Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-19
SPEECHES FROM
Hen. q. A. Henry, Il. w. Munferd,
and w. G. whishosne.
GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND UNANrmIrY
N4SHTILLE FOR RESISTANCE,

There Tas an immense assembisge last night at
the Capitol. At an early hour the Chairman in
troduced the gifted orator to the crowd, who ad
dressed them in glowing terms such as only be-
fitted the man and the occasion. There were some
1000 to 5000 persons present
The eloquent orator, among other things said that
however great Union man he had been he had
never been such one as to submit to usurpation
He pointed in glowing terms to the treachery and
duplcity of LINCOLN and his Cabinet The war
was provoked by LINCOLN and his party and was
proposed to be carried on by an act of usurpation
Whenever such power was attempted, he thanked
God that hethad the blood of TRAITOR" in his
arms.
Major Henry said the aim of the Government in
attempting to provision Fort Sumter was coercion.
Why else send armed ships to Charleston?
South Carolina would have done right to
bring on the fight at any time after the
conduct Of the Government became war.
He would say that though he had in the
past abused South Carolina as much so as any one
else yet for her gallant conduct on the occasion of
the late fight she in truth the game cock of the
South. He further said that the usurpation of LINZ
coIS in making war; without the pale of the Con-
stitution, should bring his head to the block He
was of those who had once thought that if the
Union were destroyed we would certainly be ruin
ed, but he believed now that if we would act to-
gether and form q homogeneous Confederacy We
would be such nation in power and in property,
as the world had never seen. We would need no
navy, and besides it mattered not who might be
King or Queen among the different nations, yet he
would say that Cotton was the King of the world.
He further said. In the late the Union men
in Tennessee and elsewhere, took the ground that
the election of LINCOLN net sufficient cause for
dissolution There should be overt act. The at
tempt to coerce, lately made, and the attempt now
made to raise an army and subjugate was such
act clearly sustained their for er position.
| The duty of Tennessee he next re iewed. The
Governor should Immediately call together the Leg
islature, and the question should be submitted to
the people whether not they would discover their
relations with the Federal Government. Great en-
thusiasm was manifested throughout the speech.
At its close Gov. FoorE proposed the following
olutions which were unanimously adopted;
| Resolved That we earnestly invoke His Excel
lency the Governor of the State, without delay, to
convene the Legislature of Tennessee in special
session, for the following important objects:
4
cxpedent armery in the State, in defence of the vi
! olated rights of the South.
End. The prompt submission Of formal propo-
/ sition to the people of Tennessee, for the i'm
mediate annulment of the authority of
the Federal Government within our confines and
for the adoption of all suitable arrangements for
| our future security and happiness. On motion it
| was further unanimously
Resolved. That Major Henry be requested to visit
the city of Louisville for the purpose of minglng
his eo quent voice with the of other patriots
expected be shortly there assembled to represent
the sentiment of the people of Tennessee.
Col E. W. MURFoRD, of Memphis, was next intro
duced and delivered eloquent and powerful
speech.
On motion of Col. R. W. McGAvoCK, Major HENRY
was unanimously appointed to 60 to Louisville and
address that people next Saturday.
= Hon. W. C. WHTTHoRNE next followed in an elo-
quent and forcibe strain, creating great enthusiasm
and arousing cheer after cheer.
The meeting then adjourned until this evening at
the Capitol.