The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-01-13

less ito action was ratified by the people
We h,ive ol-er 500 men here, who are
true Aoyalisss. and who have constantly
adhe;ed to the cause Of the country
and they come to devise the best means
of restoring the State government
The national constitutional conven-
ton of 1857, by overstepping their in
structions, had rendered their names
immortal by framing the Constitution
of the United States They recon-
mended, and the people ratified, and as
result, we had the best government on
earth.
The comrnittee had carefully read
and digested all the resolutions submit
ted to them, and had done their best to
harmonic all conflicting elements.
There were no propositions to make
amendments to the Constitution, save
in those particulars where changes were
rendered necessary by the state Of the
country. It was necessary that the
great cancer, eating the vitals of the
body neutrality-suspicious. end. All
agreed on that subject; even the rebels
themselves we're canvassing the subject
Of emancipation, and the leaders were
preparing the minds of the masses for
abolition.
The changes relating to the selection
of Judges Of the Supreme Court were
designed to prevent rebel judges from
coming back and claiming their places,
and deciding differences between reb>
els and Union men.
With regard to suffrage, he defended
the report of the committee. True,
the Legislature might extend the right
Of suffrage to negroes; but cannot we
trust the Legislature to protect the
white men of the State He had orig
inally opposed the arning Of negroes;
but when, few days since, he went out
to the battlefield and saw dead ne
groes-all shot, the balls entering the
front-caused him to reflect q little
Nevertheless, he was not going 70 be
particular about minor matters
If the proposed amendments were
submitted to the people they would |
know exactly what they were doing |
when they voted for or against them |
but if CONVENTION were to meet, it
might dSbble into too many things,
and defeat their whole work. The
Maryland convention was assembled
exclusively to abolish slavery; yet SO
many changes were made in the or
ganic law that the whole thing -came
near being defeated.
The President and Mr.. Chase, in
1868, urged Gov. johnson to reorgsnize
the State as speedily as possible; and
was being prepared for
the purpose; but the disastrous battle
Of Chicksmaugs. prevented any action.
In March last county elections were
aeld, and large vote was polled; but
iOon Forrest made raid, and hanged
md exiled hundreds who had taken
,art in selecting officers. A conYen-
ion was called last September, but
Nheeler's raid prevented the attend
'nce of delegates, and nothing was
lone. Again convention was called
or the 10th of December, but Hoods
presence prevented it from assembling
Finally, now we have meeting of del
first we have had since the
ebels seized the reins of government
n the State.
He referred TO the rejection of the
delegation, but believed that
.ction would be reversed by the new
congress. Democrats, and a few radi-
ais, combined and exclude them; for
,e it known that Southern Union men
AVE no friends among coppsrheads. ;
When they talk of "our Southern
they mean the traitors at
or in arms We Union men
re not regarded by them.
The convention then adjourned to
clock P, N. 10 hear an address from
IoV. Johnson.
Night Session.