The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-23

dorse most fully, the policy of President
johnson in the administration Of the Gov
eminent, snd especially his recent message
vetoing the bill smendstory TO the act es-
tsblishing the freedmen's bureau.
After reading the resolutions, Mr.. Baxter
said that there had, under the excitement Of
the last lew years, been q constant struggle
between sections, and that this contest has
resulted in civil war-a war as unnecessary
ss it twas unnatural. But now all was over I;
and this Government, which had survived
50 long, would endure forever.
The Southern States, By the act Of war,
had deprived themselves Of many constitu-
tional rights; but now that the war is over,
let Us harmonize. He regretted that there
was yet IN the country some of the spirit
which caused the war. Men had been I'M
s~crupulous in their efforts to hold power.
The President had lone much toward.
crushing out the rebellion; and TO this end
be IS now laboring. In these efforts be is
met by q faction which is endeavoring to
retain party power; and our meeting to-day
IS to aid in steadying the arm Of the Exc
eutive in his great struggle.
We have never had but one Washington;
but dissimilsr as sic the traits Of his
character, when compared with AndreE
Jo~hhson-yet if the latter succeeded in ac-
complishing his purposes-snd he believed
be would-ne would have done more than
Washington o. any man that has ever
lived. lCheers.l
There had beea stories aAoat that the OBJ
Jeet OF this Convention was revolutionary;
but this was not the case.
He thea anslyzed the Freedmen's Bureau
Bill, and eulogized the President for his
veto OF the measure.
Mr. Mullins offered the following substi-
tute
WHEREAs-President Johnson did declare
in a speech at Washington City, to Sir
Frederick Bruce, English Embassy, that
Inc time has come that traitors must be
taught they are criminals, the eoun ~ has
clearly made up its mind on that poipt.
and 1t can lind no more earnest agent of its
will than myself; and
WHKREis-President johnson also de-
elared further in a speech made by him in
Washington City, on the 21st day Of April,
1868, that treason must be made odious.
and traitors must be punished, and impov-
erished, they must not only be punished,
but their social power must be destroyed,
snd alter making treason odious, every
Union man and the Government sh .uld
be remunersted out of the pockets of those
VINO have inflicted this great suffering upon
the country; and
Reconsideration johnson, in a speech
made by him at the White House, to the LIST
District Of Columbia colored regiment, Oct.
10, 1865, declared 10 the colored soldiers
that this Is your country as much as any
body else's country. That he who is most
meritorious and Virtuous, and intelligent
and we'll informed, must stand highest,
without regard to color, IN a Government of
freedom aud liberty, There must be Law,
and there must be obedience and submission
10 the law, without regard to ~color;' and,
WHERFAs-President John on, in q speech
made By him in the Senate during the early
stages Of the rebellion, addressing himself
t. JEFF. Davis and other Senator'S declared
in substance as follows: "Were ! President
I the Uni ed states, l would arrest you as
traitors, try you as traitors, and, when con
SIc.ed, hang you a. traitors." Therefore,
be it
l. Resolved, That we cordially indorse
and accept the foregoing sentiments and
policy Of Andrew johnson, President of the
United States.
?. That WI learn with feelings Of regret,
from Alabama and other States lately en-
gagged in rebellion against the United States,
that Union men are rigidly excluded from
reconstruction c INVENTIONS, and from official
20 itions ia such Stats.
5, That such conduct clearly exhibits the
devilish spirit e~ngendered aud fostered by
slavery, ana we it TO the true Union
men of the seeded States who have been
faithful hom first 10 last, TO compel g recog-
milton of their rights; and it is the opinion
of this General Assembly, that none ought
to be recipients of Federal patronage, none
others ought to be consulted in the work of
reorganization except the true repentant
rebeIs, If possibly there be such.
4. That the Radical or Union party Of
Tennessee are not willing to admit the
southern Representatives in Congress until
the southern states give ample guarantees
of good behaviour in the future.
