The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-24

4
was an invasion Of the rights Of the
States which was UNCONSTITUTIONAL and
ouaht not to be tolerated. The gove-
reignty of Virginia, though in rebellion,
was as sacrod under the Constitution
as ever, and the Constitution protected
the vested rights of her citizens IS well
in rebellion as before it. The confsca-
ton laws were unconstitutional and
oyoM not to be submitted TO. The South FiH
not and cannot come back under these lai0s.
Uhe ,usre a citizen Of Virginia, as he ioas
of Illinois, he 1Could JEra every blade Of
0rass, unite every citizen, and shed The last
drop Of blooa, before he ioould submit 10 those
disgracefaI la,Os.
Mr. Merrick then proceeded at some
length, in an argument against the right
of a military commander to ayres, citizen of
he United States, not in military service,
and he asserted that martial law was no
law, but simply the will of the cOmman-
der.
Two years ago we were united against
The rebels. II was then war for the
suppression Of the rebellion. Step by
step the administration passed on till it
has thrown by all DISCUSSES and now
wages a war for the negro. The eman-
cipation proclamation becomes a matter
for you to discuss. You must decide
whe Their it shall stand as an edict of the
people in subduing the rebellion or make
II impossible for you TO subdue the re-
bellion.
The speaker then referred to the Proc.
lamation as involving the rights of the
IL rlr,. Nal a N,,Ns
az sacred now as ever. If the rebellion
is put down under the faith that the ma
ton is pledged TO sustain the freedom of
the slave against South Carolina, you
will then have another war for the ne
gro.
JOHN EDEN (Ean mm he Cagpadeaa
in ~ next spoke.
He had known no platform since the
war but the Constitution and w1iat
| hid brought Hii8 civil soos' upon The country
sOas tho departure from ue Constitution by
1Ie Administration and Congress in The eBlqn-
cipation proclamation issued By the President
and he personal liberty bills and oonfscation
act Of Congress. The Republicans of Ili-
nois were now organizing Union Leagues
in every county of the State, and he
supposed they were doing the same in
Indiana. lie thought they could be bet.
ter employed in recruiting men TO aid in
! the vigorous prosecution of the war,
which they talk so much about, The
Government had all the money and all
the men it had called for, and yet it had
accomplished nothing.
EDEN is an original copperhead. The
Emancipation Proclamation and Contis-
cation Act appeared more than a year
after the attack on Fort Sumter, but still
were the cause Of the rebellion! We adj
wise the louisville Journal TO secure
the services of this snake as soon as pos
sible in its editorial department.
Some one in the crowd now called for
three cheers for Abe Lincoln, which were
given by the crowd on the right of the
stand with perfect hurrah.
Mr.. Voorhees, remarked "These men
do not belong to our party. Mr.. Voor-
bees said he had received letters from a
number Of friends whom he had expected
to be present with them to- day, which
he would read. The first was from Hon.
Geo. II. Pendleton, dated at Cincinnati,
regretiiDg his inability to attend and
address the meeting, Mr.. PendletOn
was here and in consultation with the
Committee on Resolutions, but deemed it
prudent neither to speak nor to present
himself
Gov. Seymour, OfNew York, telegraphs
that official business detains him, and S.
S. Cox thatimpOrtant matters prevent his
attending
Judge Jos e. Mcdonald was next in
trOduced by the Chairman. The question
zoe had noi0 to ask ourselves loas, not s0leiher
tag rebellion ,OoalG Be crushed, bit whetAey
,Os tOere to be deprived of or liberties.
Those who charged the Democrats with
being traitors and disuni)nists were
themselves the greatest traitors. Never
was the right of the people 10 come to-
| gether and discuss the affairs of the
| country denied until now. We are not
| permitted to discuss the policy of the
/ Administration. The Government had
changed its policy and its eforts aoere ao,0
e1erted to enlqacipate The Slaves, and not 10 the
restoration Of he Union
The chairman now introduced Thos.
A. Hendricks, who commenced bv glori-
flying the Democratic party, asserting
that II had always been right, and was
! right now. Some one in the crowd
shouted ;-"That is hell of a way 10
support the Government" Some friend
of Hendricks attempted to strike the
party who had spoken when a muss en-
sued. A squad OF infantry came forward
70 quell the disturbance, and the assail-
ing party was quickly handed out of the
park to a cavalryman who hurried him
OF TO place OF confinement. This lit
Tie incident rather scared the sneaker.
and he suggested that the resolutions
had better be read at once. He then
commenced 10 speak Of tho question of
Slavery, saying that il was left TO each
State TO settle that matter in It's own
way. Mr. Hendricks kept one eye on the
right OF the stand, expecting 20 see a
rush made for tho platform, aud his
speech was therefore disconnected.
There was good deal of excitement
in the crowd, and some one rushed on
the platform and said they were com
ing to arrest MIR. Voorhees,. Several
Of Mr. Voorhees, friends stepped forward
and remarked, Let them come, we are
ready for them; aud now is as good a time
as any, Me-. V. assured them there was no
danger. Fhey would not attempt 10 ar
rest him in so conspicuous place.
Q liet was again restored, and Mr.. Hem
bricks again suggested that the resolu.
lions bad better be read and the meeting
| dismissed
Just then the chairman OF the Com
mittee appeared with the resolutions,