Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-01

SOUTHERN flights convention.
GAINESVILLE, Jan 28, 1861
in pursuance of a call for convention of the citi
zens Of Stewart Montgomery, Robertson, Cheatham
and Davidson counties, of those who were opposed
10 Coercion and faror of SodAcrn RIGHTS for the
purpose of nominating suitable candidates to repre-
this county and Senatorial and Pictorial districts
in the State Convention to assemble in Nashville or
the 18th of February next. The delegates from the
several counties, excepting Davidson assembled Of
the Court House, and the Convention was regularly
organized by calling to the chair D. NJ Kennedy Of
Montgomery and appointing VIM. 7. Dortch, secre-
tary.
The chairman in few remarks thanked the con
yention for the honor conferred on him, and ex-
pressed willingness to receive reasonable guar.
antee ofour constitutional rights. as a compromise
to settle the distracted condition of our country
provided such compromise was not postponed in
definitely; at the same time hoping the action OF
this convention might be of such a nature as to lend
helping hand to the placing of our State by the
convention 10 be assembled in Nashville on the 18th
February next, in the patriotic and noble attitude
of allies to southern sister States, rather than
sympathizers with the neutrality-suspicious. cru
SADIE on the institutions and constitutional rights of
every Southern State
He then announced the convention regularly or
ganized and ready to proceed to business. Here
upon, it moved by w. E. Lowe that the dele
gates from the several counties should report their
names to the secretary each county should be
called by him
On call for the delegates representing Stewart,
the following gentlemen reported themselves 7. w.
Ascue, G. s. Summers, S. W. Martin Z. D. Sargent,
Q. Brandon Jr. A. B. Ross Christopher Dudley and
+. II. Riggs.
On call for the Robertson delegation, L. Moody,
| Jesse Davidson, VIM. Gossett and Thomas Jones
were reported. The Davidson delegation being call
ed dispatch from Nashville was read, stating that
they were unavoidably delayed but would arrive
here on the evening train Thereupon, by motion it
| was agreed to postpone the nomination of a repre-
sentative for the Pictorial District in which David
| son was interested until O'Clock p. NJ, at which
time the Davidson delegation would be here to par
| hcipate in the proceedings.
| On call for the Montgomery delegates the follow
ing names were presented w. L. Hitter, r. f. Fergu-
son. NJ. E. Wilcox, DR.. Nick Northington Ivory John
son. Maj. NJ. c. Gholson, d. N. Kennedy. Dr. James
Bowling, w. T. Dor.ch. Geo. B. Fleece DR.. J. B. Has
kns, W. A. Quarles and Dr. Outlaw.
Fereupon VIM. A. Quarles read the following pre-
annble and resolution:
WHEREAS, The institution of negro slavery is re-
garded by all Southern as of vital Importance
to the social and pecuniary interest of the Southern
States, establishing it does the true status of the
races, recognizing the social and political equality
Of the white only, andiallowIng the degradation
of inequality and vGssalage only of the slave in
ferlor race, and embracing it does amount of
property to the value of four thousand millions of
dollars And whereas, the recent election of Abra-
ham Lincoln to the Presidency of the United States
upon platform purely sectional and hostile to this
institution and by party INSCRIPTIONS in its
of warfare has justly excited the fears of the peo
pie of the South for the future security of their in
situations and the peaceable enjoyment of their pro-
perty, and has already resulted in the withdrawal
| ST six of the Southern States from the Union.
AND, WHEREAS. Every reasonable proposition for
the guarantee of our future security against the
unconstitutional and fansticai designs of the party
just elected to power has been spurned by their
members of Congress who were elected directly
upon the issues involved in the existing controversy
and must hence. be presented to reflect the senti
ments of their constituency 1t is therefore, wholly
unsafe for the State of Tennessee, without more
hopeful indications of better sentiment at the
North to wait indefinitely for actien the part of
the people of the Northern States; therefore,
Resolued, That unless sufficient guarantees
for our future peace and security are effected be-
fore the adjournment of the present Congress or
some action of the people of the Northern States,
furnishing REASONABLE hopes of an honorable adjust
ment should be instituted or accomplished by that
time, wessee other alternative for Tennessee coz
sisent with her dignity, and the patriotism and duty
OF her citizens but to dissolve connection with
those States hostile to her institutions
RESOLVED, That while we deem the time indica ted
in the foregoing resolution, sufficiently long for
ton in al emergency requiring the promptest &C
ton possible. Yet should the Northern
States taking action at that time in good faith
to effect an adjustment we would deem
it patriotic duty to await the result of~sueh
ton reasonable time but if our propositions of
peace ana Appeals IOf Justice are, as heretofore,
disregarded or treated with c0ntemptuoGs inditfer
ence, we deem it equally patriotic duty, in con-
cert with sister Southern States, to provide
guards for our future security.