5th. That we further indorse and ADOPT
President Johnson's policy precedent to
the return to the Union of the late rebel
lious States to their old relations, they must
declare null end void their secession ordi-
nsLees That they must abolish slavery.
That they must raIify the Constitutional
amendments. That they must send up to
the Federal Congress such Representatives
as caa take the oath of loyalty as pre.cribed
BY Congress.
9th. That, The lsngu ge of President John
son in his dispatch to Governor Humphreys,
Of Nov. p, 1865, " We require no cocces-
sion from the Southern States, other than a
loyal eompliancs with the laws aud Con
s~titution Of the United states, and the adop-
ton OF such measures giving protection to
all freedmen and ifeemen, in person and
property, without regard to color, as will en-
title them to resume all their Constitutional
relations in the Federal Uniou. There
must be a confidence between the Govern
ment and the States, and while the Govern
ment confides in the people, he people
must have faith in the Government, and
that the Federal troops will not be with
drawn until, in the opinion OF the Govern
- 80 - IL It'll - /
thorities, have been restored and can be
maintained without them"
7. That We have the utmost confidence
in the Congress ofthe. United State that it is
eminently able, patriotic and Union 10 ring, |
and that VIZ would ask that our delegates be
admitted 10 their seats at the earliest day
practicable, il, in the wisdom OF Congress,
il does not jeopardize the true interest of
the Government.
3. That we further indorse and accept
the declarations of President johnson,
made at Nashville, June 10th, 1864, and in
part reiterated to the delegation from Viz
GINA, that if there be but five thousand or
less number of loyal men in a State, they
alone should take charge of its political
machinery, and hat the exercise of politi-
cal power should be confined to loyal men.
The substitute was laid on the table, With
tut two or three dissenting voices, on mo-
ton Of Mr.. Ramsey, of Bedford.
The original resolutions were then sdop-
ted.
Ccl. Blackmsn moved that the sentiments
of Hon. Horace Maynard's letter be declared
the sense of this meeting.
Laid on the table, on motion of Hon. J. s.
Brien.
Hon. Jordan Stokes was then loudly call
ed for and responded.
He said that it was peculiarly proper that
the people should assemble GA this, the
birth day of the first President, to pay
homage to the last, but not least, Of the
of Chief Magistrates.
Let us not look to the past, but to the
present and the future. 1t is in this aspect
IF the case that made him so happy to see
this great meeting. Andrew johnson is
our hope, and our only hope now; but the
is not far distant, when, not only in this
State, but everywhere, North and South,
'adicalism would siak 60 low that it could
lever be resurrected. (chsers.)
We are one people; We nave differed in (
he past; but when the rebel armies surren-
Tered, he was ready 10 welcome the man who
would in future look TO the Stars and stripes
- Euh ngFCs ANAtCiny
He was for those who would heal our l
and not for those who lived upon /
he scslbs of the wounds so lately inflicted. s
We have the good Samaritan the great heal
r of wounds-in Andrew johnson, Presi- I
of the United States. (Loud cheers I
Our platform is broad enough; our resolu-
ions will put the lie upon the slsndefers of :
be State. He argued that loyal men ought
o rule the State that every man who has t
AIKEN the oath Of amnesty, and faithfully 8
.ept it, is his brother. cloud eheers) h
ould trust brave men and when the soi-
iers of the late Southern army said they
7ere sincere, he could not disbelIeve them.
>
GEE. CooPER's sPEEca. :
Gen. Cooper said he came here to endorse :
he President, he had done so throughout /.
be war and he did so still. But he opposed :
be method of putting the resolutions, and 4,
they were hastily put through. !,
he preamble and resolutions should be :
cad separately. He endorsed the sen,i- !,
tents Of the resolutions, but not the man :
er in which they had been spsssed. :
Mr.. President Cooper said mat there had =
cen no disposition to push things that be :
-ould have been too happy 10 hear any re- I,
lsrks on the resolutions. :
Mr.. Baxter moved, in order to have har- =
that the vote be reconsidered, which n
as done, after which the resolutions were ?