Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-14
Public Meeting at the Court House this
Evening at seven and n half O'Clock.

those opposed to coercion III Ali those whose
hearts with the South in the contest which has
at last been inaugur2ted by the perhSy OF the
LINCOLN Administrations all these who accord IN
sentiment aid feeling with the spirit of the Porter
Resolutions, in which Tennessee, by the almost
unanimous voice of her Legislature, pledged herself
to oppose the invasion of Southern soil by armed
force for the purpose Of coercion at all hazards ana
to the last extremity all those who desire 10 give
expression to their sympathy for our Southern
brothers now engaged in the terrible conflict of war
with Black Republican Administration, are earn
esty requested to meet at the Court House tonight
and consult together as brothers, forswearlng al
past party differences and looking only to the trl
umph of the great principle of our fathers, that the
consent of the governed is the only legitimate source
of power. aplS' 1901.
Late Yesterday afternoon the above was posted
around the city, and the fife and drums gave notice to
our citizens of the contemplated meeting Soon after
early supper the crowd began to assemble. At half
past seven, R. w. MCGAvocK, Esq called the meeting
to order and nominated Col HENRY FRAZIER to pre-
side The unanimous voice of the meeting sanction
cd the nomination. On taking the chair, Col. FRA-
zrER addressed the meeting in a brief, but telling
speech, announcing that dearly as he had loved the
Union, hopefully as he had chung to it until this
day, he was henceforth with the South. Gen. F. K.
Zo11IcoTFER was loudly called for Upon coming to
the stand he was most enthusiastically received.
Before proceeding to address the meeting he moved
the appointment of committee TO report resolu-
tons expressive of the sense of the meeting. The
following gentlemen were appointed Gen. F. K.
ZoI1IcOFFER, R. ". AcGAvOcK, Esq, GEO. BRADFoRD'
Esq, Gen. W. G. HARDING, Capt. r. C. FOSTER Sd, ],
Err RAY, d. NJ. R. FoGG, N. D. ELLIS. CANNON SPAIN,
THos D. FITS, J. H. BUDDIKE, R. H. GRooNEs, J. n.
M u I
r. H. GARDINER, F. o. HUST.
During the absence of the committee, Col V. K.
STEVENSON responded to an imperative call of the
meeting, in which he periodically placed himself
unequivoeally with the South. During his speech
the committee returned and reported the folio wing
resolutions
RESOLVED That this meeting has learned with pro.
found regret that serious conflict of arms has
lust occurred in the neighborhood of the city of
Charleston between the forces of the General Gov
eminent and those of the Southern Confederacy and
that we decidedly condemn the acts of the Admin
isratiOn which have evidently produced this deplo-
rable state of affairs and that heartily sympa-
thize with our Southern brethren who have been
so unjustly and needlessly forced to experience
the Inconvenience and horrors of civil war.
EesolUed That we cordially endorse the spirit of
the Porter Resolutions" in which the Legislature
of Tennessee declared by an almost unanimous vote.
that her people would resist at all hazards and to
the last extremity, any attempt by armed force 70
reduce the people and States Of the South to the
extremity of submission or resistance.
Resolved, That we likewise fully approve the
following resolution recently adopted by the Con-
vention of Virginia TO wit: That It Is ndispens
able condition that pacific policy towards the
seeded States should be adopted; that attempt 10
subject them to Federal authority should be made;
that the Federal Government should not reinforce
nor recapture the forts, arsenals, other proper
ty; nor exact payment OF dues; and that all the
forts in the seeded States ought to be evacuated.
eSolUtd. That the present crisis imperiously de-
mauds of all patriotic citizens of Tennessee that they
should at once relieve themselves from the tram
meIs of party, and stand firmly and fearlessly,
as one man. in support of the endangered rights of
the South
The reading of the resolutions was received with
prolonged applause. They were adopted by an al
most unanimous vote. There were three or four
eheerless sepulchraI nays that excited to the high
est pitch the disapprobation of the meeting. Gen.
ZoILICoFFER then responded to the importunate calls
of the meeting in terse, logical and patriotic
speech. He succinctly reviewed the acts which
had led to the bloody drama in which we
are engaged. He rehearsed the patient and for
bearing course of Tennessee and the other border
States He laid bare the duplicity, treaohery and
meanuess of the LINCOLN administration in
bringing on civil war. He wanted the
next breezes that waited North to bear
to those people, the fact that the 'sar must be
stopped or loqged against UNITED SOUTH For one
he toas ach that gallant band nor struggling for our
Independence Throughout Gen ZoLLIcoFFERs
speech he was again and again interrupted by the
most tumutuous applause. After he closed
Col. STEVENSON was again called upon and con-
cluded in an eloquent strain. Mr.. BURCH was then
called upon and addressed the meeting During
his speech large and beautiful flag of the COnfed-
crate States was brought in which excited the wild
est enthusiasm, we have ever witnessed. AT
ter Mr.. BURCH Messrs. MICHAEL VAUGHN, GEo.
Nancy. A. W. PUTNAM and Gov. FooTE were
called out and unhesitatingly announced their ad-
herence to the South in this conflict. The meeting
after most enthusiastic session, adjourned until
Monday night.