The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-04
speech of Hon. Edmund Cooper, at
SheIbyyine, April 2nd.

have Seclined their invitation. My object
trust will 1roye to be a commendable one
/ ask you 10 give me 3 patient hearing.
The views which / will present to you
for your consideration, upon men and meas
ures. are the result Of deliberation and re
f1ection. l
have no motive to subserye except tn
good Of our common country. It's destiny i
indissolubly connected with cur individus
prosperity and happiness, and the gres
question, Interesting particularly to thi
States lately in rebellion, is What shal
We do 70 be saved?
Now, I propose 10 speak plainly, but no
sbusiVely. / shall address your reason
not arouse your passions i shall appeal q
your Judgments, and not 70 your symPathiei
or emotions.
feel fully conscious Of the difficult tasl
I have undertaken / well know, that IL
the present excited condition OF the puOilS
mind in Tennessee, it viii be almost I'M pos
sible 10 crafty an audience, unless / SaIei
70 the taste Of one side or the other ol the
great autaQonislns arrayed in political hos
tility 10 each other. Now, understand me
in tie outset / do not wish 70 widen TINS
breach Tf I could, / would heal 1t. We
are at present powerlessJ poltlcallY, IN tae
councils OF The nationJ ana It therefore be-
hoovss US, whilst adhering firmly and earn
estly 10 our own convictions Of nght, TO do
no act that viii cause those IN power to dis
trust our motives or misconstrue our
actions.
We should prove by our conduct that we
earnestly desire 10 be restored 10 our full
political relations with the United States,
and for this purpose, fun and complete
obedience 10 the Constitution Of the United
Seatss, and the Constitution Of the State OF
Tennessee, and all laws passed IN pursuance &c
Of them, 90 long as not revoked or repealed
or not declared void BY the courts, should
be given.
Therefore, we should use all honorable
means, such as do not require an abandon
donment of principle, 70 reeonclie the war
ring and conflicting elements OF politleai
strife in our State-and as far as possible to
cause them 10 harmonize-
Let me say TO you in all candor, that the
difficulties in Tennessee, which have caus-
ed 90 much excitement are not "tempests
in a tea pot, compared TO the great Earth
quake" that is shaking the hrm foundations
Of political power in Washington.
And we will all have to act together, to
avert political calamity, which, will prove
more disastrous to the Government, than all
of the results Of the terrible and wicked
war, through which the country has SO re-
Gently ana glOriously passed.
Hence, If had been member OF the
Legislature / would not have reslgned-l
would have voted al the time against the
proposed Franchise bil'-yet if the majority
having the power determined to pass it-I
would have scquiesced, and appealed TO the
people for the proper remedy.
. Yet, il is also due 10 you, that should
say, that l would not consider the resigna-
tion OF any member-an objectionable po-
litieal ofiense. which should induce men TO
vote for his compettor-if that competitor
occupied ground tayoring the passage Of the
Franchise bill.
In our own county, in the recent election
believing the statements of the Hon. NJ. +.
W. Dunaway 10 be true, could not discover
the legal grounds upon which His Excel
lency Governor Brownlow ordered an cleo
tion-thereupon, I argued and urged, that
the easiest solution of the difficulty was for
the people, even without Mr.. Dunaway be-
ing a candidate TO vote for him-good men
thought differently / have no accusation 70
bring against them for so doing.
For Col. Galbraith ] have always ielt g
high regard, and cOneede 10 him, courage
and honesty.
If the Legislature shall declare him enti-
tied to the position of Representative rom
Bedford, | hope that the same qualities Of
head and heart, that characterized him as
a soldier, will add additional lustre to his
course as a Legislator.
So much for social and State politics. =
I have now a higher and broader field OF
operations ! ask you TO follow me,
whilst explore and explain them.
