Year: 1874

tested that they did not desire social
equality, OF to force themselves or be
forced on the society OF white people by
congressional enactment or otherwise,
as provided in the compulsory co-educa.
tion Of the races. Had not the colored
people themselves, and their white
leaders, occupied this attitude the
sixty thousand white men of Ten
nessee who are identified with the
Republican party would never have
touched that party with ten-foOt pole.


NO BETRAYAL IN THE CASE.


Instead of betraying the Republican
party of Tennessee, by opposing the CO.
education of the races, / would be a
traitor to that party we-e to act other
wise. The Republican white vote of
Tennessee is largely in excess OF the
whole eOlOred vote of the State, and be-
sides rejecting the sentiments OF my po-
litical opponents, who are entitled to
some consideration in a question Of this
character, 1 am rejecting the views Of
almost every white man in the Repub-
lican ranks.


In my election to the senate gave no
other pledge than my past personal and
official course guaranteed. The question





schools was not an issue, nor did it, in
any sense, enter into the contest. Had
it been an issue before the legislature,
and had l been its advocate, would
have made a poorer race than did the
late Mr.. Greeley for the presidency. And
am free to say there has never been an
hour of my life when would have ac-
cepted an election to any office on that
platform. Since my election to the sem
ate l have voted in congress for the ku-
kluX bill, and for every measure which
any friend or pretended friend of the
colored race has introduced or claimed
necessary for his interests, except this
mixed school bill.


have done all these things for the
colored race without owing my election
to ii, or having the remOtest idea of ever
being a candidate for its votes or sup
port. l have acted from q sense of duty,
and because of a sincere and unselfish
desire to ameliorate its condition. | do
not refer TO my services to the colored
people by way of apology for my oppO-
sitiOn to mixed schools. My position on
this question is the result of mature de-
Liberation. 1t has the approval of my
Judgment and conscience, and sooner
than apologize for it or recede from ii,
l would see every political party in the
land ego the way OF Wards ducks" and
every politician buried without the hope
OF resurrection.


So far from betraying the colored peo-
pie, or violating any pledges to them,
as insolently and falsely charged by del
egates in this Nashville convention,
who seem to have reversed TAney's de-
cision and proclaimed, in substance,
that a white man has no rights which
negro is bound to respect, have, since
attaining power as gveIonor aud senator,
done far more for the colored race than
/ was even committed or pledged to do,
and more than they had q right to de-
mand, in view of the issues of the can
Vass upon which went into office.


And now because L adhere to princi-
pies Of practical utility instead of run
ming wild after distractions, L am de-
nounced as recreant to duty and pledges.
If the members of the late cOlOred con-
ventiOn can afford to present to the
world such evidence of base ingratitude
to myself, who have done more for them
than any other Tennessean, can well
afford to be indifferent to their abuse and
Gespise their threats. 1t will not injure
me, nor does it afford me any solicitude,





gendered between the races by such con-
duct and such a spirit as characterized
the proceedings of that convention will
tend to their injury, the destruction of
the common school system, and the
detriment Of society and good govern
ment.


l would remind my colored fellow
citizens OF the folly OF the south in
making war for what they called their
rights" in the Territories. Under the
policy of the government when slavery
existed, it was claimed that the Terrific
ries, being the common property of all
the people, property purchased with the
treasure and by the valor of the people
of the south as we'll as OF the north, and
that, therefore, the south had the
"right" to take their slaves into the Ter
ritOries. When those making these de-
mands were asked what they expected
to gain by the concession of this "right,"
they would respond that slavery was not
profitable in the Territories, but they in
sisted on having the "Tight'' nOtwith-
standing.


Thus the colOred convention have
reached out after an abstraction; the
"civil rightj to mixed schools, or as a
penalty of the failure OF the whites to
accede to their demand the "ciyil right"
to tear up and destroy for an indefinite
period the beneficent and highly useful
common school system Of Tennessee.
And this, too, when they themselves
proclaim that under the law, as IL is,
they have equal facilities with the whites
for education, and do not need it.


AS the southern demand for territorial
"rightsn resulted in ruin TO those who
made it, so would warn the colored peO-
pie that so vehemently denounce their
friends and make an eXaction which the
overwhelming majority Of the people re-
gard as unreasonable, may, and doubt
not will, result to their great injury in
stead OF blessing.


True, it may be said, the Republican
party in Tennessee cannot get along
without the support Of the colored voters.
To this l reply; first, il it had not been
for the Republican party there would be
no colored voters. Secondly, the Repub-
licsn party can get along without the
colOred voters as well as the cOlOred vo-
ters can get along without the Republi-
can party. And, thirdly, the twenty
five thousand white Republican voters
Of East Tennessee have resolved to get
along without the eolored voters sooner
than submit to this sum Of villainies and
of abOmination known as
the "co-educstion Of the races"


SOME PLAIN ENGLISH.
The persons in the Nashville conven-
ton who insolently characterized me
and all Republicans who agree with me
rs "Judases" and traitors to the Republi-
can party" can put this in their pipes and
smoke it. l have resided in East
tennessee forty-six years, and if there
Is anything in the world which
understand it is the
of East Tennesseans. Dur
Ing this long period Of time,
| have mingled with this people
in every one OF the thirty-one counties
this division of the State
and know the people Of every county,
as well as / know my neighbors in
Knoxville. / tell the Republicans of all
colors in Middle and West Tennessee,
that under no conceivable circumstances
will East Tennessee Republicans sup
port any man for any office who favors
mixed schools. In former communica-
tions on this subject, have appealed to
those who differed with me, in kind and
terms. l appealed to their
Judgment and good sense. So far as
those, running this Nashville conven-
tion are concerned, they are incapable
OF appreciating such an appeal, even
from one having stronger claims to their
respectful hearing than any other citizen
OF the State. 1t is high time they were
made TO understand, in language which
they can comprehend, Just what they