Year: 1870

that work. Under the present organization
with the Democrats and with all who are in
favor of equal rights we have accomplished
wonders; We have brought order out of
chaos, victory out of defeat We are part
of the Grand National Conservative party
winch has for It's aim the redemption of our
beloved country, the restoration of liberty,
and the cultivation Of trsternsl feelings
among the people. 1t processes no intoI-
Grant creed, it exacts no humIliating pledge,
it seeks no unfair advantage, it asks no un.
worthy concession. The question is, are
you for your country against partyf Are
you for equal justice to all men?


A mighty host of Southern Wings are
marching In this line. They have their full
share in its hOnOrs, and their just weight in
its councils. In Tennessee, especially, they
have been received on footing of the most
perfect equality. Since the success of this
great national party in our State, it has sent
Cooper, a Whig, to the Senate of the United
States it has nominated three Wings for
the Supreme Bench. In this Congressional
District it elected the lamentsd Leftwich, a
Whig, to Congress; and in this county it
sent two Wings, Heiskell and Stephens,
without opposition, to the Constitutional
Convention; and more recently has elected
the Wing Morgan, and Flippin, and Heis.
kell, Judges. In short, everywhere in Ten
nessee, full justice has been done, so far as
l can learn, to the claims of Old Line
Wings.


With such evidences of fairness on the
part of our Democratic associates, with such
generous abnegatiOn of self, such absolute
surrender of personal ambition to the good
of the country, will you, can you, refuse
them your hearts and hands In this hour of
your cOuntry's peril? You may rest as
sured that we need their help as much as
they need ours. Neither of US can stand
without the other We are bound to bury
the recollections of past differences, and to
ljoin hand In hand for our mutual salvation.
l know that in times of high excitement we
used to say hard things about each others
party. They said ugly things, and so did
we. Perhaps, if the balance was struck, it
would show that the account was about
equal, and that the debt on both sides is
paid. So let it stand If the statute of
Limitation does not bar the debt, let it be
washed out by the fearful memories of that
sad but glorious war in which we fought side
by side, and in which our Democratic SONS
and Wing sons lay down together for their
long sleep, interlOcked in deaths cold em>
brace.


New times, new issues, new dangers, new
duties are upon u.s. Let US rise to the
hight of the great argument Let US put
away every sOrdid motive, every resentful
thought, every envious, malignant feeling,
and devote ourselves once more to our coun-
try. We cannot expect success unless we
act together. The Democrats do not ask
to be allowed to govern US. If we cooper
ate with them in this grand organization,
we will mould their principles and policy
precisely in proportion to our numbers and
the weight of our talents, whatever they
may be.


Will you, then, my most respected friends,
will you refuse us your aid2 Will you fold
your hands in apathy, and shut your eyes
to the duties of the hour2 Will you leave
US, your friends and brothers, alone against
the cohorts of power imperial We must
either resist Radicalism now, or succumb to
it. There is no middle ground; there can
be no neutrality in this war of giants. If 1
might be pardoned for illustrating my posi-
ton by an appropriate passage from Holy
Writ, would say: "He that is not for me
is against me he that gathereth not with
as scattereth abroad"


Your faithful friend,


VIM. II. STEPHENS.