The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-13

Public Meeting.
O,,s .of the largest assemblages ever wit
messed of the people Of Msury County
met in council on Monday the 4th oi sep
tsmber. in response 10 the call msde the
week previous. Being an adjourned meet,
ing. Gen. q. J. Pillow took the enalr' anu
called the meeting to order.
The Chairman in a few well timed ana
appropriate remarks, re announced fhe Oo-
iect ofthe meeting
Wbereupon Hon. A. o. P. Nicholson, as
| Chairman of the committee on Resolutions
reDorted the following, which were uhahl-
mouslv adopted Mr. Nicholson accom-
panied his report with the statement thaI
| II had been impossible TO see the Whole oi
the committee appointed at the previous
meeting, and hence, that whilst ne trus'eA
and believed they would meet win tis con
currence of all its members yet tha. me i'7
were not responsible for the sentiments anu
views contained therein, unless they then
and there appreciated. That he desHea not
only members Of the committee bul ci'izeh
present To alter or amend them SO as Iully
| to embOdy and express the opinions Ol the
county.
Mr.. Nicholson further, by way oi explain
alton, showed the state Of parties IA the
Union, and the perils ahead Of us' ana
| ferciblv5 and eloquehtly expressed the ne
cessity Of such action as the people OF lhis
county were about 10 take. 1
| DECLARATION CT SENTIMENTS.
When the Southern armies surrendered
| and disbanded, we indulged the hope, that
peace would be Immediately restored TO the
country. Although four months have
elapsed, we still see military organ "a ioiis
maintained and military law enforced,
throughout the Southern states, whilst eN9
authority has been but partially restored
With no opposing enemy in the held, we
are presented with all the Indications OF eX-
isting war, except the occurrence OF actual
hostilities. In this state of things, i can
not be truthfuIly. asserted, that the country
is reaping the natural fruits Of established
peace. c.
In view Of these facts, the natural lnier,
ence would seem TO be, that the Federal
Authorities entertain doubts and apprehen-
sions. as to the genuineness OF the surrender
made by the Southern troops, and the hdel-
itv with which the Southern people are DIS
posed to discharge their duties TO the Gov +
eminent.
For the purpose Of removing any misap-
prehensions or erroneous impressions on
these subjects, as well as for the purpose oI
contributing to an early restoration Of clElI
laws and order, and the complete re esta0-
lishment of substantial peace III the country,
the citizens of Maury county have deemed
it proper to assemble together in general
coupciI. and to make a frank and unre
served declaration of their sentiments, IN
regard to the present condition OF the coun
trv and of their earnest determination to
continue to discharge their duties as faithful
citizens of the United States.
The Southern people took up arms, under
a deep conviction, that their constitutional
rights had been invaded and violated, and
| that thev could nos be secured and perpetu-
ated in the Union. They believed, that the
neople of the States had reserved the right
| of peaceably dissolving their connection
| with the Federal Government, and OF as
| suming the attitude Of Independents soyer-
eign States. The authorities OF the United
States denied the existence OF this rlght, ana
carried on the war, for the avowed purpose
Of retaining, within the Union, those STATES
/ which had claimed, and sought TO exercise
| the RIGHT of peaceable revolution. The great
| issue. therefore, submitted to the arbltra-
ment of arms, was whether the people OF a
state had the right peaceably to withdraw
! from the Federal Union. The issue was de-
termiued when the Southern armies surreH-
dered and disbanded Itwas-a hnal- and
conclusive decision against the existence OF
| the right Of peacesble revolution. We uh-
hesitatingly declare our purpose to aequieaee
| in and abide by the decision as hnal anu
| conclusive, and % discharge ialthiully the
vj1iiurvt r,tates. - - - - - ''@fils oi
During the progress Of the war the Fed
eral authorities asseftedtand exercised the
| power of abolishing the Institution Of
slavery in the southern States, as means
. - Il - 4
thereby OF preserving the integrity Of the
Union. Waving the expression of any
opinion, as to the wisdom of this measure
we have no hesitation in conceding, that 1t
was an incidental or collateral issue Of the
war: and, therefore, thatit was conclusively
settled by the failure of the Southern states
10 maintain their Independence. We are
prepared TO declare our acquiescenee in the
finalitv Of this settlement, and as a neces-
sary consequence, in the final extinction of
the Institution OF Slavery.
From the determination of the issue of
peaceable revolution against the Southern
states, it follows irresistibly, that those
States, which resorted TO thet right, were
never out of the Federal Union, and never
ceased to have an existence as states. The
several acts, by which they sought to sepa-
rate themselves from the Federal Govern
ment, were determined to be null and void,
by the result of the war Their civil and
political relations to the Government of the
United States were suspended BY and du
ring the war, but their being as Statesofthe
Union were never annihilated.
Ii follows from this position, that so soon
as the suspended civil and political relations
of the Southern States have been revived
and re-established, they become entitled 10
all the benefits and rights of States of the
Union. They cannot exercise the right Il
peaceable revolution, nor eau they hold
property in slaves or authorize their eiti-
zens to hold such property, because the
former has been determined never 70 have
had an existence and the latter has been
abolished by the arbitrament Of arms. But
they will be entitled TO enjoy and exercise
all other legitimate rights Of States. fBciud-
ing the right of Representation in Congress
and the right Of ofcontrolling and regulattoug
the Elective franchise.
It is clear from the views already present
ed, that upon the termination Of The war,
the duty devolyed upon the Chief Magis-
trate OF the United states, of adopting meas
ures for the restoration Of the Union TO its
former integrity. In the execution of this
high trust, the President has inaugurated.
and is now carrying oJit a policy, which is
based upen the assumption. chat the Soath ).
ern States have never been out of the Union
during the war, and that they will be re
stored to the full benefits Of States Of the
Union, so soon as their civil and political
relations TO the Federal Government can be
established. Believing that the poliev Dur-
sued by the PresidentIs in strict harmony
with the issues involved in and determined
by the war, and that it is the wisest and
most practicable plan fer re.estabIshipp
peace and prosperity 10 the country. we are
ready TO give it our cordial approval. and to
pledge TO the President our Jealous support
IN bis effort to bring il to an early and sue
cessful contamination.
II the Presidents policy shall be success
ful the Southern States will be restored. at
the earliest practicable pefiod, to All he
rights and benefits of the Federal Union.
They viii enjoy the benefits of repregeuta-
ton u both houses Of Congress. whilst the
people Of the States will exercise the riqbt
Of regulating and controlling the question Of
suffrage, and all other rights essential Ia the
enjoyment Of rational freedom.
We regret % observe, that the RESTORATION
policy ot the President encounters form da.
bic opposition BY the more radical portion
OF Aboltionists. They insist, that the being
OF the Southern States, as States, was ami.
Inflated by the war, and that they continue
% exist - territories unly. Thev ma utaip
that they ought 70 be excluded from partic-
ipation in the government, as States. until
they shall come before Uongress with ron
stitutions, containing all the provisions an
the subject Of suffrage, which shall be salts
factory to their extreme views. In The
neaotime they urge the President 10 Keen
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