New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-24
GREAT UNION MEETING AT HUNTS
WILLIE, ALABAMA
Speeches Of f Ex-senator Clemens ana Judge
Humphreys-Thcir Opinion Of Slavery
and Seccss;ou.


An adjourned meeting Of the citizens OF Mad
ison County Alabama was held the 18th inst at the
Court. House in Huntsville. 1t wns, in point OF nun
bers much larger than was anticipated. By order Of
Gen Logan the military, though many of them were
present rs listeners took part in the proceedings.
The deliberations and action of the meeting were those
of Alabamians Generally the men who participated
were beyond middle age-0cn Of wealth and OF great
respcctaLiity But two speeches were made. Ot The
speakers tle Hon. Jere Clemens is well knowing all
as former Senator Judge Humphreys is one OF tho
ablest members the Southern Bar, and was delegate
to the Charleston Convention.
SPEECH OF The HON. JERE CLEMENS.
This IS an adjourned meeting from that held at tins
place Saturday last OF which the country people dd
not have sufficient notice To attend The object Of the
meeting was explained OF the Saturday meeting. VIII
restsc il oT the benefit OF those who were not then
present The object of the meeting Is the restoration OF
civil govenment-to bring US law and orderto secure
We were hurried into revolution against our earnest
protest. This people was for the Union. Madison
County COVE l.SOO majority against Secession yet we
were carried away without support. we had no arms.
Buchanan was in the Presidential chair. Day has ut
last come thank God, and We can say that We take
shelter uueer tue stars and stripes
We propose 10 call upon the Governor OF the State
70 convene Convention FOR the purpose of resembling
the Act OF Secession How far the Governor viii pay
respect to orr oction cannot say. To be candid,
think he win psy it none In calling upon HIM We
avoid the charge OF prcciptancy, and follow the con
stitutional method After that, have the right 10
call upon our inherent rights-to act for ourselves
We have the right to assemble capacity ns citi'
zcns and reSsablish civil government ior ourselves.
Fasebood fraud and crime took us out OF the Union
They told us that Secession was necessary 70 save
Slavery. During Tho 10 years preceding the Rebellion
The State Of Alabama had not lost 10 slaves year We
had Rebellion. and the consequence now IS tha theie
ia not one man in the S;ate of Alabama who can say nc
has the title 70 single Rgger Not ell OF US nave
The prictica result is Emancipation. Cotton they
said was Kirg-wOud secure rs recognition ana ince
pendence 1heresult is Confederate money Is Toitn
i've cents on the dollar They said that civil hperty
aud State rights would be secured ~ secession. IN
st act Of the Confederate Congress deprived tne PEG
ME of tle right 10 select their President III man
owned 20 negroes he was excused from military dniy
II man had 10 starving children lie was not me
man who owned the negroes could stay ct home WIN
lis wealth. the man with starving children must leave
them and 20 10 Tho battlefield.
You and / may have had some fear OF the success OF
The Confedcrscy. ThGl God Aere Is non 40 prospect 81
Tbs Hon d. c. Humphreys moved that as an addition
TO the committee Of twelve appointed Last saturday 70
report additional resolutions at this meeting. three
others be appointed.
The Chair appointel j. c. Steele, Charles Strong.
VIM. Bowers.
ditional 10 those reported az tho first meeting:
esoed That believe thot the effort to destroy The old
and erect separate nationality hos proved the
ruin Of the ghs ber, Of the people We, therefore,
call Governor Of the State Of Alabama 20 convene the
Legislature that u may call Convention, "a oTieT that It may
provide mode for TIE restoration Of peace and the sh'
ana liberties Of the people.
Re.oprd That The longer the has continued the more
ininen; have become the dangers 20 the liberties Of the
people We therefore invite the citizens Of ether coune
IN tie State unite with in this call upon tie Governor bnd
the Monday in une the time Tor the holding OF
that Convention.
