Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-15
Public Meeting at G I,ee leS f6s :

fuDu6 mcCtIuS Ut 6feelRVfIIn
Ats meeting of the citizens of Greene count,
held at the Court House in GreeneyilIe an ,bo I;b
of October, 1865 Rev. j. p. Holtsinger was ON ~
ton unanimously chosen President Of the noeetin,
| After brief and appropriate explanation of the
object of the meeting by the President committee
was appointed 70 draft suitable resolutions express
sive Of sentiments of the people relative to the va
rious questions which at present agitatlng the
country who retired for that purpose. During their
absence, Col JOS Powell was called to the speaker
stand, who appeared in a speech Of some length,
giving his views upon some Of the most important
issues of the times; after him followed Col. Briggs
of Polk county in very patriotic address, after
which thecommitteea appeared and reported through
7 their representative, Major John McGaughey, the
following preamble and resolutions:
Whereas In the providence of Almighty God,
the beams of an honorable peace again shine upon
our undivided and much beloved country. And
whereas the late war; intended in the language Of
the Confederate constitution to "perpetuate slavery
forever" has liberated that unfortunate TO be
disposed Of in a spirit of kindness compatible with
the prOgressiOns of a great christian nation and
whereas feeling the most unlimited confidence in
the talents and patriotism Of our fellow-citizen,
Andrew johnson, now President Of the United
States, that he will adopt in the administration of
the Government practical policy, that will not
only do justice to four millions Of an ignorant Uned
ucated race but will be satisfactory to all loyal Cit
zens in all parts of the Union; and whereas, at
tempt has already been made to disrupt the Govern
ment by separating the Southern from the North
ern States, thing almost as impossible in geo.
graphical national point of view II would be to
divide the human body with a reasonable hope of
preserving life and vitality in the fragments. We
therefore feel it to be duty in the present mOmeu-
tous position Of public affairs to announce to the
people Of the United States our undisguised views
and opinions Of the public measures and policy of
the present National Administration; therefore
LIST. Res0lrcd That We are still of the opinion that
State has the constitutional right to secede from
the Union, the compact being made by the people
collectively by saying, we the people Of the United
States and not we the people Of the States clearly
shows that it requires all the States united to form
one ndistrUctable national Government, leaving the
States to exercise their unsUrrendered rights of
ereignty hence attempt to separate a State from
the compact would only for time, the sequel Of
the war has shown, suspend the living national Vi
tally Of the fragments. 1t would have shown q
great want Of foresight in the creators of the COM
pact TO have left the Government standing on ayOl-
CAME basis that would insure its own destruction
The right Of revolution recognized by our Declare
ton Of Independence every man carries with him. /
to DC only used when grievances becOmeintolerabe;
the passage Of q secession ordinance by a State may
Tor time dim star or stripe, but this would only
afford the Government an opportunity to show to !
the world her selEsustaning strength and determ-
nation at our fourth Of July celebrations that there
should be no erasure.
donce in the executive ability Of present Gov.
VIM. e. BrownloW, and that we endorse his policy |
thus tar, and pledge him support further in
ryng out the wise policy Of his last able message to
the two branches of the Legislature Of Tennessee.
Sd. RcSoLrcd That we heartily support the policy /
Of President johnson in relation to the rights of the
States to fix the qualification Of voters. None can
know the fitness Of the freedmen to execute this |
right better than those with whom they have been /
associated, and in the opinion Of this meeting the
a., Il I
the Legislature Of our State to allow them 10 e1er
else that right.
18th. RcsoLred That slavery being bIotted out that
we renewedly pledge ourselves never to give up
attachment 10 such form of Government now
powerful at home, and powerful abroad. The events
through which we have passed warns our bosoms
with inspiring hope for the future, that its glorious
Constitution, now better than ever understood, is !
good enough for us and our children. Let our glo-
rOus banner continue unlured with all the civic trl
umphs and martial deeds Of the republic to the end
of time.
9Th. RcsoL-cd, That the cherished doctrines Of /
brave people IS 70 forgive their enemies; to cult
vate peace and good viii to all men Is the sun to
prosperity. Mutual kindness between those who
differed in opinion through the war, is safer home
protection than bayOnets. To forgive enemy af- /
ter he has acknowledged his wrongs is the noblest |
trait Of the human character. We kindly exhOrt /
to no longer resort to personal violence, but bring
the offenders before the civil authorities. And as
hundreds oil southern families are leaving our COu
try cordially invite capitalists TO and take
their places and guarantee to them such protection
as they would have a right to expect Of patriotic
people.
9Th. Res0LtcK, That we most cordially and hear /
tly welcome TO our midst the return Of our gallant |
young men, who at such ncalculable peril and sac
rfcc so periodically volunteered in the national ar
N.Y. and 80 bravely indicated the national honor on
so many cDsangUined fields, and we hereby publicly
tender TO them the gratitude Of grateful people for
their gallant service, and confidently look to them
in the absence Of an organized armed force, as
positive power still remaining abUndantly able and
willing to secure the enforcement Of law and order
and to shield Us against all invasion or domestic vi
oeuCc.
After the reading of the above resolutions, they
were very ably supported in a speech from Major
though quite old and very feeble at
the time: also some well timed remarks from the
Chairman, supporting the same After which the
question Of adopting the resolutions was put to the
meeting and unanimously carried.
On motion Of Rev. VIM. Alillburn, IL was agreed
hat q copy Of the proceedings of the meeting be
furnished the New Era for publication, and on mo-
ion Of Judge Marvin, It was also unanimously
agreed that a copy be furnished the Galcna Gazette
md the publishers be requested 10 give them place
ID their columns On motion the meeting adjourned
inc die.
JOuS T. HoLr>ISGEg Chairman
". c. WILLIS, Secretary.