Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-08
PubIic Meeting in Knoxville.

sing the policy Of Andrew Johnson. and |
the general principles Of his administra-
ton in the reconstruction Of the seeded !
States.
G. W. Hazcn, was called 10 the chair, and
L. p. Bailey was appointed Secretary. On
motion Of F. s. IEciskcIl the chair was del /
cgatcd to appoint committee of seven to
retirc-pcpare and report Preamble and
Resolutions The chair then announced
the following named persons as such com
mittce: F. s. HeisbcI, chairman, Col. John
NJ. Davis, John Tillcry, Capt. J. W. Pattcr-
son, James D. Murray, Esq Samuel Pickle,
and Col John Williams.
The committee then retired and in due
time reported the following Preamble and
Resolutions:
PREAMBLE
This meeting having been called without any ref
Crencc TO former party associations and by those
who belonged 20 different parties in times past deem
it proper 70 express their views in reference to the
present condition Of The country. Whatever differ
ences of opinion may have existed among us pend
ing the war; as TO the c0nsttutiOnalty and propretv
in view Of the results of the war; regard it as being
any longer an open question. To debate It now, or
at any future period would only reopen to no use
full or practical purpose, agitation which has too
long distracted and divided the country, and cause
the wounds Of the nation 20 bleed afresh. Every
lover of peace and law and order anNously desires
that the swollen stream of national politics shall sub
side within its ancient channel and pursue its
placid course. The extremists of the North and /
the South by their uncompronlising hostility TO each
other brought on a war which has caused the death
of thousands of valuable citizens and carried ruin
and desolation in its track; and we deeply regret
that as Southern agitation has been rghtfully sup
pressed by force of arms there should be any party
in the North disposed abuse the right of conquest
and to abandon those great principles OF moderation
and Justice which lie the foundation Of every good
government. But the fact Is Undenlabe that while
the present incumbent Of the Executive chair felt it
his duty to cooperate with those who deemed the
extinction of slavery essential to future pros
perity, and gave to that measure his cordial and /
most efficient support; and while as Southern man
by BIRTH education and residence heisa better judge
Of the most proper course to be pursued to arouse
Southern feeling 10 its former devotion to the Union
as well as 20 smeorate the condition Of the freed
man. yet he Is bitterly opposed by speculative theo-
rsts and visionary reOrmers who are utterly lgnO-
rant Of the true condition of affairs in the South
and are too eager to hazard experiments alike de-
tremental to the white and colored races. Claiming
as we do TO be as loyal to the government as any .
citizens North or South, feel called upon to give
the following utterancc Of our opinions
Rcs0lrsd, That the hope Of the South is conferred
in Andrew Johnson-that he is the tool of no man
or any Party-that he has the capacity to conceive
and the courage and independence to execute what
believe will eventually and speedily result in
storing our beloved country TO its former state Of
prosperity and happiness That so far as the policy
Of his administration has been developed it is man
ifeStly that of conservative statesman of enlarged
mind and liberal views, e0ntra-distinGu from
the radicasm of the day. That We have full con-
denCe in his orecase and ability, and that ten
der TO him our cordial thanks, and pledge our IN
wayering support in carrying ont his policy as
have seen It f0rez hadOwed in his official acts.
Res0lrsd, That we view with pride and satisfac-
ton the conservative Of our citizen President
in his bold and consistent course in opposing the ex-
tremo radiealism Of the North headed by unprin-
cipled extremists persistent in urging the equality
of the negro with the white man.
RcSolred, That while we concede 20 our National
Congress every right ueciful for the government
and preservation Of our Union, are not unmind-
ful OF the rights of states States. That among
those rights stands prominent the exclusive one
guaranteed to each State to regulate the elective
franchise, provided, that it be done in accordance
with our republican form Of government
RcsoLrsd, That while We freely acquicsce in, and
viii sustain in good faith, the act of freeing the
slave claim equal right with our Northern
friends to judge Of the fitness mentally and moral
" of the negro to exercise those rights which have
been heretofore restricted to the white race alone
and that We are Y sqs a ta E9 and A good o4er
Of the Southern States, and of the whole L Mon, to
place the African equality with the white
race. That the negro Is incapable and cannot oc-
cupv position Of equality morally mentally or po-
ticaly; and that VIC repudiate and protest against
TO them the right Of suffrage, the privil-
eye Of testifyng in courts, Except when negro
party cOntending) OF serving jurors or in any
civil or political capacity which would bring them
Ill r. #r, . l., Is
cept in the case referred to- Dut we have ample
confidence in the judicious management and states
m0nlke administrative ability Of Andrew johnson
and now, in advance repleige ourselves to his sup
port, in such course is the urgency Of events may
impel him to adopt
RcsoLcca, That while We are now, as we ever have
been opposed, in all its aspects, TO placing the
gro on an equality with the white man. we consider
it duty and will most willingly aid the govern
meHt in doing all in power citizens to render
the condition of the negro rs prosperous and com
Portable il is in the power IF a kind and humane
people to do.
Rcs0Ircd That we would be derelict in duty, and
would fail to express that patriotic feeling which we
cherish, did not tender 10 the patriotic citizens Of
our State, and the American army and navy our gra
ttude for their const8ncy, valor and intrcpidity in
the constitution and preserving the uni
" Of our States and that to the soldier and sailor
we tender our candid and heartfelt thanks; and
that in especial manner is our gratitude due to
o
county of Knox and in this connection we would
remind them that brave men are always LIBERAL for
bearing and forgiving-that having bravely fought
and nobly all for which they commended that
now, having laid down their arms they may well
afford, as good and loyal citizens, TO lay down all
feeling Of bitterness and luminosity towards those
whom so recently they met in angry conflict on the
bloody battlefield, and now meet them as citizens
As neighbors, and friends; OF if they cannot do
this that they at least abstain from all acts of IN
awful violence and appeal 20 the laws of the land,
which are amply powerful 90 redress any grievances
hey have sustained. :
ReSolrsd That, in our opinion the citizens of }
tennessee are at this time decidedly in favor Of the
policy and administration Of Andrew johnson by
N overwhelming majority; that we believe the y
representative branch of cur Legislature, which, 4
y It's Official act has refused to endorse it, has VIC
ated the will Of the people who elected them; and I
hat VIC firmly Of the opinion that the action of +
be Senatorial branch extending TO the negro the :
ndiscrminate right to testify in the courts Of jus
ice Is in violation Of sound policy, contrary to that
ceiling which has grown with our growth and g
,rengthened with strength, and that the masses
MI repudiate the act when an opportunity presents
self at the ballot box 4
After the reading Of the foregoing Pre- il
mbie and Resolutions. a proposition was V
ladc that the sense Of the meeting be taken, h
nd on submitting the votc-thcy were a a
doptcd without dissenting voice Of
1t was then resolved that the editors OF
owspapcrs throughout this Statc-thc Na-
email LatcHge0cer, and all other papers
rintcd in the United States which endorse
ndrew Jobnson's policy, be requested to
lblish these proceedings sand that copies u,
the call ion this meeting, as well as of &C
lie Preamble and Resolutions be forwarded G
the President