Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-18
TYRANY DEFIEDI
The City Unanimously Secedes from
the Union!
The whole CITY for the south.
From the MsmpLi, Appeal, April Is.


The history of the city furnishes no parallel to the
enthusiasm manifested upon the occasion of the
meeting held on last evening at Exchange building
| Secessionists and Union men, amounting to neal
three thousand souls, thronged the vast hall, and
| burying past differences, rallied with unexpected
unanlmity to the support of the Southern flag Tx
change room filed to overlooking with the most
| excited multitude of gallant SOuthrons that were
| ever convened within its walls. So great was the
pressure that hundreds were compelled to leave,
not being able to procure adDttance. The leaders
of the late UniO2 party there, most eager and
eloquent IN raising the cry of opposition despotsn
duplicity and tyranny The of the living mass
| of human beings breathed but one spirft-and that
| was a spirit Of war! lodrN WAR ~ to the knife!
| The meeting was organized by calling DR.. TAYLOR
to the chair, and the appointment of G. W. Frazer as
secretary.
| Hon. w. T. Avery offered in behalf of the COM
mittee on resolutions, which had been appointed
previously, the following set, which were una mi
mousy adopted:
| Resolved That the war which Abraham Lincoln
claiming TO be President of the United States, has
precpitated upsn the country in the face Of the
press provision of the Constitution exclusively vest
ing the war making power in Congress, by his base
and treacherous course, is a gross act of tyranny
and usurpation and will be opposed by dauntess
determination to resist his threatened invasion.
ReSoUed, That we respectfully but earnestly urge
upon the Governor of Tennessee the importance of
Immediately converting the Legislature in eXtraordl
nary session. and that our delegates from this coun
ty, and the Senator and FlOster be, and they are
hereby instructed to vote for bill calling con-
ventiOn Immediately, with the view of passing
forthwith ordinance Withdrawing Tennessee
from the Union.
Resolved That in the judgment of this meeting it
will be the duty of the State Convention when as
sembed without unnecessary delay or debate, TO
pass such ord nance, resuming the delegated powers
of the State and placing her ia her appropriate po-
sitiOn in the Southern Confederacy in accordance
with what believe to be the true interests of the
State.
Resolved, That in view of the pending war, the
uncertainty Of the direction which hostile move
ments may take, and the duplicity which has here
tofore characterized the conduct of the Lincoln
Government, Memphis and the county of Shelby,
should be Immediately put in an adequate state of
defence, and so occupied as TO prevent the passage
of troops and munitions of war through or by the
city, to operate against the South and that the gro
per authorities of the city aud the county of Shelby
be requested to adopt immediate financial measures
to the end.
Resolved, That in case of ali efforts by an organic
of the State to place our city outside the pale
of LincOlR's authority fail, shall be compelled to
assert the laws of selfpreserVaten and to defend
our lives property and families by our own efforts
and arms.
Resolved That we respectfully request the Legsla
ture when assembled &c aHthorize caii Of v0lun-
and to take such steps as may be necessary to
arm and equip them.
of every county in the State, to hold primary meet
ings Immediately for the purpose of cooperating /
in the views and purposes of the foregoing resolu-
taop.
Afterwards, Col E. W. Munford came out and |
though having been a co-operator with the Union
party he sand that the day of divisions at the South
mad passed his heart, SOUL aud worldly means
were now enlisted in the defense of Southern rights
against Northern aggression. He offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
ResolDed, That committee of three be appointed
by the chair to inform President Davis that the
CITY OF Memphis has seeded from the late United
states foreUer-and that she places herself under
the SoYornnent of the Confederate States and will
respond to any call for aid from him,
II Is impossible to describe the wild enthusiasm,
ae s.uenced by the deafenIng shouts of appreciation
ana tne RAPID waving to and fro of hats and hands.
Inat the assembly upon the reading Of this
resolution The shout that went up from near
three thousand throats, proclaimed Its unanimous
passage. 8
Col Austin psezepted memorial, signed bv citi. .
Iens irrespective OF pGrty, calling upon Governor
Harris to convene the Legislature Immediately. |
On motion, committee was appointed to wait on !
.iU