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

pated in and sy~mpatEized with the REBEL
lion, as those whose loyalty TO the Union
was never questioned, come forward TO place
upon the record their united testimony
against the truth Of this imputation OF dis
loyalty mado against the people OF the
| feste.
Upon the surrender OF the Southern ar
mics, the people Of Tennessee accepted the
result as q conclusive settlement of the
,ssues involved in the war. By the sct OF
aging dow their arms, and s~urrendering
% Their victorious enemies, the Southern
soldiers acknowledged their defeat, and
pledged their honor not again to renew the
conflict This pledge wss made in good
tslfh by brave men. They returned to
their homes, resumed their peaceful avoca-
tions, and have distinguished themselves
by the zeal aud energy with which they
have prosecuted their various pursuits.
The re ult had established The indesiruc-
liability Of the Union, by means Of separate
State secession, nj hence that the several
States which had sought 10 form q new con-
iederscy, hal never been Withdrawn from
the Federal Union. In this result the peo-
pie Of Tennessee aequiesced unhesitetingly,
and have waited patiently for the adoption
Of such measures as would restore them 10
their former rights in the Union. 10 the
meantime they have submitted, without
complaint, 10 all the terms and conditions
imposed uroa them SIS citizens of a State
lately il rebellion and have complied with
all the acquisitions by which their sincere
loyalty to the constitution and the Union
could be made manifest.
The delegation Of this Convention, with q
full knowledge Of their responsibility, do
not hesitate to affirm thatthe people OF Tea-
nesses were never, at any former time, more
sincerely anxious for the preservation OF
good order, and the restoration of civil law,
nor more earnestly united in their deter
mination - support, defend and preserve
the Constitution and the Union against all
assaults, open or concealed, domestic or
foreign, than they ara at the present time.
They are As ready now as they ever were in
days gone by, or, as are the people of any
other State IN the Union, TO pledge their
fortunes, their lives, and their sacred honor,
indefenee of the Constitution and the Union.
In declaring their willingness to main
tain the constitution, they desire to be un-
derslOod as recognizing the late amendment
f0rbiddIng the existence of involuntary SER
Yitude, "a a part thereof; and as svOwing
their determination to give to that clause
an honest and sincere support. 1hsy are
prepared to aid in extending TO the free per
sons of color such prote etiod as shall secure
t. them the uEdisIurbed enjoyment Of al
the blessings of freedom; and of conceding
to them all the civil and political rights
that may be compatible with the best inter.
ests of both races. They insist however
that this subject belongs exclusively to the
people Of the State, aud that the same has
not been transferred TO Congress by the
amendment aforesaid. They are satisfied
that whenever all extraneous influences are
Withdrawn, the relations between the two
races will be established upon principles oil
justice that will be mutually satisfactory
aud beneficial.
Entertaining these sentiments, the pso-
pie OF Tennessee, with unprecedented una-
nimity, hsve observed with unaffected sd-
miration, the wise and patriotic efforts
made by President johnson, to secure earl
aud complete restoration of the South ~
States to the Union. By the liberal exer-
else Of executive clemency he has shown
tina. he understands snd appreciate the
plighteI fai b of brave men, and By repos-
ing in tn m this generous confidence, he
hes won their hearts. and rendered their
pledge doubly secure, not only in securing
their Jealous support to the Union, but in
overcoming sectional sntipsthies, and in re-
storing sentiments Of liberation and frater-
aity, between those who were lately public
enemies
The people of the Southern States had re-
sponded so promptly and efficiently to the
wise suggestions and the liberal policy of
the President, that when the present Con-
grsss assembled, most OF the states, lately
in rebellion, had complied with the t rms
aud conditions upon which their restoration
to the Union was TO be consummated.
