
right to vote, and, therefore, we ought to
vote with them. Now, my colored breth-
rem, want to show you that there is no
more truth in this statement than there is
in the statement that they fought to set US
free.


At the same time that we were set free,
on the ssd day of February. 1865. Legis-
lsture was elected by the s0hits radicals,
and power was given to that Legislature to
decide who should vote and who should not.
They met together at Nashville to decide,
and they did decide, that none but loyal
sOhite men should vote. So you see, nv
colored brethren, these radicals, at that
time, didn't think that colored men ought to
vote. They found out, in q short time, that
msiority of the loyal white voters were
opposed to the radicals, and could turn
Brownlow and the other radicals out of Of
fee. So, they called the Legislature to-
gether again, and took away the right Of vo-
ting from great many loyal white men,
who had got certificates to vote, but they
still confined the right Of voting to a0hits
men-althOugh it was proposed to let the
colored men vote, yet the radicals in the
Legislature refused, and said, that colored
men should not vote. Alters while they dis
covered that still majority of the white
loyal voters were opposed to the radicals
and thereupon the Legislature got together
Tor the third time, and, then it was, thai
they consented to let colored men vote-no
because they thought they ought to vote
but because they found that they would al
be turned out of Office unless they could
get help from the eolored msn. Nom you
see, my colored brethren, that the radicals
at last gave us the right to vote to sac,
themselves from being turned ouS9f office
just as they gave US our freedom, during
the war, to save themselves from being s0hip,
ped By tie Rebels.


Now, my colored brethren, I doh't know
how you feel, but, as to myself, don't fee
that I sm under any obligations to the rad
iCals for giving me the right to vote, wher
l know that they gave ito me, not because
they thought ought to have it, but be-
cause they believed that if they didn't dc
it, they aOOazd Be turned Out Of office; and be
cause they believed that goa and a0ere So
ignorant that they could make as believe Ael
tOere oar friends and aoouLd do great thing
for as; a0ken IN trsttb they only sOa7ted Oaa
votes, to enable them to hold on to the office
and tksss fill their pockets s0ith puJlic money
If you have any doubt whether have sta
ted the truth to you, just go to any whit
man, that you know 10 be honest, and t
have no Office that he wants to hold on to
and ask how these things are. I know yol
will find that have stated facts, and ifyor
are sensible, you win feel under no obliga
ton to radicals, either for setting you free
or for giving you the right to vote. will
in another letter, show you the reasons VII
I think you and ought to cast our votes
in the future. with the people with whor
we have been raised, and nearly all of whOr
are now Democrats.


P. S.-Will the white men read this lei
ter to the colored men in their employ.


WILLIAM PARK.


FRANKLIN, Tenn, Sept. 2l, 1868.