RESOLVED That should any attempt be made to
coerce, by force of arms, a sister State of the |
South, from whomsoever wheresoeVer the as |
sault may come it is the duty of Tennessee to take
up arms in defence Of her natural allies, and take
common cause with the Southern States as the |
subjugaton of one Southern State to the raid of |
fanatieism, would be the degradation of all and |
expose each in its turn to the conquest of its foes
RESOLVED, That we heartily approve that prOvis |
ion of the act of the General Assembly authorizing
the assembling convention which refers any ac-
ton of the Convention affecting the relations of /
Tennessee to the Federal Government to the of
the people, believing as we 10 that ia a matter in
volying such mOmentous interest, the people should
be heard.
Resore4, That we fully endorse the sentiment of
the Hon. John Bell, in his speech delivered in the
United States Senate, in 1885, as follows:
The question is not whether the States shall
continue united according to the letter CT the COW
enant by which they are bound together 1t is
whether they shall continue to be practically and
cooperative in carrying out the great
ends of the association The question is whether
mutual trust and confidence shall continue to
animate and encourage mutual efforts in promoting
and multiplying common benefits, or whether mu-
tual hatred and distrust shall step in to check all
Qrogress to distract and conound all Joint endeavors
country all the evils of endless discoTd That is the
Question. And when you present that issue to me,
say give me separation, give me disunOn; give me
anything in preference to Union sustained only By
power, by constitutional and legal ties, without re
eiprOCal trust and confidence. If future career
s to be one of eternal diScord, of angry crimina-
ions and determinations, give me rather separation
with all its consequences If | am to be at peace, |
ct it be peace in reality; and if / am to be at war
ct me know it at once that nay PIT ny house in
,rder and be ready to meet the consequences"
Which, upon motion, were unanimously adopted
On motion of Mr.. E. Lowe, the resolutions of the
Stewart county Convention, held in Dover on the |
9th instant, were added to the above.
On motion it was ordered that the chair appoint :
committee of three, one from each county of the
enatorial District to recommend such persons :
hey thought most suitable candidates for Sena-
orial representatives in the Convention to assemble
n Nashville on the 25th of February next Where
pon Messrs. s. v. Martin, Of Stewart. Wm Gossett,
Robertson, and i, J. Ferguson, of Montgomery,
we're appointed.
1t was also ordered that the chair appoint COM
littee of three to recommend nominee for repre-
entative of this county in said convention. DR.. L.
. Haskins, W. l.. Hitter and Thos. J. Prichett, were =
ppointed
The above committees were requested to retire :
consultation, and report their action carly
ossible. During the absence of the committee, VIM
|. Quarles addressed the convention forcible =
nd eloquent speech-showing the spirit of agrees
on, which had actIate4 Northern fanatics for the y
st twenty-five years. and the spirit CT ooneiliation
nd compromise, which the South had ever entertain
! towards them as citizens of our common co4ntry
hat this aggression had come to point that moth
lg but firm and united South, could overcome. u
1t being announced that the committees ready
report, Mr.. Quarles gave way to them, and the =
blowing gentlemen ere recommended by them to =
he convention, G. A. Henry Esq, for Senatorial, -
nd G. A Hanel Esq, for county Representative, >;
nd were accordingly put in nomination. On mo- -
on, the gentlemen recommended were unanimous 3
nominated and the Chairman requested to ap- a
oint committee of five to inform them of the ac
on of this elHventiQa. The following committee n
as appointed; G. L. Fleece, Pr + 3. EaskiEs, T.. !
Ferguson NJ Z. Wilcox, and DR.. Jas. Bowling. y.
1t was further ordered by motion that the chair 81
point committee of six to draft an address TO a.
e citizens of this county and Senatorial district ~
ID that said committee be authorized to fill any ~
lcancies that may occur among the candidates -
hose nominations originate in this convention. VI
The following committee were appointed, DR.. O. g,
meg Bowling, VIM. A QuGrles, G. d. Martin, and ~,
F. Ferguson, OF Montgomery, A. b. Ross, of "
ewart and DR.. Menees of Robertson. w