Nothing was then wanting for the effectua-
ting of the great work Of re-establihsing he
union of all The Sta es except the approval
of CQngress Of the policy adopted and car
ried out by the President. This approval
was withheld by a dominant majority Of
Congress, who have thereby repudiated the
policy of the President, ignored the exis-
tence of the Southern State repealed the
Senators and Representatives from tie halls
Of Congress, spd usurped the power to
govern the Southern States as conquered
pr vinces. AS if to make their usurpstion
more g'ar.ngly revolutionary, this domi.
nant majority, in t;ad Of acting in accord
ance with the provisions of tina constitu-
ton, in the matter of admitting the South
ern representation, "abdicated that high
position, and handed it over to a Joint com
mittee Of fifteen; a committee which sits with
| closed doors, which deliberat,s in secret,
which shuts itself out Fl, m the knowledge
and obsarvetion Of Congress, and which
does not even desire TO give the information
it was appointed to collect, but which
sends its rescerpts into the two houses end
demands their ratification, without reasons
and without facts, before the going down of
the sun"
Awaiting themselves of their usurped
power, the majority in Congress do M
hesitate to declare their purpose of exclud-
ing the Southern States from the Union,
until they shall have ~effectuated such
amendments of the Constitution as will rem
der the Southern States utterly pOwerless
in all future time, as will insure political,
civil and social equality between the white
and cJlored races, as will concentrate all
polit cal power in a dominant majority Of
Congress, as viii absorb and annihilate all
the rights reserved to the States, and as will
perpetuate the power and dominion of the
political party which now holds the reins
Of government. In these efforts to under
mine and reyolutionize the Federal Gov
ernment, and to build upon its ruins a fa-
natical despotism, the Congressional con-
spirators have the Jealous sympathies and
active encouragement of a lean minority Of
sur own State, who are knowingly defying
tho will of an overwhelming majority Of
the people, and persistently depriying them
Of their jus! rights in the goYernm ent.
In this fearful conflict between pat lotto
devotion to the Constitution aud the Union,
Gu one side, aud sectional fanaticism, seek
ing to peTpetuate us political power, on the
other, President Johnson has borne himself
with unshrinking hrmness. with an amount
of far-seeing wisdom, disinterested love of
Justice, mingled with liberal elemency, and
untiring perseverance in the grand work OF
restoring the Union Of the States, which
haye secured for him the hearty approval
and the unbounded confidence of al true
friends Of the Constitution and of the Union.
Upon his continued irmness and wisdom
they now rely for the final overthrow of
the enemies of the Union; and with the
prompt co operation Of the people whose
confidence he epjpys, he is destined to
crown his adminlsia alton with the glory of
having saved the CONSTITUTE n aud the ULiOn
against the most dangerous assaults ever
made upon them. But against the power
erful combustion now srrayed against him,
he cannet stand single handed. He is ready |
10 do his full duty in this fearful crisis, but
now, as always heretofore, his trust for sue
cess is in the people. To them he looks for
encouragement, for support, spd upon them
he relies for final success.
The delegates to the Convention, for the
purpose of branding as misrepresentation,
81 statements, by whomsOeyer made, which
lmpute sentiments and purposes Of disloy-
atty TO the Constitution and Union, to the
crest body Of the people CT Tennessee; and
also for the purpose Of proclsiming the read
mess of the people of Tennessee 10 stand by
and sustain President Johnson and his ef-
forts to carry out his restoration policy, do
hereby sdopt the foregoing preamble, and
announce their resolution 10 sustain him in
the policy by him indicated.
The principles Of that policy, simple but
complete, are
l. The integrity of the Union in the whole
and all its parts.
2. That the States declared in instruction
and rebellion, by reason of the war did not
cease 10 be States, and a,e therefore integral
parts Of the United States
81. That, as such States, the citizens
thereof who, by tbs laws Of each, are enti-
tied TO the elective franchise, nave a right
to elect representative to Congress accord.
to the ratio Of representation rs fixed
by law, and that Congress esnnot legally
exclude them because they claim to be rep
Of & State lately in rebellion.
Congress has a right, each house acting for
itself, under the Constitution, to decide mp ,
on the election sad qualification of its mem
4. That the people Of the respective
have the right 10 regulate their "
domestic affairs as long as they act consis
with the constitution I; hence his op-
to any attempt on the part Of Con
gress to force negro suffrage 4pen them l
,ueh policy is calculated 70 WIDEN rsthsr \
han heal the breach between the North u,