The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-23
The Union Cause i'm Tennessee.
IMPORTANT STATE CONVENTION AT
~ NASHVILLE. e


vention was organized by the election Of
the following officers:
Ex.Gov. W. B. Campbell, of Wilson.
VICE PRESIDENTS.
I. VIM. Il. Wisener, of Bedford.
Q. M. F. Harrington, of Shelby.
3. w. w Carter. Of Wilson.
4. 10. Clark. of DeKalb.
S. DR.. j. G. Brown, of Bradley.
6, Robt. s. Rawlston, of Marion.
Z. Ben. Harlan, of Maury.
8. DR.. Wheeler, of Rutherford.
8. F. 81. Gordon, OF Smith,
10. VIM. B. Lewis, of Davidson.
IL. Jos. G. Meador.
IL. w. F. Bradford, of Gbion.
SECRETARIES. .-..
G.. S. Mercer, of Davidson.
Jas. r. Hood, Of Hamilton.
Gov. Campbell, on taking the chair,
made brief and pertinent address. We
make the following extract:
mo people on the globe ever went into
a revolution so vast and bloody for cause
so trivial. 1t was wild and reckless out
burst of frenzy like that which swept over
France in the days of her fearful revolution.
1t was not the result of cool, deliberate
Judgment. In the midst of this night of re-
belion patriots had looked for the restora'
ton of the old flag as earnestly and anx-
iously as the Jews of old looked for return
to the Holy Land from the captivity of
Babylon. Some had thought the govern
ment was slow. 1t was true that great
preparations were necessary, but the gov
eminent was now here, and its flag was lift
ed up again never to be hauled down.
Does any one doubt this? Does any one
in his senses believe that the Confederate
army has the ghost o.! chance to return
and reassert its authority over Tennessee?
But we are here not to taunt or reprOach
the misguided. We invite all to help us in
restoring the supremacy of law over Ten-
nessee, and reinstate her in all the privileges
and immunities of the Union. We wish to
welcome back all our deluded fellow>citi
zens cordially. The government intends no
sweeping con6scation nor wild turning
loose of slaves against the revoted States.
It designs no infringement on the rights of
property. All will be protected who will
be loyal to the government. We bear no
malice towards any one, but deep sympathy
for the deluded. We had dear friends and
dear relations who bad gone astray and bis
heart yearned for their return. The fede-
raj government will pursue kind, liberal
and benevolent policy towards the people
of the South, to bring them back to the
Union"
Hon. w. B. Stokes in his speech said:
ale was highly gratifed to address the
people once more under the glorious stars
and stripes. There was day when be
knew not whether he would ever be permit
ted to do it again. He had watched this
rebellion from its birth. He knew who
concocted the plot, and why they did it. 1t
was his duty to state some facts in the case.
lie was elected from the Fourth Congress-
ional District when all the States were rep.
resented in Congress. Lincoln vas elected,
and the fire eaters exclaimed that they
would not submit to bis election. The
members from the cotton States told him
they came to Washington, not to legislate,
but to dissolve the Union. They said they
would not accept the privilege of debating
their own terms on blank paper. They
were determined to set up a COnfederacy.
"lalk of coerclon Why, be
bad seen poor laborer with wife and sew.
en- children, forced under the lash into the
rebel service. He had been called coer-
zionist. Yes, be was for the enforcement
of the laws. Can the South succeed? No
honest, intelligent man dare say so. 1t had
not shadow of hope. The government
was marching steadily on. If the present
force vas not enough, it would be doubled.
The South was in the wrong and ought not
to succeed. 1t was the duty OF her people,
betrayed as they bad been, to return to
their allegiance, and to leave those hyenas,
their leaders, to the penalties of justice.
But let love and leniency be shown to the
masses"
A committee was appointed 90 resolu-
tons consisting of Messrs. E. A. Cooper,
Al!ea A. Hall and GORDON Stokes. The
committee made the following report which
was unanimously adopted:
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas 1t is manifest to the most unre.
fectiDg, that, whilst the State of Tennessee
was an integral part of the government of the
United States, its citizens were in the enjoy.
ment of the full protection of life, liberty, and
property, under the Institutions of the United
States and the laws passed in accordance
Herewith, and all of their material and polti.
cal interests were wafchfully and carefully
guarded by laws introduced by southern men
Representatives of our selection-identified
thoroughly with all the interests of Our people
which laws were decided to be constitution.
al by the Supreme Court of the United States,
the constitutional tribunal to decide all such
questions;
And whereas, Because Of the election con.
stitutionally of a President of the United
States who received no support in Tennessee,
and the effort of that President to maintain the
integrity of the Union and enforce the laws
against armed resistance, our people. in com.
mon with the people of other States, were pre-.
cipitated into Notwithstanding to the
arbitrameDt of arms for the settlement OF our
political differences, instead of the peaceable
remedies provided by the constitution;
And whereas; 1t is evident that the authori.
ty of the Federal government is now exerted
over this part of Tennessee, and will be in
short time fully extended over the entire State.
and it is the duty of every citizen so to act as
to tree ourselves from the consequences OF in-
ternecne war, and to return to the govern
ment which is willing and able to protect US:
Therefore, be it. Resolved by portion of
the people OF Tennessee, in convention as.
sembed;
l. That the social, political, and material in-
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