Year: 1867

! =
say, that I have made no preparation for ad-
dressing you, but that of the most general
character. My deep and undying interest In
this my native State almost suffces, of itself
to exort a speech from me on such an occa-
sion as this, when l am confronted with so
many of my fellow citizens, come together
with the single purpose Of asserting her
rights, and vindicating erhonOr TCheers.
We are indeed in the midst of exciting
scenes. We had fondly hoped, now that the
conflict of arms had ceased, that political
r strife would have ceased also. But instead
of this, mems minds are no less agitated to-
day than when years ago we were in the
midst of a fearful fratricidal war. Party
strife has taken the place of the conflict of
arms, and threatens US with results scarcely
less calamitous than those which war entailed
and from which we still suffer. Party strife
is legitimate, until it is carried so far as to
be destructive to the liberties and happiness
I of the people. When it has eliminated in
this, and assumed a magnitude and a Vio-
lence which menaces our present safety, and
, bGghts our future hoses, then it becomes
the greatest calamity that can befal a great
people. Four or five years ago the State
r of Tennessee put herself In an attitude Of
hostility to the government of the United
States, and sought to divest herself Of all obli-
cations towards that government, and to de-
prive her people of all the rights and i'm
> munities of citizens of the United States
The confusion and havoc which this sad
r affair induced, so obliterated the great land
marks of our rights and liberties that we
scarcely knew what rights or privileges were
left US There are, indeed, certain rights
r which are inherent In man, and which no
power can legitimatelY trample upon; but
, how to exercise even these, under our pres
ent circumstances, we scarcely know. Men
have attained to power whose interests, real
Iovs oioH IN, ~,
and preventing passion from abating or sub
siding. Their aims are exclusively selfish.
They seek place and aggrandizement rather
than the weil-being of the people. That
state of things which has drifted them into
power they rely on to keep them there. And
they will take care that nothing shall be
omitted on their part that NAV contribute to
perpetuate strife and ill-blood But if there
is any man in this assembly animated by
such a sentiment, he is in the wrong place.
Not only the people of Tennessee are look
ing with interest on us and our proceedings
to-day, but this feeling is shared by the whole
people throughout the United States. Inter
ested persons whose trade it Is to foment
strife and cause division have endeavored to
produce the impression that we are a set of
outlaws and assassins, respecting neither
the person, the property, nor the right of
those who may differ with US, and thus they
endeavOr to keep our bfethern in the North
incensed against US We are anxious to
disabuse them of these unfavorabIe impress
siOns Before the war, and, indeed, after
the war began, there was not in the Union
a more loyal State than Tennessee. Differ
ence of opinion, however, arose on certain
questions. affecting their rights andihterests,
and to maintain and vindicate these rights,
they adopted a proceeding, which, in my opin


ion was both Improper and impohtic. 1t is
a principle recognized by the American pea
pie that they have the right to revolutionize
the government TCheers They. exercised
this right when they resisted the tyranny of
King George the Third, and threw Of the
British yoke. There were but few men in
Tennessee who advocated the doctrine of
State rights to the extent Of secession, but
there were some, and they went to war on
thatissue.


We know the result Those Tennesseans
that took sides with the southern people,
and identified themselves ana their fortunes
with the Southern Confederacy, fonght
braYely, and by their prowess and herOism
y reflected honor on their race and on their
State. And now that the war is over, these
same men have shown themselves as prompt
to submit to the constitution and obey the
laws of the United States as they were to
l. take up arms when the quarrel began. They
accept the present situation of things in
good faith. What more can be required OF
them? The constitution of the United
States they love and revere. Then, what
more should be demanded of us, now that
we submit to the laws, that we recognize the
condition Of the negro as a free man
Surely, all men of candor and fairness viii
a confess that we have acted with honor and
n good faith, and that we do not deserve the
lmputatlons that our unscrupulOus foes try


to afix to us As to the colored man, what
le is his actual status among US? He stands
ID before you now as a citizen of the United
I'd States, entitled to all the immunities of {


citizen of this great commonwealth and to
IL day the people of the State of Tennessee are
st willing to accept this as his status; there
al fore instead Of conflict we expect nOthin}
ss but harmony between the cOlOred man and


the white citizens of the country. The status
g. of the negro then is fixed, and we are bOunC
as to protect and secure him in the enjOymen
Of of the right accorded to him.


There is another question in which we ar
e deeply interested. The State of Tennessee
i'd in the beginning of the rebellion, refused t.
rs participate in it. The strife ran high ant
It's this State was precipitated into rebellion
nd The people protested against going into re
ne bellion, but they were sold out by the lead


ers. The war progresses, finally it termi
of mates, and we the people of Tennessee re
al turn to cur ancient moorings, the State con
he stitutiOn. Thus it Is seen that we stand an


occupy the same position that we did befOr
ng the On what principle of right or jus
Ia tice then, are large portion of the peopl
On of Tennessee debarred from the enjOymen
n i; of those rights and immunites which ar
Vi their birthrights, and which heretofore hav
he been accorded to them as their inalienabl


heritage? 1t is plain that it is in this act
tic spOilation and deprivation of civil rights tina
he every principle of justice has been violated
tu- and the sacred guarantees of the constitJ
nd ton been broken. 1t viii then be one


our primary aims to bring back things {


their normal condition. We seek to sui
vert no man rights. We areonly intent !
"o establishing our own. If understand th


position of the men who are here presen


and who compose this convention it is this


We are here for the purpose of harmon


and peace, for advocating the extension
3. the franchise to every man IN this State TIT


is not under disability to the United State


We are emphaticallY the enemies of pr