SPEECH oP THE HON. u. C. HUMPHREYS.
Before these resolutions shall be submitted 10 vote
desire 20 Say few words II this shall prove start;
ing point; or H. from the effect of this meeting ciyl
government security to persons AMI property shan De
secufed shall be paid FOR any risk may be supposed
% IL will he n
blosd ard the wild devastation IN tie land
Some things havo orper!e5eed. Some things L
know. standing here feel tnai have as much inter
Lincoln or Davis has. 9h.Te is IN these times a
rr-r-rail,lity on each and every one Of US. hare
sSSS IN af IN 1861 IN fs;ay fRR "1.a.
YOU from the other Of this square. and appeal
which I then predicted have not boon too sadly felt
And f was not in error then pray you as you love
your country listen 10 me now-lsten TO me. es you
love vour families and life.
Trs first resolution provides for coll upon the
Governor 10 assist in the restoration Of civil govern
ent n the Governor viii not 20 assist u.s. IT may De
necessary for the people TO ect iOr Wer own pestra
.ion hepo the time viii not come for the country 20
resolve into lie original elements. intend to ala ID
tie preservation of the organic law OF the state 90
NOT want 10 see anarchy want civil government con
sttntional liberty rights OF property person ana CON
science secured. Believe me, We vi" sooner OF ihler
see twill SEQ II not with this Wild reyont0n WIN Tvs
devasaton and slaughter. But out OF IRIS reFon!oh
will come brighter day--n perfect realization OF TIC
honefts or renubIjcan government We have been six
or eight months afraid TO speok above our breath
Now n Union army IL here, and we SPEAK openly ana
freelv III thought IL was the purpose TO attempt 70
stiae the free expression Of political opinion should
not arise today. ., ILL.,.
~ one countryside same government. Now. portion
are mere with arms. Federal soiders. Ihelf pu1.
nose IL 10 resabsh the authority OF that Governheht
we we're once prold to boast was The best IN we %QIa
understand that 70 be their obec-their only OBJECT
bve f, that the consequences OF THEN presence as
an army are those that attend all wars.
In 1860 went 70 washington ana batiors
rapilIy through Pennsylvania ONO Indiana, Illinois
mo Mjssour on the Great Central Road through IN
nois 10 Cairo felt all the way that was in my own
norn,rv was permitted 10 address public meetings
in Illinois as do here to-day / tod me people OF !,
nois that thought they were wrong; hearn hePID.
hcans and Abolitionists more severely denouhceu p!
an Illinois candidate for Office than have over heard
them denounced in the South. When returned too
nv friends We had nothing TO fear but that to break n
the Union account OF the Institution was dangerous
-tcklisb. ,, . c.
Alabama should NJ rescind tho ordinance OF Sc
cession / an confident We shall then have as many
years for getting good radiance OF ihs inslLon a.
We want As far as the execution OF mintaTy oTdeIS
on the subject is concerned the officers ana men OF te
Union army bound TO carry them INTO enocL on
In favor of such political action oil the m
viii obyiate the necessity OF such orders. DO mol ma
apprehend beteyo the institution Of slavery is
gone as O permanent thDg-overthrown by the action
OF the Southern States believe In case Of q return 10
the Union We would receive political cooperation go as
N secure The management Of that labor by those who
were slaves There is really no difference In my opn
ION whether we hold them absolute slaves or obtain
their labor BIZ other method VI course we prefer
o cI method But that question is rot before us.
we are for the present calling to the authorities OF
Alabama and 10 the citizens OF other parts OF The state
20 heed what we have felt and that they need not feel
=, or ~ be considered en- enemy to my country for
telling thcn those things let it be so; let the sentence
come But that state Of affairs viii no longer exist
The people of Alabama say that tho State WIS prec
tated-Nron gfply precipitaod-Out OF the Union and
that they arc Wiling 10 take their stand in the Old
Union-ihat Government in which they always found