The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-07
Great Union Meeting in St. Louis.

OISdt OAAOn mVObAht5 IL Ut AOuls'
ST. LOUIS, January PA largo and
enthusiastic meeting was held at Tur-
ner's Hall tonight, to ratify the Presi.
dents proclamation. Speeches were
made by Henry T. Blow, Charles d.
Drake, Charles P. johnson, George p.
Strong, and several members of the
Legislature, which were received with
immense applause. Resolutions were
adopted declaring that slavery was
the sole impending cause, and has
been, and isnow, the life Of the pres
ent rebellion; that the attempt 10 de-
stroy this Government is a crime, which
for cruelty, per6dy, and inlamy, no Lam
.guagO can fifty characterize, and the
American nation is solemnly bound to
prevent that crime at whatever cost Of
blood and treasure, and if necessary
thereto, to destroy the whole mass Of
those attempting its perpretation; also,
expressing the belief that all efforts at
Cancellation by arrangement, are utterly
futile, and the country can only be saved
by the prosecution of the war in every
form and to every extremity known to
civilized nations, till the last yestige Of
rebel power is swept from the sol |
of America. That slavery, by its own
murderOus action, in attempting 10 de-
stroy the Government, has absolved the
American Government and people from
ali obligations to preserve and protect il
in the region where the rebellion exists,
and has imposed with the power
of irresistible necessity the stern OBJ
legation TO destroy it, if the nation
itself would live. That holding back
from the destruction of slavery,
upholding and sustaining the re-
bellion as il is, can not be defended
upon any ground or justice, expediency,
or constitutional or moral obligation,
and can find no spologists except among
those who prefer slavery 10 their coun-
try. That the war power of the nation,
as exerted against its enemies, whether
foreign or domestic, is wholly unfettered
by the Constitution ofthe United States;
that the President in time Of war, il au-
thorized to use that power as his judg-
ment directs, for the subjugation Of such
enemies, and whoever inVokes the Con-
stitution 10 trammsl thePresidsnfs action
is public enemy or deceived by trail
tors in disguise that, entertaining the
foregoing views, and impelled by a solemn
senee Of the necessity which the South
has itself created by its attempt 10
plunge the country into irretrieyAble
ruin. and considering no measure too
ssvere for that purpose, and profoundly
impressed with the belief that the des-
truetion Of slavery - indispensable TO
the salvation of our free institutions,
and firmly holding that the Presidents
Proclamation Of the let January, was a
legimate exercise Of power, vested in
him as Commander.in- Of the army
and navy, and was impsriously demand
ed by the public exigency, and may be
expected to eyentuAte in the overthrow
Of the rebellion. We do, without quail.
hcation or reserve, approve and applaud
the issuing Of that proclamation, and do
call upon every patriotic citizen OF the
United States, whatever may have been
his previous views Of the expediency Of
such an act, TO accept il loyalty as 4
thing accomplished, and rally 10 the
support Of the President in this great and
vital blow at the only intestine foe that
has ever dared assail American free in
situations.