Year: 1861

shoulders. IApplause. She got
it when we dared them to disturb US.
II We had not kept the peace BY al
ways being prepared for war, East
Tennessee to-day would not be for the
Union in my opinion. Applause.


But again. They denied us the free
exercise of the right of suffrage. The
election in Tennessee, except in East
Tennessee, was a perfect farce. Let
me give you some facts. In the city
Of Nashville the full vote is 6,OOO.--
Notwithstanding $500 voters had left
previous to the election, and 700 Union


men did not vote at all, reducing the


number of voters to 5000 the day Of
election she cast her full vote-6, 600.
l expect there is q gentleman in this
audience tonight who will tell you that
boys only fourteen years Of age were
allowed to vote. That is what they
mean by this majority Of sixty thous-
and for Secession. How was the voting
carried on in East Tennessee. Though
we had a majority in my precinct no
disunionist was interfered with in cast
ing his vote according to his own sent
iments.


All these means having failed to
change the devotion Of the people
Of my county to their Government.
they have began TO arrest and i'm
prison some Of our leading men,
There are some men in East Tennessee
who, like Thos. R. Nelson, have been
imprisoned, but thanks be to God, they
are standing like the everlasting hills,
and they don't purchase their peace by
recanting. There are humble captains
Of companies that are standing for their
country. l glory in such men. Not
only have they gone to impresslng
them, but they threaten them with
death. Myself and my friend here are
threatened with the gallows. l went
within twenty-eight miles Of home .
few days ago, just to get a glimpse OF
how things were going on. l did not
care about going any nearer-alrald
might be arrested.


Mr.. Johnson-I hope we will 60
back before long under circumstances
when we can arrest them. Cheers.


The great king. JEFF Davis-I don't
call him "Your Excelleney." like Mr..
Nelson does, laughter, and l don't call
him President Dayis-what does he doI


His Congress passed law giving US
poor dogs forty days to leave our
country-forty days to leave or submit.
Who can submit to such sccursed des.
potism? But that is not the worst oft.
Mr.. Carter went on to enumerate the
acts Of despotism practiced BY the
southern Confederacy on the loyal
people Of Tennessee. What think you
Of these things, freeman Of Cincinnati?
But not withsIanding all our suferings
and all our trials-notwithstanding ell
our poverty, l am thankful tonight that
am native OF East Tennessee-glorious
East Tennessee. am glsd-I thank
God for it-thst my fate for veal or woe
has been cast with such people. Now,
what is the position of East Tennessee?
l know that she has the admiration OF
our country, and justly so. There she
is, sitting with population Of SOC, 900,
bound in upon the east by that traitorous
State of Virginia, upon the south BY
North Carolina-and lam glad to say
that in North Carolina there are many
noble hearts who long to see the good
old flag, and TO rosy under its folds.
There also is Georgia upon her south.
There, upon the west, is Middle Ten
nessee, and upon the north we have the
border of good old friendly Kentucky
our only source of salvation IN our pres
ent trouble. But we are invaded every
day by barbarous sOldiery. from Chat
tanooga to the Virginia line. They insult
US. They FIRE upon our women and
children. Even that is not all. There
we stand without money, without State
organization, without arms in our hands,
boldly defying all the Confederate States.
loud applsuse.1 Shall such people be
left to perish? Cries Of "No, no.
Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana can save
us-will you do it. Cries Of eyes,
yes."1 But this is not all about East Ten
nessee. Save these people; put arms in
their hands and they will then help you to
save your country. With Sumter An
derson to lead them, Tennessee will go
with you to plant the banner Of their
country upon the battle field OF New
Orleans where our fathers covered
and their country with glory.
I TApplause. East Tennessee does not be-
long to that class of Union men who de-
sire a neutral position, but they pay for
some of the honor and some Of the glory
Of saving our great Government. They
ask not simply to be saved themselves
but they have been praying for this Gov.
ernment for three long months to pat IL
into their power to save you oil OnIo a.
well as themselves. [APplause. Now
I know the sentiment OF the people OF
East Tennessee. 1 tell you what it is
thew know that blood must be offered
an on the altar Of our country for the
salvation Of our country. Their feeling
$ that the sacrifice will be imperfect,
Incomplete unless the blood Of East Ten
,essee is mingled at the foot Of the altar
With the blood of Ohiosns. Applause.


There are some paragraphs published
n the papers, stating that the Union
nen of East Tennessee do not wish
his Government to send an army there.
tell you it is false. [APplause. Do