Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-23
The Mass Meeting OF Saturday.

! ~ Resulted III The adoption OF The preamble
and resolutions that follow, without n dis
senting voico-the paper having been offer.
ed to the meeting by the editor Of this
paper,
Colonel O, p. TEMPLE made n brief hui
sensible spcoch--sNid he had preferred the
assembling of n Legislature in preference
to \ convention, but he had no quarrel with
tho friends Of either party-was for har,
mony and a united effort to put down this
wicked, unnatural and Internal rebellion
Such had ever been his position His re,
marks were well received and frequently
applauded, .....
john CALDWELL Esq, man in his nth
year, who had never been other than a
Union man. made n short address, but It
very sensible one, and stated that he had
been an anti-slayery man for fifty years
He exposed the sophstry of Rev, Mr. Ros,
in his advocacy Of slavery, and showed the
injury he had done to the church Of which
the speaker WAS one of the Oldest elders
living His remarks We're well received
Governor JOHNSON took the stand and
spoke to large and attentive audience Of
citizens and soldiers for two hours, and no
man was ever listened to with more pro-
found interest, To attempt to repeat his
remarks would do both him and the Union
cause injustice Suffice it to say that he
made an able and an unanswcrablc consti-
tutional argument, utterly ovcrthrowing
the arguments Of those who question the
power Of the President to so organize the
civil government of the State as TO secure
her people republican and form Of gov
eminent and to repol invasion"
At the close of the Governors speech, the
following document was adopted with n
spirit that showed it expressed the scnt-
ments of the crowd And we take this g.
cason to say that this paper expresses tie
sentiments and purposes of majoritybf
the loyal voters of East Tennessee, and
would be sustained by them at the ballot
box:
WHEREAS, A portion Of the State of Tcnnesst
have, without justification, wckedy entered int
the rebellion inougurated by the Gulf States againf
the Government Of the United States for the pu-
pose Of establishing n southern Confedemcy; AID
whereas The institution of slavery was he distut-
ing element, by which designing men were cna} I'd
to combine and dcludc the people into the higlIst
crime known to civilization, resulting in the f.
struction Of their own peace, happiness and prs
pcritv and involving the ruin of the State the Us
Of the public treasury and command school fnFl,
the destruction Of her internal improvements, aid
the overthrow Of her civil Institutions; And wher-
as, The State now lies in ruins with all her gr1t
social and moral relations Frustrated, and Loudly
appeals to each patriotic heart to make every soci-
fee Of property and even life itself to restore hr
to the dominion of civil law and permanent AMI
free government under the Constitution of Tic
United States; therefore be it
Resolved lSt That we recognize tho authority and
duty Of the Executive Of the United States or such
agents or instruments ms he may consttutionally
appoint and employ in co-opcration with the Leg
islative and judicial Departments of the Govern
mcnt, TO secure to loyal people Of any State of the
United State, the constitutional guarantee of q
publican form of governmGt
I'd Resoircd, That the people are the rightfu and
only legitimate of all power in the Govern
ment, and the welfare Of the people Of Tennessee
will be best secured by committing the restoration
and permanent establishment of civil government
TO Il Constitutional Convention to bo chosen by the
loyal citizens Of the State; and having full conf
dence in the integrity and patriotism of Governor
ANDREW JOHNSON, Military Governor of the State,
submit that he call such convention at the ear
lest period when in his judgment the State can be
represented from all her parts.
81 Rcso'red As African slavery was the fruitful
cause Of all our ruin, and experience has demon
strated that ts existence is incompatible with the
pcrpetuty of free and republican institutions; and,
it has been strangled in the house Of its own
friends, we declare our purpose not again to resur-
rect it, and hereby pledge ourselves to use all fair
and honorable means to secure tho election Of such
delegates to the Convention, when called, ms will
forever prohibit its existence in the State
4h Resoiref, That while we feel assured the abo-
liton Of slavery will in all time to come secure US
and our po.crty after u.s. against the recurrence Of
the horrors of another bloody rebellion we declare
that the Government Of the United States. and the
governments of the States erected under the Con-
sttution thereof are tie governments Of the free
tohc man. and to be controlled and administered by
rim. and the negro must assume that status to
whch the laws of an enlightened moral and high
toned civilization shall assign him.
5h Resolce1, That while we dcplcre tho further
efuson Of blood aud snxiously await the return of
peace and the restoration Of the Union, We are left,
by the relentless cruelty and unjusifabe pertinaci-
ty Of the enemies of our common country, no other
alternative but to oppose force to force, until the
Banner of Freedom shall wave in triumph over cv-
cry inch of soil in every rebelous State, and the
supremacy Of the Constitution, and the laws and
procamations made in pursuance thereof, stand vim
dicatcd and faithfully enforced therein.
We, therefore, endorse the administration and war
policy of President LINCOLN and pledge our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred honor TO defend and
sustain them, as the only means of our future
rity, happiness and freedom.
After this paper was adopted, the Chap.
lain ClIoLTzISGER) Of the First East Ten.
nossee Cavalry addressed the meeting, and
it adjourned