Year: 1874

On Euesday-Ehe Issues Of the Can


VasS Ably Set Forth.


In yesterdays UNION AND AMERICAN
We referred briefly to the able speech made
at the Bellgiew barbecue by Judge DemOss
in behalf of the White Mans ticket. He
said, in substance: FellOw-citizens and
old neighbOrs: l am happy to meet YOU
here to-day. was born and reared amongst
you, and feel bound to you by many strong
ties. / have not been in the habit of ap-
pearing as a political speaker before the
public-have not made political speech
since 1861.


| was born and reared a Wing, and have
an ailGCtiOnate remembrance fO.' the life Of
Henry C.av, its great leader. And willis
have the pf9ioundest respect for his name
aud character, / equally respect and revere
tire name and character of Andrew Jackson


who in his day was the great leader Of
the Democratic party, because they were
patriots and lived for no particular sectian.
but the whole country. Let Us in this fol-
low their example and stand together in
good faith under the national flag. The
main issues that divided the old parties
were the question of a national bank and
the tariff. The country now has a national
currency and there are but few who would
desire q tariff but for revenue. The war
came and settled the question of slavery
forever. Now, there is no reason why
the old line Wings and Democrats
may not stand on a common platform, and
under the same banner. Let us then Join
hands and move forward for the promotion
Of the common welfare. speak to you to-
day, not as a Whig or Democrat, but as an
American citizen, and a national man. l
am no candidate for office, and would not
be willing to accept any Office in the gift of
the people Of the State. But while l am
Indifferent to Office, ! have a feeling in
common with the citizens of my county
and State, and l rejoice to be able to-day TO
confer with those who know me best upon
questions that affect our common and i'm
mediate interest.


In June last the representatives of the
Democratic Conservative party held con-
yentiOn, and nominated a ticket for the
various offices of the county. The con-
ventiOn was composed Of representative
men, and through it the party have express
ed their preferences. Judge Cooper, the
head of the ticket, was unanimously nOmi-
mated. He is a lawyer Of great learning
and experience, a gentleman Of high stand
ing and integrity, and no better selection
could have been made. The gentlemen for
the other offices are ali good men, and
shall vote the ticket straight.


Success in this election was very import
ant in consideration of the election of State
officers next fall.


We have here much complaint about
hard times and oppressive taxation, and in
some quarters l understand there are per-
SOns who favor the repUdiation Of the State
debt. Reputation would cast upon the
fair name Of Tennessee a stain that would
blast her fortunes and destroy her reputa-
ton for all time To come. Such a course
would be unmeasUred madness and folly.


The Judge here referred to the pOpula-
ton, resources, products and wealth Of the
State, and showed that by the same in
crease Of wealth As had heretofore beenthat
a tax of forty cents would pay the public
debt and interest IN less than twenty-five
wears. IL was not the State tax that so
oppressed us, but local taxation. II was,
Ge said, easy to find fault, but often difficult
TO suggest i remedy. He was for retrench-
uent and reform in both State and county
matters, and here suggested several reforms.


Upon the Civil Rights bill, he said: As
to the Civil Rights bill, do not believe il
will ever be passed by the American Con-
Gress. Aud should il be. he believed the
President would veto it. He believed the
bill To be unconstitutional. The COnStitu-
tion was formed To secure 4 more perfect
union, establish Justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
fense, promote the general welfare and Sc
cure the blessings Of liberty. The Civil
Rights bills proposed TO admit cOlOred per-
sons to hotels, public cOnveyanees, and to
the schools. The States had the right to
regulate these matters for themselves, and
any interference with them by the General
Government would be an interference with
the rights of the States to regulate their
domestic concerns. Such an Interference
could not insure domestic tranquility. The
cOnstitutiOnality of the bill, if it should
ever be passed by Congress and sanctioned
by the President, would doubtless be tested
in the Supreme Court Of the United States,
and / feel sure that this high tribunal of
Justice. which had shown itself to be COM
posed of men OflOfty patriotism, possessing
such an exalted sense Of justice and the
rights of persons as has enabled them, in
their high places in these penlous times, to
administer the law fairly, regardless of
parties or sections, would never hold such
a law to be constitutional.