Year: 1866

been the case where he hailed from, and such had


not been the case among the wicked people who


had attempted to destroy the government But.
he continued we, have advanced. and in his own


State and all over the land We are now protected


in our utterances, whatever they may be. This is


one of the aeheveme of the war and it is bound


to prevail. As an humble representative in Con-
gress he glad to know that the people of Mas


sachusetts had confidence in Congress and was


ready to back them mp. and he hoped he would be
pardoned for saying that Congress needed back


ing up. for the sentiments Of the people marked


out the course Of their representatives. 1t was


therefore. necessary that the voice of the people


should be heard. for that would guide and direct


our destiny. If the people spoke their will their


servants in Congress would carry it out to the


best of their abilities. He then alluded to the


struggle of arms and said that the great question


now to be decided must be decided by the ballot


The one great question at issue was whether or


not the country in future would be safe from the


hands oftraitors. He believed that Congress had


already done something toward securing the re-


suits of the war such as placing upon the statute


books law. in spite of the opposition of the head


of the nation. law which gives every citizen his


right under the constitution. This was the first


grand result reached in the Capital, and it has


been brought about by the voice of tho people at


home. He believed that his own branch of Con-


gress, the house of Represen tatives, had made


progress. It had thwarted an attempt to get up q


third party to sustain the Executive, and he was


glad to know that this third party did not amount


to eorporal's guard. He did not believe in ex-


alting men to power who had attempted to suck,


the life Of the nation. The President, he believed


had gone back on his declaration that Congress


should do the reconstruc ting for he had come out


and said that the States already reconstructed


The Bible says we must forgive our enemies, and


be believed in that doctrine. But how does the


case stand to-day? The enemies of the govern


ment. like the prodigal son. are proud. But the


son was finally content to come back and live with


the father without division Of th espoils. These


destroyers Of the Union come back. but. unlike the


poor prodigal, they are thirsty for division of


power. and are anxious to become our rulers. He


believed in letting them come back and repent in
sackcloth and ashes. and place them on probation
in accordance with the doctrines Of the Methodist
Church. He said it was now the boast Of these
men how mach they had done to destroy this gov
ernment and they still adhered to their former
doctrines, Stephens still contended for Sta te
rights and Gen. Lee claimed that he had only


done his duty; and he. for one. was opposed to ad


mitting men entertaining such opinions as these
| into power. He would sooner trust such man as
Henry A Wise. who scorned all oaths. than a
sneaking, snarling cur like Alexaner h. Stephens.
As he had said before, he believed we were ad-
vancing. and that the country would soon be
placed upon firm basis for the future. He be-


ieved that the plan now before Congress will put
us en- the road. and pave the way to prevent the
party which sucked the nations life from ever
again having voice in the direction of the affairs
of the government. He said we had seen the at
tempts Of the Executive to make freedom odious.


4 - ~ ~ =
such policy. They were seeing whether traitors
or loyal men should govern the country, and he |
had no fears or doubts of the successful result
The loyal stake had been won By the army. and |
the Congress was bound to hold on to that stake


What Congress desires is that the people shall
stand by them and give them their voice and sup
port and they will execute the will of the people.
He then made an eloqu ent and affecting reference
to the many homes that had been made desolate
by traitors. and asked if they should ever again be
permitted to make laws for Us and our children
He should say. never. In concluding he again ex-
Rr@ss~l pride aud qualification rOI pIi, ,Tsss
of addressing Massachusetts, audience, and re-
turned his cordial thanks for their attention to
him. His address was warmly applauded at the
close.


REMARKS OF COLONEL VA. B. STOKES.


The President of the meeting then introduced
Colonel W. B. Stokes. the newly elected member


for Congress from Tennessee


Colonel Stokes responded at considerable length.
After thanking the audience for his kind reception
he said that he came before them as Union man,
but hailing from one of the States that had been |
in rebellion, State that had not yet been read
mitted into the Union but he was satisfied that it
would be at a proper and safe time. [Applause.Hl |
Serving three sessions in the Legislature of Ten
nessee. recording his vote for the Union when it |
became necessary for that State to give its vote for
or against the Union he had the pleasure of plant
ing himself on the side of the Union, and never
would consent to its dissolution. His secession |
friend told him that he had done all that he could
and urged him to keep quiet and he could remain |
in their midst. Three propositions were submit
ted to him-tO take the oath of allegiance to the
confederacy. join its army. or pull hemp" They
were all unsatisfactory to him, and he certainly |
protested against the latter He did not leave the
place as soon as desirable. and body Of men was
sent after him. obliging him to fall back to the |
mountains. where he remained in concealment un-
til General Buel's army made its appearance. He
then found that it was the most advisable course
for him to form regiment and cut 3 way through
the rebel hordes, and he did so. He thanked Mas
sachusstts for the aid and assistance she ndersd
during the war. The lives that had been lost and
the sufferings that had been experienced by thou
sands in this war had not been in vain. Therewas
something in the future to console us. This war
had wiped out slavery in the land. and he hailed
to-day from free State. The Legislature had told
the black men of Tennessee that they were free
and entitled to all the privileges of the white man
-[applausel-and he could not help comparing its
action with that of the same body when he was
one of its members. Parties we had had since thst
mt and ehnnId fob Fbar,
as long as it existed. We now had two parties
one the Republican Union party, the other the
conservative, copperhead. opposition. or whatever
else you might call it; and the question was asked
by all, where does the President stand ? We had
radical Congress, it said but it was claimed
that the President had deserted the policy he ad-
vocated in his inaugural address. The speaker
had known the President for over twenty years.
and had remained friendly to him until a short
SINCE when he Colonel Stokes) informed the Pres
ident that he had taken thorough ticket and was
bound to remain firm to the Union. Since that
he had not been so intimate with {
him. He read from the Presidents speech, show |
Mr.. Johnson's reconstruction policy in 1864. and
said he did not believe there was Union man or '
soldier but would endorse it. That was what Con-
Eress endorsed and was sndeavOring to carry out 9
Was Congress wrong or the President wrong? He I
/
had strayed away from expressed policy. The l
President had said that the soldiers should have
the Offices and he believed that the soldiers should
have the Offices. a new party was talked Of; but
we did not want it. 1t was composed Of cOpp er-
heads and rebel sympathizers. and he preferred to
remain with the old Union party. He had pro-
posed two Union men, those who had fought for it in
The battle field for Office in his district in Tennes-
zee. and they were set aside aud men appointed in
their places who were bolters in the Legislature and
are to day in full fellowship it'll the rebels The
claims of the soldiers had been set aside and cop
perheads installed in their places. and he wanted
hose who had served in the army to be on their !
watch for there were breakers ahead. They should
remain with the Union party. and view with dis
rust all opposition parties. The true men Of the
South were with the eolored men. and had re-
NAMED so throughout the war. coneealing him when
L was necessary from the enemy. he admitted =
hat he owed his existence to colored man who 2
aad hid him away from the rebels. We were
marching on and time only wanting when the
,Iaek man would vote Whether j am for II or II