Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-12-07
ti'rOm the Augusta (Ga.) chrUuids and Sentinel
PUBLIC MEETING
Tn Greene County
GnErsEsnoRo, Nov. l6. 1860.

GREEsBsBoRo Nov l6, 1860.
Agreeably to previous notice, a public meeting
Of the citizens Of Greene county Ca irrespective of
party, was this day held in the Court House at
Greenesboro, to take into consideration the great
National question of the day.
The meeting was organized by calling Col. g. p.
King 10 the Chair. On motion of Reuben j. Daw-
son, ESQ.,, Hon. Thos. Stocks and Dr. Thomas n.
Poullian were appointed Vice-Presidents and Fred
erick c. Fuller and Shelton p Sanford were reques-
ted to act as Secretaries. Col King; on taking the
Chair, addressed the meeting in few appropriate
and patriotic remarks
On motion of Prof. II. II. Tucker, a Committee of
seven was appointed 10 prepare business for the
meeting. Under this resolution the following ma
med gentlemen were appointed: Messrs. II. H.
Tucker, w. W. D. Weaver, David s. Terrell, Philip
b. Robinson, Archibald Perkins, James n. Armor,
and James B. Hart.
The Committee having retired Dr. N. VI. Craw-
ford, President of Mercer University, called up
on TO express his views Dr. @. addressed the meet
ing in a speech replete with patriotic sentiment.--
He advanced conservative aud statesman-lke views
of public policy maintaining the right of State to
secede as unquestionabe. and recommending consti-
tutional resistance to Northern aggression, but if
such resistance fail TO secure q recognition and
guarantee of our rights, to mnntpin themat all
hazards and by force of arms. II was eloquent and
impressive and listened to by the vast audience
with profound respect and breathless attention.
The Committee then reported the following Pream-
BILE and Resolutions:
WHEREAS, The election Of Abraham Lincoln and
Hannibal Hamin to the Presidency and vcs-Pres-
idency of the United States has taken place on
grounds prejudcal to the interests and honor of the
Southern portion of the Confederncy making il ne
cessay for the people Of the South TO vindcate their
rights and position before the world; and whereas,
in our opinion such a movement should originate
in ,f
our fellow-citzens Of various parts of this State
and OF sister States adopting similar course
We therefore, the citizens Of Greene county, Ca,
for that purpose in public meeting assembled have
adopted the following Resolutions expressive of our
views on the great and important ISSUES before us
Resolved lst That we regard the aforesaid cleo
ton on the aforesaid grounds, ms violation Of that
Icomity which ought to exist between the different
sections OF This Union and being part of policy
which must end either in the degradation OF the
Southern States from their equality in the Union, or
in the total overthrow Of this Republic.
Resolved I'd. That the people of the South ought
not to submit, except temporarily, to the policy
which resulted in the said election, and that we
think redress ought to be sought terms hereiHaf
: ter to be set forth.
Resolved, 3D. That while our feelings are as much
outraged those of any Of fellow citizens
be, by the aforesaid election we do not think that
that election Is per sufficient cause for the imme-
diate dissolution Of the Union. Our reasons for
this opinion are as follows viz
LIST. Because Messrs Lincoln and Hamn have
been Constitutionay elected and the people of the
South have always claimed to be satisfied with the
Constitution and nything constitutonally done
we ought not therefore, to resort to revolutionary
, measures until we have exhausted Constitutional
resources
I'd As il Is manifestly contrary to the Interests
Of the Northern States to dissolve the Union, aud
nearly all their papsrs that it is contra
ry to their wishes IL is clear that they did not in
tend by the election of Abraham Lincoln to produce
that result and if they had known that such would
be the result they would not have elected him
and hence il follows that if the sentiment of the
whole South were fairly made known TO the North
ern people, they ought far as possible, to retrace
their steps and make satisfactory amends; possibly
they might do so at least it is proper that we should
I give them the opportunity.
3d. If the Southern States should seeede, it is de-
sirable that they should be united among them
selves on the present issue, large number Of our
citizens perhaps majority, could not lend theiI in
7 fuence to such a movement without violation o
e both judgment and conscience; whereas a deliber.
ate refusal of the Northern people in Convention to
= guarantee to us our rights, weud unite ALL and
also would single overt act of aggression on the
e part of the Administration.
? 4th. If the Southern States secede it should be
so done as to secure the sympathy of portion al
least of the Northern people, and divide them among
: themselves. On the present issue they would bC
r united against us. BY sagacious management We
can divide them
earnestly request the people Of the North to guar
antee to them those privileges which their equality
in the Union gives them right to demand, il il
reasonable to hope hatsome, at least of the North
+ ern States would comply with the request thu
|. kindly but firmly made If enough of the State:
- should side with us to incorporate such changes in
the Constitution would secure to all desire
: we should maintain our rights, and at the same
: preserve the Union If otherwise, the secession
Il would take place the part OF the recusant North
. eTn States the onus of the movement would ther
be on them, and that too under such circumstances
rs 20 deprive them of sven the show Of excuse. II
shere should not be a sufficient number of States II
e sympathy with us to make the desired changes il
:, the Constitution shall at least have succeeieC
in uniting the South in dividing the Nerth, and il
C justfying ourselves before own conscences il
n the sight of the wore and in the sight of God.
e 9Th BY such delay and such action as will throw
the blame on the North, we shall secure the sympa
thy Of Foreign Powers and put ourselves in fai
7, way to obtain aid from Great Britain and France il
!. case Of rupture
7th On In other hand, unnecessary or indeceh
II haste in sS$ious thing as the overthrow of thi
= GovernmeM besides being ntrinsicay wrong
10 would cut us of from sympathy in all directions
Mr. Lincoln has been elected ever the opposition
nearly two-thirds of the people Of the Unite,
e States, and majority Of both Houses Of Congress
N will be in opposition to his Administration 1t will
therefore, not be in his power to act in prejudice
Southern rights, interests honor, speedily
make it necessary for us to proceed at once to dis
oi solve the Union.
c. sth. The people of the South though they hav
ic long been hearing of disunion have in general re
: lgarded it as nothing more than the wateh-cry 0
- lUOlitipiang A
As and while few confidently expect and desire dis
50 union, yet the masses Of the people unprepare
n for it in feeling; and not only so but what is worse
no preparation has been made for separate govern
TO ment. The State governments would be wholly in
10 efficient for national purposes, aud We should
temporarily, at least in condition bordering o
anarchy and not far from ruin.
- 9th. In case of dsunion, It is absolutely neoeI
or sary that should be In condition TO defend ouI