Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-01-25
our Position Defined.

our Position Defined.
When the Amendments and Schedule to the con-
.titution were proposed by the Bushes, Committee,
there was quito discussion MS to whether the Con-
yeution should send the proposed Amendments TO
tho people or call Constitutional Convention to
determine upon what alterations we should As
the most of the friends and opponents Of the meas
mc had spoken, before the vote was taken the Edi-
tor of this paper mudc substantially these remarks
GESrLENEN' have no purpose to innict upon
you long speech will adhere TO the rule urged
ut the hcginning-thc ten minute rule-in which
time can say all desire 10 say Whom announc-
ed on last evening that would define my position
this morning | may have impressed the minds of
delegates that J intended speech nj length Such
is not the fact.
! think the minds of the delegates are made up,
and have no hope Of changing single vote In
deed would not now address the Convention but
there are some who think my position Doubtful
This cannot endure. | claim to be positive man,
either for or against every thing that comes up, and
mover fear to let the world know where stand, ms
modest a man as | am known to be-
My name has been used very freely during the
six days of our sitting, in connection with the office
Of Governor; therefore it is my duty to speak out
as | want no man TO vote for me without under
standing my position am for the majority report
and shall vote for it, The minority report assigned
by but one Of the committee, and he is my warm
personal and political friend. There is great prn-
cpc involved here, and the time has come for every
man on this floor to show his hands. No sooner
were the two reports read than ! unhcsatngy
adopted the majority report aud determined to vote
for it, not seeking to dictate to any man how he
should vote.
We all agree in what We want--we nre harmo-
,,g, Ia, Al. =. l.
the end should be reached. Myself and the Presi-
dent were members of the Executive Committee
that signed the call for this Convention, and the call
which had been read by other speakers, had pro
posed the selection by this body of one hundred men
TO be run on a general ticket for n Constitutional
State Convention ! expected that would be the
work Of this Convention but the call wa, only sug-
gcsed those who called it had authority to say
what the Convention should or should not do But
the best legal minds on this floor have admitted that
to agree upon the amendments here is just as lawful
as to agree upon them in Convention hereafter
elected. This is the shortest cut, and the most di-
rect route TO the port we aiming for therefore |
am for the majority report All power is inherent
in the people, and all government, are formed upon
their authority, and instituted for their peace safety
and happiness. What we do here is to be passed
upon by the people at the ballot box on the 22d of
February and if not acceptable to them will be re-
jcctcd, leaving us just where we started
A Convention cant be held without an expcndi-
Iure ol I'veh'y-nNe OF one hundred % thousand d2l-
inrs, ana we nave no money r me traitors VINO
urouE1' on tnc I'oe'Ion ran on WIN lhe o'hooI
ru'I'' ana lnoGS.cH oI tle o'o'e paks ana branch
w. "''' 'i'''io'o ,C '"c i'"Jo''tS rcPort ON ul'
score 3I economy, ~ tIeSc Atehunch'S are @dop',
co. "s nave no uoupt Iney VIII oe' we are Obliged
10 nave lheet!hS oi the Legislature rlght away,
and its assembling will use up all the loose change
'nG o'a'e mas
oPon lne negro question there was ,I harmony !"
."e pu' so'"o ~ .'l'
Ser lo'i'on W MuU"' '" su'r
rag'' anu ncSIo tcS''lIonS "'II VI! "ur"u"' VI