The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-05
THE SHELBYVILLE MEETING,
SPEECH CT GENERAL ROUSSEAU.
His Views on the Slavery Question.
Kentucky Affairs Discussed.
The Union Cause will Triumph.
Speeches Of Gov. Johnson and Others.
A Lively Time in General.

At least $500 citizens Of Middle and
East Tennessee attended the meeting
at Shelbyville last Saturday, notwith-
standing the inclemency of the weather
Eleven counties were represented, but
fair day would have witnessed dele
gates from at least fifty. No resolutions
were passed, but speeches were made
by Gen. Rousseau, Gov. johnson, Col
Tillman, and others. As this is the first
important speech by Gen. Rousseau this
year, we give it as nearly verbatim as
we were able to report it. We have
taken great pains to render it correct,
as we are anxious to see it circulated,
believing it will do a good work
After the meeting had been duly or
ganized, the President, Judge Cooper,
introduced Gen. Rousseau in the follow
ing complimentary speech:
feel proud of my position as Presi-
dent of this meeting; proud of the fact
that at this moment there are passing
before us to the front, with the noble
old banner flying, soldiers prepared to
fight the battles of their country; fight
and conquer the army which had for its
parent treason and crime, and which
must speedily succumb before the gal
liant heroes of the nation. / congratu-
late you all-ladies, citizens, and sol
diers, that you have present among you
to-day the man whose administrative
talent, and high qualities as a soldier
have restored order in this State, where
anarchy so recently reigned supreme;
the man whose course has been univer-
sally endorsed by every loyal citizen;
the hero who has proved his faith by
his works; who, without boasting of his
patriotism, has eyinced it on many a
bloody battle field; it is scarcely neces-
sary to say that refer to Major General
Lowell H. Rousseau, whom | now intro
duce to you.
After the cheering had subsidized, the
General said:
am proud to be here to-day; proud
of you as citizens of this town and
county, always true to the Union and
the Constitution; proud of your noble
women, who, defying the threats of
power, cheered and comforted union
prisoners while enthralled among you,
promising them a speedy and happy
deIiVerance; proud of you as citizens of
Tennessee; and still more proud of you
as citizens of the United States-of that
nation whose future glory is inseparably
intertWined with its unity. | know few
of you personally; but | claim you all
as my friends; feel that every Union
man is my brother. We may differ on
minor points; yet as to whether our
nation shall live or die we agree; but
let us all, who have the great para
mount good-the salvation Of the ma
ton and the nations liberties-most at
heart, grasp hands like brethren, and
swear upon cur country's altar, that, till
the crisis is past; till our mutual safety
is assured till patriotism triumphs, and
treason succumbs; we will never allow
our minor differences to shackle our
energies in support of the Government
and the peoples sovereignty, upon
which it is based.
Four years since, you were free and
happy people. How different is your
condition nowl What prompted the
desire for a change? What oppression,
what tyranny, what great wrongs have
you suffered, to prompt the effort to
overturn the government, inviting all
the evils that now affiict you? What
interest of yours had suffered? Did
YOU desire wealth You had but to
put forth your hands and they were
filled You were free as air; you were
prosperous and happy. Allthat great
and glorious Government could give,
YOU possessed TO the fullest Every
mans house was his castle, and Zone
dared cross the threshold without the
consent of its owner; his property was
safe; there were then few of the rob
berries. thefts, or murders now so rife in
the land; and then the malefactor
was brought to justice The laws were
supreme: and these laws were but the
expression Of the will of the people
themselves.
Then why the rebellion? The loyal
portion of the community opposed it;
but office place, and power were in the
hands of the malcontents, and they
precipitated the country into a war.
Thousands went into the current be-
cause they had not the moral courage
10 resist il; the State has gone out of
the Union, said they, and we must go
with it The State out of the Union
Not at all And who was the State
Was it Isham g. Harris and his fol-
lowers who held Offices, which they OBJ
tanned by false pretences, the State ?
They went out; but the State remains
an integral part of the nation. and as