Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-28
THE PROPOSED RAT1FICATTON
MEETING IN NAsTVILIE-LETTE
FROM GEN. FORREST.

-
The Committee Of Invitation have re-
ceived the following reply from General
FORREST, to an invitation to be present at
the meeting proposed in this city, to adopt
the declaration Of principles agreed upon at
Philadelphia, in August, as the sentiment
of the Conservative people Of Tennessee:
MEMPHIS Sept. 18th, 1866 Gentlemen:
Your polite invitation, requesting me 10 be
present at the Grand Central Mass Meeting
at Nashville, called TO ratify the patriotic
proceedings of the Philadelphia National
Union Convention, held on the 18th and
18th Of August, did not reach me until after
the day appointed for it to assemble. This
trust, will account to you for my delay in
acknowledging its reception. / learn from
the public journals that the time for holding
the Mass Meeting has been postponed on
account Of the prevailing epidemic; and,
| yet, i fear that the pressure Of private en-
gagements will, nevertheless, preclude me
from the pleasure Of attending.
Nothing, l assure you, would give me
more satisfaction than to meet my fellow
citizens from every part of the State, as
sembled in the Capital city, for the purpose
contemplated, The restoration policy Of
| President JOHNSON, and the action of the
Philadelphia National Union Convention,
command my heartily approval, and make
no doubt that nine-tenths Of the masses OF
| Tennessee entertain a similar sentiment.
Mr.. JoHNsoN's policy, believe, is approved
not only by those who last year returned TO
their former places in the Union, but, also,
by ali true Union men in the State. II
would, therefore, be eminently appropriate
for the people of the Presidents own
State to meet in grand mass convention, and
| give emphatic expression to their views in
/ the present critical conjuncture of affairs
and to ratify the action of the National
! Convention, at Philadelphia. Such a
ratification would carry a weighty in
fluence where IL is most needed at this mo-
ment-it would, as you eloquently remark,
"speak trumpet-tongued encouragement to
the earnest men who are fighting the battle
Of the Union and the Constitution at the
| North" 1t is plain to the least Observant
that much-more, indeed, than / like to
mPlate-depends upon the success OF
the National Union men" Of the North
in the approaching elections Should they
succeed in changing the complexion of the
present Congressional delegations from the
great leading States of the North, AL will
doubtless go well with the Union and the
Constitution, and with Us of the South
On the other hand, should they be defeated
in their efforts to overthrow the proscriptive
extremists and disunionists Of that section
then, in all probability, the restoration Of
the Union must be indefinitely delayed, and
the oppression of The Southern people con-
tinued during the will and pleasure of those
whose political platform seems to be made
up Of but two planks,-one Of which is Ia
belled, Hatred" the other, Revenge"
Thanking you, gentlemen, for your cordial
invitation, and trusting that the Mass Meet
ing may prove signal success,
am, very truly yours, etc,
| n. B. FORREST.
Hon. JOIN S. BRIEN. T. c. BENNINGTON.