TAR GREAT QUESTION.
sfnce .he termination Of the late war, q
question has been raised of a most danger
ous character, and pregnant with moment
Gus consequences TO tho future destiny OF
this Republic. What is the condition oi
the STATES lately in rebelliong Are they
dead. or DO they vet live7 If living, what
riehts. privileges aud hmmunities, have
their citizens, under the Constitution o.
the United States? II dead, what conse-
quenees Row from their being in thateondi,
ton
On the one side il is argued that the
States. the people Of which have been ui
war with the authorities of the Federal
Government, have irrevoeably severed then
constitutional connection with the other
States. and have feilen into the condition o
subjugated provinces, subject 10 the Will
and control of the law-making power o.
the United States. On the other side It Is
argued: that the States Of the Union are in
destruetable under the Constitution, and
cannot be affected BY the conduct Of their
citizens, tlat as q political organization
they can commit no crime; and that the
people alone in their individual capacity
can be guilty Of crimes, and for which they
must or can be either punished or pardon
ed.
These propositions have excited and ar'
still exciting widespread interest, anc
threaten seriously if not to postpone indeh
nitely, the settlement Of our political diin
culues.
The one proposition is the scheme Of th'
majority in Congress.
The other is the policy Of the President.
The one is predicated on the idea that bI
the war and its Consequences, all of th,
States declared in rebellion, together will
All Of their citizens and inhabitants, be
came alien enemies-and as such, can b,
treated according 10 the whim, caprice, Of
wisdom Of the law-making power Of tn
United States-Without any regard to th'
constitutional relationships existing be
tween the parties before tue war. An
that under and by virtue q this eyent-th,
loyal citizens Of the States thus treated
must share in all the guilt Of the disloyal
That il is q misfortune in the loyal 10 hav
thus been situated-yct, belliqerent law, s
enacts-and its iat, like the laws of Ia
Medes and Persians, is supreme and un
changeable.
The other is founded on the higher an,
loftier principles of justice and right.
holds no one guilty except the offender
ID winnows the wheat from the chat. ]
commonds the faithful. Il protects IN
innocent. ID rewards the deserving. Whni
n pun{shes thoae who deserve punishment
or pardons them--it says 70 the true an
loyal, "well done good aud iAithtul serN
ant"
Under its practical teachings a safe, wist
a speedy solution Of tho difficulty Is pro
yided-alike prudent and efficient. BY J
the political power Of the State-noW u
war is ever, is left in the hands Of the loy'
eitizens-those who bavs been she const
tutionallv loyal from the beginning, an
those who, in good faith, have availed then
selves Of the amnesty and pardon Of q
President. and are honestly endeaverin
70 regulate their conduct by the require
ments Of the Constitution ana the laws
the land.
Rapidly, as If by the wand Of enehEn
meut, beautiful and stable edinces
political Government have been, under d
wise and practical operations OF this Ju
policv--to which Andrew johnson rs Pres
dent Of the United States has exerted h
great intellect and comprehensive state
napship-created aad put into successh
,nerstieu in all of the States--so recent
ia rebellion and insurrcction-and into Il
hands Of the Governors 90 chosen b. the
own people, and the Legislatures 50 electe
ana the Judges, the control mapagemen
and execution Of the laws Of each state,
f.ras they apply 10 their own domes'
-,,ernments, have been by the Presldel
nnv and generously committed. No MI
tarv Governor now controls their destin
or exercises unbridled authority over thei
They, the people, have the power all
their own hands. With them and the Of
GERS OF their own choosing Is the adminl
trstiou oil an Of their home aiiairs-ana
one / thank God that Il is 50. feaee a.
obedience TO law pervades The whole Ian
Where. a brief twelve months ago, the d
,is rsced and war with all Of is horrors a.
Ssvsstaiion prevailed, quiet and good ore
'.s;-ns supreme. The temples OF lustiee
-. Re msris Of commerce are thfens'
- s.bool houses are filled By eager .
.S.. - sfndeuts: the temples Of the nv ny
CD sre vocal with praises 70 i'm ~. q.
whom al blessings ioEs. eslsig' ~
,bst - wroueht such mirueies ln !
srief noat must be right, ana shoo.S ..S =, -
mend itself 70 al true petrtets ~ ~, h
mand the wsfmest support q y, ~ -,
their country above the mere h'PeN
triumph, oT Of Personal gam