The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-24
me wei. o. fEt -ConrfructIon.

an aeeAt ee-~t--- ---- Pr
Esst Tennessee 20 President lincoln Il
will be read with interest.
The yVorz 81 Sc -ConrfKuctisr.
We almost daily hear Of meetings, in
various sections Of The country, pTepsra-
tory 70 re-eonsiruction and We vel
come them - indicstions that Tennes-
see is soon 10 resume lie old place in the
Union. The Government has been 50
long in abeyanoe, that the people have
hsd sn opportunity to sppreciats the
legitimate consequences Of the rsshness
Of their political lesders, in inviting =
war with the powers that legiiimately
were they understand fully the dissd
vsntsges flowing from She necessary pre-
sence Of military rule; and they are
determined, as speedily as possible, to
dispense with IL, By recognizing their
Local administration, in accordance with
The Presidents Amnesty Proclamation,
and The Constitution and laws Of the
United States.
The meeting 81 Smith county, Of
which TIE proceedings were detailed BY
5 correspondent yesterday, was of the
highest importance. Il was the largest
gathering held ia the county for nun
Dor Of years; and there were present
many Of both sexes, and representing
all clssses, from the wealthy planter, to
the day laborer, all of whom cOncurred
in the sentiments uttered by Major Bow
en-, Who is one OF the oldest and most
substantial citizens of the county and
IS TO their character, the latter of our
correspondent does not leave us in doubt.
He declared that while be was willing
= fsrgive men who had brought a son
- premature grave, be was unwilling
70 forgive the interest in wbieE that re-
btilion was insugarsied would protest
against the resurrection Of the pu'rid
carcass of slavery, 70 enable it to sfflict
our children as 1t bad afflicted us. EK-
perieDcs has taught US that the institu-
ton was incompatible With the continued
existence Of our national unity, peace,
and prosperity, and it must, therefore,
give wsy to freedom.
This conclusion be arrived st, not out
Of sympathy for tho negro, merely, but
as : precautionary measure in the inter
est Of the white man. Il is natural that
We should have more sympathy for cur
own race, than that Of any other; just
IS we would, did We see an American
and foreigner engaged in deadly strife,
give aid to cur cOantryman, without
stopping 70 inquire if be was right or
wrong Bot the interests of the white
race absolutely demsnd that slavery be
abolished snd tho people Of Tennessee
possess sufficient discrimination to pei
ceivs the fact, and act accordingly.
Has not blood enough been shed du-
ring the last two years, because Of The
imperious demands Of slavery, to con-
vince any one that the safety Of the |
white man, and the interests Of free
government for the white man, demand |
emancipation ? If not what oceans Of
gore are required, that men may be con-
WINGED +?
These meetings Of the people, too, are
significant Of the fact that the work Of
re-crgaDiz alton will be prosecuted with /
vigOr. We must expect nothing from any |
one else. Government appOintees have
too much az stake, personally, to give
their heart 70 the work of taking the in
itiaiiVe the people alone act from disin-
terested motives and when they take
the matter in hand, the work is done
with despatch. Witness Arkansas,
freed but few months from the rebel
yoke, nov almost prepared 70 resume its /
old position in tho family Of States ; re-
sumo it, however, regenerAted, and free
from the incubus of slavery. So with
Louisiana snd 50 it will soon be with
other States. Yet here is Tennessee,
one Of the FIRST States freed from rebel
rule, and with q greater percentage Of
Union men, than any other, almost in
the same position shAt it was 3 year
since.
Withou. desiring 70 dictsts, we would
take this occasion 70 urge upon the PeO-
pie the necessity of moving in the mat
ter Ct re- construction, without further
delay. Let US have . civil administrs-
tion; let Us have . free State; and
prosperity unparalleled awaits us.