Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-10
The People for the President.
MEETING OF THE CITIZENS OF DE
CATUR COUNTY.
speeches, RESOLUTIONS, Etc.

At a meeting Of the citizens Of Decatur
county, at Decaturville, onzthe Sd ult.,
JAMES G. ROBERTS was called 10 the Chair.
The meeting was then addressed by Col.
J. J. SrEGALL, the present Representative
in the State Legislature, from the counties Of
Decatur and Perry. He said he highly en-
dorsed the restoration policy Of President
JOHNSON; also declared the disfranchise law
of Tennessee to be unconstitutional and de-
structiye to the principles Of free govern
ment Then Judge FooTE, formerly of Col
conda, Illinois was called for, who rose and
said that he was also an advocate Of the
Presidents policy, and warned the people
to beware of fanatics and demagogues;
and admonished them to cultivate
a spirit Of reconciliation, and thereby har-
monte and quiet the political element, and
| perpetuate the Union Of States.
After which the Hon. G. s. BRANDON was
called to the stand, who responded in brief
and eloquent speech. He expressed an ar
dent attachment to the Union of States, and
said that he was not in favor of holding the
States ia the Union BY force but that he
was in favor of uniting the people by laying
aside sectional strife, and thereby become
once more happy nation. That sectional
strife had ever been antagonistical to the
durability OF all republican governments,
and that he sincerely desired, no matter
where his fate should be cast, whether upon
the chilly shores Of Northern lakes,.or the
sunny wales of the South, to call it his
country.
Mr.. JOHN w. BLYTHE, late of Galway
county, Kentucky, after repeated calls, re-
sponded in few eloquent and patriotic re-
marks-saying we had just passed through
long and bloody struggle for the mainte-
nance and restoration of the Union; that
the star spangled banner yet proudly waved
over the dome of the capital of every State,
for which he felt devoutly thankful to God
He said that he was an advocate of the re-
construction policy Of President JOHNSON,
and thought it the most direct way TO a
final settlement of our national difficulties
that the time had arrived when every true
patriot should lay aside party prejudice and
everything that might be hindrance to
throwing his whole influence in the current
Of reconciliation and peace; that we should
vie with each other in the destruction of the
| power Of political fanatics and demagogues,
and mature love for the bOundless and I'M
disturbed union of the States and that the
voice Of coming generations may go forth
in thanl1fulnesss TO those, who in this
trying hour Of our country, gave it
their undivided support. And let US re-
member that Greece had her ALEXANDER
Rome her CESAR, and::France her NAPo-
LEON they fell. If we would avoid the rock
upon which they split let us lay aside all
that binders from giving our whole support
to the cause Of this, our wounded and bleed
ing country-and to the support of ANDREW
JOHNSON, that he may guide the ship Of
State safely through the tempest and an
| Choir her safely in calm and open sea. In
conclusion, may it be that when the king of
| day is making his last revolution around the
| earth, and is about to sink behind the west
ern horizon to rise no more, he may stop for
| one moment, and cast a lingering look up
on the United States of Americas much
as to say, there's Government that's stood
until the end Of time, and is yet represent
ed by republican form of government
and its people yet have freedom and liberty
| [Great applause.]
After which the following resolutions
were adopted:
Resolred lst. That we are now, as hereto
| fore, ardently attached to the union of the
| States under the Constitution of the United
| States that We deny the right of any State
| to secede, and hold that all attempts at
secession are null and void, that all the
| States are now States Of the Union as before
| the rebellion, and we deny the power of the
General Government under the Constitution
TO exclude State from the Union, or to
govern it as a Territory.
Rcsolred ID. That our confidence in the
ability, integrity, patriotism and statesman
ship of President JOHNSON is undiminished,
and we cordially approve Of the general
policy of his administration.
Resolved, Sd. That we endorse the resolu-
tons of Congress Of July 1861, declaring
the object of the war to be the defense and
maintenance of the supremacy Of the Con-
stitution, and the preservation of The Union,
with the dignity, equality and rights of the
several States unimpaired.
Resoiced, 4th. That in the language of the
Chicago platform Of 1861, and as quoted by
the late President LINCOLN, in his first in
augural address, the m6inJainance inviolate
of the rights Of States, to order and control
their own domestic institutions according to
their own judgement exclusively, subject
only to the Constitution of the United
States, is essential to the balance Of power
on which the perfection and endurance Of
our political policy depends. Sd.
Resolved, 9TH. That under the Constitution
of the United States is reserved to the sew
eral States the right to prescribe the qualifi-
cation of electors therein, and that il would
be subversive of the principles of our Gov
ernment for Congress 20 force universal
suffrage upon any portion ofDfhe country in
opposition TO the known wishes Of the citi
zens thereof
ResolUcd, 9th. That this Union must be and
remain one and inseparable forever that the
war for its preservation having been brought
to a triumphal close, and the supremacy of
the Constitution indicated the rights of the
States under the Constitution are 20 remain
inviolate, and that loyal citizens within the
States and districts lately overrun by rebel
lion, are entitled to all the rights guaranteed
TO them by the Constitution.
Resolved, 9TH. That all the States Of the
Union are entitled by the Constitution of the
United States TO representation in the coun-
sells Of the nation, and that all loyal mem
bers duly elected and returned, having the
requisite qualifications as prescribed by law,
shall be admitted 10 their seats in Congress
without unnecessary delay by the respective
houses, each house being the Judge of cleo
ton returns and qualifications Of its own
members.
Resolved, Sth. That we cordially endorse
the restoration policy Of President JOHNSON
| as wise, patriotic, constitutional, and in har-
mony with the platform upon which he was
elected, with the declared policy Of the late
President LINCOLN, the action of Congress
and the pledges given during the war
Res0lred, 9th. That the nation owes
lasting debt Of gratitude to the soldiers and
sailors Of the late war for the suppression Of
the rebellion, and che families Of the fallen
heroes who died that the country might live.
Resolved 10th. That the proceedings Of
this meeting be published in the Nashville
UNION AND AMERICAN.
J. c. RoBERTs, Chairman.
c. r. ScoTT, Secretary.