The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-26
THE UNION MEETING AT HUNTSVILLE.
What Prominent AlabamIans Say Of the
Rebellion and Slavery.
IErom the ChlcagO Tnbun

zens Of Madison county, Alabama, was
held at the Court House. On Saturday
of the previous week, a meeting was
convened for the same purposes, but in
consequence of the insufhciency of the
notice, few citizens of the county were
notified 1t was therefore deemed best
to adjourn for a week, given sufficient
notice, and defer any decisive action
until that time. Yesterday, a very
considerable meeting in point of num-
bers, met at the appointed hour. By
order Of Gen. Logan the military al
though numbers of them were present
as listeners, took no part in the pro
ceedings. Thus the unwarrantable
spectacle of gentlemen in straps from
other States occupying the meeting Of
citizen with long speeches intended for
self exhibition and newspaper notices,
which has obtained in Tennessee, was
avoided The deliberation and action
of the meeting were those of Alabama
ans Generally the men who participa-
ted were beyond middle age-men of
wealth and Of great responsibility. But
two speeches were made, which l send
you in full Of the speakers Ineed say
little by way of introduction to your
readers. Hon. Jere Clemens is well
known to all as a former Senator.
Judge Humphreys is one of the ablest
members of the Southern Bar, and was
a delegate to the Charleston COnven-
ton.
A word as to the policy proposed 1t
is proposed to call upon the Governor to
convene a Convention, for the purpose
of resembling the Ordinance of Seces-
sion. This, of course, he will not do.
Then the people will take such action
as may be best and proper. Of course
until our lines are advanced further
South, no action could be had, as we
occupy only that part of the State
north Ofthe Tennessee. But when the
Federal army have advanced far enough
to give the people liberty to act, there
is no doubt Alabama will be on hand
with her tenth part of the vote of 1860,
and knock for re-admissiOn.
The following are the proceedings of
the meeting:
SPEECH OF HON. JERB CLEMENS.
This is an adjourned meeting from
that held at this place on Saturday
last, Of which the country people did
not have sufficient notice to attend.
The object of the meeting was explain
ed at the Saturday meeting. | will re-
state it for the benefit Of those who
were not then present The object of
the meeting is the restoration Of civil
government-to bring us law and order
to secure US peace.
We were hurried into revolution
against our earnest protest. The people
was for the Union Madison county
gave 1900 majority against secession,
yet we were carried away without sup
port. We had no arms. Buchanan
were in the Presidential chair Day has
at last come, thank God, and we can
say that we take shelter under the
Stars and Stripes
We propose to call upon the Govern
or of the State to convene a Convention,
for the purpose of resembling the Act
Of Secession. How far the Governor
will pay respect to our action, | cannot
say To be candid, / think he will pay
it none. In calling upon him, we avoid
the charge of precipitancy, and follow
the constitutional method After that,
we have the right to call upon our in
herent rights-to act for ourselves We
have the right to assemble in our ca
pacity as citizens and re-establish civil
government for ourselves.
Falsehood, fraud and crime took us
ont Of the Union They told us that
secession was necessary to save slavery
During the ten years preceding the re-
/ belliOn, the State Of Alabama had not
/ lost ten slaves a year. We had rebel
lion, and the consequence now Is that
/ there is not one man in the State of
Alabama who can say he has the
title to anything. The practical result
is Emancipation Cotton they said was
/ King-wOuld secure us recognition and
/ independence. The result is Confeder-
ate money is worth five cents on the
dollar They said that civil liberty and
State rights would be secured by seces-
sion. The first act of the Confederate
/ Congress deprived the people of the
right to select their President If a
man owned twenty negroes he was eX-
/ cused from military duty. II a man
I had ten starving children he was not
[ The man who owned the negroes could
stay at home with his wealth; the man
with starving children must leave them
and go to the battlefield
You and ! may have had some fear of
the success of the Confederacy. Thank
God there is now no prospect of its sue
ceeding.
Hon. D. c. Humphreys moved that in
addition to the committee of twelve, APP
pointed last Saturday to report addi-
tional resolutions at this meeting three
others be appointed
The Chair appointed J. c. Steele,
Charles Strong and.William Powers.
The committee reported the follow
ing resolutions additional to those re-
ported at the first meeting.
TIKI RESOLUTIONS
Resoloed, That we believe that the
effort to destroy the old Government
and erect q separate nationality, has
proved the ruin of the rights and lib
critics of the people We therefore call
upon the Governor Of Alabama to con
/ vene the Legislature, that it may call a
I Convention, in order that it may pro
vide some mode for the restoration OF
peace and the rights and liberties Of
/ the people
/ RssolUed, That the longer the war has
continued the more imminent are the
dangers TO the liberties Of the people.
We therefore invite the citizens Of 9th
. er counties in the State to unite with
as in this call upon the Governor, and
suggest the first Monday in June as the
time for the holding Of that Conyen-
ton
SPEECH OF HON. D. C HUMPHREYS.
Before these resolutions shall be sub
mitted to a vote, ! desire TO say a few
words. If this shall prove 4 starting
point, or if from the effect Of this meet
ing, civil government, security to persons
and property, shall be secured, / shall
be paid for any risk may be supposed
to run twill be ample reward to STOP
the sluices Of blood and the wild deyas
tation in the land
Some things l have experienced
Some things ! know Standing here
feel that | have "a much interest il
the preservation of law and order a:
President Lincoln or Davis has. There
is, in these times, a responsibility OF
each and every one Of Us. have stood
in the presence Of the people of Madi
son county before-in 1860, in 1861. IL
February, 1861, | addressed you from
ofhar oar,,., q tb.s I an