Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-06
Knoxville, Saturday, Feb. 6, 1864.
Public Meeting In ROanc.


Roane county, Tennessee, at Kingston, on
the 9th of January, 1864, to consult to-
gethcr us to the best plan to restore civil
law and order, and to adopt such measures
as the eNigenccs Of the times demand, was
responded to by large number Of the citi-
zens of the county, who, at II o'clock, NJ,
repaired to the Presbyterian church; when,
On motion Of VIM. Ellis, Esq, Samuel
Burnett, Esq, was called to the Chair, and
VIM. S. Patton, and n, 4. Patterson, APP
pointed Secretaries,
On call of the different civil districts
of the county, it was found that all were
represented except the 9Th
On motion, a committee to draft resolu-
tons was appointed by the Chairman, con-
sisting VIM. C. Julian, Esq Isaac A. Clark,
Esq, and VIM Ellis, Esq; and on notion
S. l.. Childress, A. A. Patterson and VIM
S. Patton, were added to the committee.
On motion, the Chair appointed II com
mittee consisting of r. w, Boyd, Gen'l J.
Hickey and A. Ii. Crowder to wait upon
Col Sherman, commanding Brigade at pres
ent in our town, Col Byrd, commanding
Post, and Lit. Col. Young, Dep Prov. Mar
shall and Col. j. r. Shelly, to attend the
meeting In few minutes Col Byrd APP
peared, and being loudly called for, took the
stand, and for about an hour, INDUCED in
that strain of nervous logic and forcblc
reasoning for which the Col. is so justly
celebrated. On the conclusion of Col.
Bvrds speech. Col. Sherman being called,
addressed the audience in Il brief speech,
which gave evident satisfaction to the as
semblagc.
The committee on resolutions having re
turned, reported through their Chairm%@.',.
hofAl3@s; hi the month OF February 1861.
the people Of Tennessee by n most decided
~oioo at tho ballot box, declared their oppo-
sltion to the tide Of Secession then trailing
its poisonous way through the Gulf States
and
Whereas, in May of the same year the
dsloyal Governor of our State called to-
gether what unfortunately happened to be
dlsloyal Legislature, which goadcd for
ward by the Secession pressure, not only
within but from without the limits of the
State adopted, practically, an ordinance of
Secession; and,
Whereas said act of Legislative Secession
was, as II matter of mock fOrmoity submit
ted to vote of the people in June follow
ing. but without allowing any thing like Il
free discussion of the grave matters at issue
before the people, save in the Eastern por-
ton Of the State, and that there, namely,
in East Tenn, an overwhelming majority
of votes was trownngly cast against said
Legislative ordinance; and that Il majority
of votes We're only cast in its favor where
free discussion was not allowed; and,
Whereas, we hold as Il political doctrine
of unquestionablc correctness and truth,
that no valid Federal relations of State in
the American Union can be acquired and
established except first through the inter |
vening channel of an honestly and legally
constituted convention of the people hume
diately concerned; and that said relations
when so established cannot be changed, i'm
paired or abolished, except by the agency
of such convention so constituted and even
then only for valid reason and with law
full purpose. Therefore,
LIST, ReSOlrei That the action of the State
of Tennessee in February, 1861, cvinced the .
strong and overwhelming feeling of loyalty .
of the masses of the people.
I'd, ReSoired, That the action of our Leg .
islaturc, in May, 1861, was unrighteous, in
valid, illegal and void and that the assum-
ed and so-callcd election in June following.
was a grave insult to free people, base
fraud on aud against the elective tranchize
and that it gave no validity to the disloyal
acts of the Legislature
3d. Rcsolced, That in fact, the political
status of the State of Tennessee as to the
Federal Union has been unchanged, except
that it has for n time, been seized and lille
gally held by an unauthorized mob and its
lawful official powers held in allegiance.
Ah, Resolved, That the highest interest of
the people of our State demand that the
people be as speedily as possible represent
cd in a conventional or legislative capacity,
to affirm and publish the truths herein en-
braced, and to provide for an early re-organ-
ization of our Civil and State Government.
by the election of Executive, Judicial and
Legislative officers of the State and Coun-
ties respectively; and of Senators and Rep
rcsentatives in the Congress of the United
States
5h, Resolred, That if from any cause, the
general State organization herein referred
to, cannot be practically effected by or be-
fore the month of March, proximo, that the
imperative cxigencies of the times require. I
that each county of the State shall. at the {
regular day in said month of March. elect
full quota of civil county officers, and put
the wheels of civil government thus far in !
efficient legal motion; and,
Whereas, the rebellion in the Southern
States nauguratcd by intriguing enemies :
of free and republican government, have =
placed the institution of negro slavery as