The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-07-07


involved In uncertainty. This policy
vas wisest and safest always, and emf
lentIy so now. II is better In these
matters 10 do too little than too much.
There might be work fora Legislature 70
10, and indeed that body was necessary
10 effect the reorganization Of the State.
But IL was not necessary 70 elect Gov
ernor for this purpose. His sanction was
not necessary TO the enactment Of laws.
The Military Governor was a Provisional
Governor, aud answered every purpose
az present. II had been said that the
appointment Of ouch an Office is an ir-
regularity. Suppose II Is; we can never
get back 10 the old order Of things regu-
larly it Is impossible. We have allowed
the fire 10 die out, and we must strike
the kindliDg spark Afresh from the flint.
We are constrained to go to the work Of
restoration irregulArly, without any au-
thority in many instances save the law
Of necessity. Suppose Governor john
son should order an election, who would
hold il? There ore no SherifIs, nor JUS
tees Of the Peace to hold 1t. Before the
lapse Of three months there will not be a
regularly chosen justice of the peace in
the State. The free holders will never
hold these elections generally; SO that
our first elections, must be irregular
Necessity will force us TO depart from
the agents Of election prescribed by the
Constitution. There is the same neces-
sity as regards the time Of elections IL
they cannot be held in August ne cessity
counsels us to hold them In any other
month. Who will receive the election re.
turns Not the officers contemplated by
the State Constitution certainly. Here
is another unavoidable irregularity star
ing us in the face. Those who insist on
doing things regularly must reflect tina;
IL we wait to do things in strict cOmpli.
ance with laws, there never will be ares-
toration. The Legislature convoked as
it must be irregularlY, might even deem
it proper, in order to obtain clearly ar
expression of the popular will, TO call 4
State Convention, aud decline passing
any laws on their own authority. But il
it should determine to legislate. tn,
Governor was not part of the legisla.
tive body, nor was his sanction neces.
sary te establish law, by the Constitu.
ton Of Tennessee. A civil Governor was
not necessary therefore in beginning the
work of Reorganization.
Another resolution reported by tht
Committee proposes to approve the poll.
cy Of Governor JOHNSON. One or tive
gentlemen had said that there were SOM
acts of the Governor which they did no
approve, and therefore they could no
vote this resolution Now the resolution
does not propose an approval of ever
act of the Governor. II was simply Al
endorsement of his general policy. H
did not believe that the Administration
of any ruler was wholly free from de
fects.
There were mon whose lives itou
youth TO old age were the objects Of hi
wArntst admiration, and yet b
would be far from saying that he ap
proved every act CT their lives Human
nature was never so perfect as to deserv
such unqualified praise. Hence we APP
plaud aud endorse the general conduc
of an officer without oil the minutiae 0
his policy. He believed with the other
members of the Committee that th
general policy pursued by Governo
JOHNSON, since his appointment as Mill
tAry Governor, was wholesome and sa
lutary, and promotive of the interests 0
the National cause in this Department
and therefore, cordially supported tn
resolutions OF commentator.
As we were absent during the create
portion of the rest Of the discussion, W
borrow from the Reporter of the Dis
patch
Judge Brien said the President wa
bound to secure 20 us a republican forr
of government He had appointed Mill
tary Governor over Tennessee. He di
not care by what name he was called
The Military Governor necessarily ha
the power to follow up such appointment
in carrying out the details to secure th
end for which be was appointed. Al
was legal and regular.
Mr.. Houston replied.
Mr.. Maynard remarked that republi
oan form Of government meant a govern
mont of the people, q representative, an
Judicial. We want our constitution
end political rights.
The hour Of IL o'clock having arrived
the Convention adjourned.
AFTERNOON sEssloR.