Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-23
A MANhyfExPRE,sssoN- or sENTis-
MENT.

At recent meeting Of the "reconstruc-
ted" citizens of Fayette county, Tennessee,
held at Somerville, the annexed preamble
and resolutions were adopted, as expressive
of their sentiments at that time. They were
drafted and reported by General JOHN L. T.
SNEED, and are in harmony with the manIi-
ness, fTankness and good sense which have
always characterized his department in
public, as well as in private affairs. We
regret that they did not reach us sooner:
WHEREAs: The people Of Fayette county. who
with arms in their hands have participated ON the
part Of the Southern States Of America in the
late war OF the sections and those who have
sympatIiZed with their Southern brethren in
their vain bat magnificent struggle for d separate
nationality, IN mass meeting assembled, desire to
make some public manifestation Of the feelings
with which they meet the memorable fortune of
war, and a citizens TO declare their intentions for
the future. They desire peace; a rcstortion of
civil government and social order and as far as
may be- return TO the ancient fraternal relations
between the states of the Union. as they existed
prior TO the Inauguration Of the insane sectional
strife which begun thirty years ago, and has cul-
minated in a bOrrid war, a scourge alike to the
American people, and dark blot upon the chron-
icles Of civilization therefore,
Resotred, l.. While we do not admit18e Justice
OF inc Wal WHICH mas Becn NHgeQ aEHinSt
the disruption of our social fabric as its incident
ahd while we not yet so well-imbued with
Christian grace as to kiss the hands which have so
dreadfully smltten us-yct we accept the stern
award not as a dispensatiOn Of constitutional ius-
tice, but as species Ofmartial equity recognized
among the nations, and to which. as the vanquish-
ed party, we are bound TO submit with such grace
as Is yOuchedsafed unto us;andwe pledge ourselves
to do what we can to forget the past to obey. the
laws Of the land. and to erect by our conduct
upon the wreck and desOlaton around US a. new
md Nj "A fl larlp Of al and
national prosperity.
2 We recognize in the changed relations of the
two races in the South "A source of infinite trouble
and vexation to both, unless the Government and
the people cooperate at once for its just and
intelligent regulation.
III. For a people unfit for social or civil equal
ity with the Anglo SaxOn-unprepared for the
freedom for which they had not asked and which
has been thrust upon them; mindful of their an
cient fidelity as slaves to US and our fathers from
genentiOn to generation, we invoke the most
kindly feelings Of the white race. deprecating all
antagonism between them, and will favor all eff
forts for their advancement in intelligence and
virtue, and endeaYOT to deal humaney and justly
with them in their sphere as labOrers.
~. We gratefully accept the policy Of Andrew
johnson for restoration Of the Union of the States
as characterized by the highest stamp of states
maDship. patriotism, integrity, and magnanmity.
He is entitled 10 the gratitude of the whole South.
and the cordial cooperation of the real friends Of
fraternity and union everywhere.
5. We deeply sympathse with the prisoner,
jefferson Davis in his mIsfOrtunes and his suffer
ings. III he has been guilty of legal treason
against the Government, the representative
man of the Southern movement, then are We all
traitors. And rs a great and magnanimous gov
eminent has exalted itself in the estimation of the
civilized world by DrCclaiming general amnesty
to the masses, we invoke still another exercise of
the GOdlike virtue of forgiveness for him.
6. Recognizing the fact we do and as he does,
that the right Of State to secede from the Union,
though an open question which has never, under
our theory. been adjudisatcd by the judicial tr-
bunals of the country, has nevertheless been de-
fnitively and forever settled By the arbitramcnt
Of the sword; but suggesting in his behalf that if
the opinions which have prompted his conduct be
a national sin, he claims TO have sinned in fellow
ship with many of the fathers of the Government
in whose school of politics he was educated, and
by the lamp ofwh0se cOunsels he has been guided,
we respectfully submit that we can see no good
that can come from the shedding of his blood but
declare our belefthat his restoration to liberty
with our great leaders will not fall far short of
working magical cure to the disease of alena-
ton and arrangement which now affiicts the body
polite.