Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-30
First U. s. G. Ii. Artillery.

/ Proceedings Of meeting Of the officers Of the
! LIST U. s. G. A. Heavy, that met pursuant to the
adjournment of meeting held on the evening OF
July 9TH, at which Lieut.. Col. MCGOWAN was called
to the chair and Capt. T. H. B. Correll was appoin-
ted Secretary; after which, on motion of Capt. J.
B. Charles, committee to consist of the chair and
five other officers was appointed to draft resolu-
tons expressive Of the views of the officers relative
to the proper status and legal rights of the freed
men of the South, to-wit: Lieut.. Col. J. Z. Nc
! Gowsn, Majors. Jas. NJ. johnson, and O. NJ. Gross
Captains J. B. Charles, Ed T. Brown and w. r.
Story, which committee report ed the following pre-
amble and resolutions which were unanimously
adopted, viz:
WHEREAS, The statesmen Of the country are
endeayoring to determine the status of the freed
men Of the South, and whereas the question of ne
gro suffrage is likely TO inict on the country IN
necessary and mschieyous agitation, which will be
seized upon as hobby, whereon unprincipled pO-
litical demagogues may ride into place and power;
and whereas, we, the officers of this regiment, have
had experience in dealing with the freed slave,
extending over our whole military career therefore
| ResoLucd, .-.'.
! lst That we are of the opinion that the men I'M
der our command and the colored freedmen as n
mass, are as well qualified to WELD the elective
franchise understandingly, and with safety to the
Government, a large majority of the white men
( in the late so-called Southern Confedcracy.
End, We believe it to be- the highest Of cowardly
meanness to ask q man to risk his life in sustaining
& government, that refuses him citizenship.
Sd, We believe it to be we'll established princi-
pie that governments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed, and that no man can
be rightfully called upon to sustain law, or be
held amendsble to its penalties; when he is denied
all share in making law.
ttl. We believe that IL NOull he hiOhly 1an.rpr-
to deny to any loyal citizen of the South
at the ballot box, as such course will inevitably
throw the control of the State Governments into
the hands Of parties who though lately conquered
are savagcly opposed to the United States Govern
ment, and are bitterly disloyal they three
years ago.
After the adoption Of the resolutions, remarks
were made by several of the officers which met with
unqualified approbation-that it was not the inten-
ton of this action 10 embroi them in the squabbe
Of political parties, but simply to give expression to
views formed and entertained, under circumstances
that entitled them TO some weight with the pub
lie
All, with one voice, deprecated any discussion
upon any matter of mere party polities-they view
ed the subject from higher stand point and had
only their country to in this, as they had
deaYored faithfully te serve her. in assisting to put
down the shareholders rebellion. They believed it
10 be to the interests of the South TO extend the
right of suffrage to the freedmen, to the end that
their labor be not lost TO the South in their opn
ion, men who had carried musket in defense of a
goyernmtnt will acquire, if they have not already,
too much spirit to live in any portion Of that gov
eminent, the local laws of which deny them the
rights that are accorded to the meanest and most
malignant rebel and opprcssors Of their provi-
ded they have subscribed to an cath, promisingthey
will not again blacken their uls with foul treason
They were not disposed to ovorstep the lines of
the strctest military discipline and critcisc thepol
icy of the Government they have been lighting to
msintain but they believe the interests of that Gov
ment would best be in thoroughly loyal hands, and
they had no faith in the theory that the black man.
we're he enfranchised, could be a supple tool in the
hands of the late leaders of the rebellion. Their
experience WAS that the blacks, when slaves, knees /
heir friends and that they were not like to forget
o whom they owed their new privileges, and that |
occasional abuses grew out Of their enfranchise-
nent in consequence Of their ignorance, the census
eports would show that such abuse were much more
ikey to occur with the lately disbanded men Of the
ebel army, where actual facts existing in every
Provost Marshals office in the South show that not
ne in fyesof them can either read or write.
After the remarks, on motion OF Captain Ed r
irowne, It was ordered by the meeting that copies
these proceedings be sent to at least one loyal
aper in each of the Northern or Southern leading
ties.
No further business being before the meeting, on
lotion of Major Gross, it adjourned sine de