Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-16
THE PEOPLE SPEAKING OFT.

have usually been held by that class Of our
fellow-citizens who were known as Union
men during the war. Their united voice is
for harmony and peace among our people,
and an earnest support Of the restoration
policy of the President. Such out-speaking
of the masses viii confound the counsels of
the unpatriotie cabals, here and there, who,
for the dishonorable ends of sordid self-in-
terests wouldkeepthe country harrassed with
internecine strife.
MEETING IN STEwART.-The good citi-
zens Of this county assembled in convention
at Dover, on the 9Th inst, with ISAAC Will
LIAMs, Esq, as Chairman, and A. B. Ross,
Secretary. Delegates were appointed TO the
22d of February Convention, and resolutions
strongly endorsing the President in his noble
work Of reconstruction, adopted.
They also
Resolved d. That we endorse the course Of Col.
n. Brandon. present able Representative
from this county, and hereby appoint him dele
gate from the county at large, and that the citi-
Convention at Nashville, be requested to act as
delegates and that the delegates selected at this
meating have power TO appoint other citizens as
alternate delegates in case il should be inconven-
lent for them TO attend.
ResolDed 6th. That we entertain no feelings of
luminosity or revenge toward any honest returned
soldier of either army, or any honorable citizen,
whatever may have been his political sentiments
heretofore that VIC are willing TO bury in the
tomb of the Capuets the causes Of past differ
than those of friendship, should be forever
abandoned and forgotten, and that we viii
welcome to our State all honest and indus
may come; that kind feelings and friendly rela-
tons should be cultivated by ALL TO the end that
our country may again become prosperous and
happy; and any statement or intimation contrary
to the spirit Of this resolution, from whatever
source II may come. is unjust TO u.s. and untrue in
point of fact so far as it relates to our country
and, we believe. State also, and that all such
charges or statements do no good but only have
tendency 10 keep up bitter feelings and person.
al animosities and party prejudice, and to prevent
the restoration Of that brOtherly kindness, friend
ship and social intercourse which lie so essentially
necessary to the reunion Of sections and neigh bor
hoods and to the future peace and harmony Of the
country upon which all our national greatness and
prosperity depends.
MEETING AT KNoXyILLE.-A meeting
was held by the conservative law-abiding
people Of Knox County on Monday last and
was presided over by his honor, MAYOR
LUTTREL. The committee On resolutions
were Peril Dickinson, R. II. Armstrong, T.
A. r. Nelson, ]. NJ. Fleming and G. NJ.
Hazen.
In the preamble to their resolutions, they
state that the people of this State, lately in
rebellion against the Government, have
generally manifested, as we believe, an hon
est disposition to return to their true allegi-
ance, and. to conform to all the laws, enact
ments, and rightful orders of persons in
authority under the Government and
that the plighted faith of the Gov
eminent, as pledged by its Chief Executive
and the Generals commanding the national
armies, should be studiously and rigidly
kept and observed, and that restoration of
the Government without a recognition of the
constitutional rights of the citizens of the
States lately in rebellion, is utterly impos-
sible."
The resolutions adopted strongly endorse
the President, and assert our right to repre-
sentation in Congress, on the ground that
Tennessee "has complied with all the re-
quirements made upon her people" They
further resolved:
THAT the people of the South are the colored
mans best friend; that il is not their interest any
more than II is their inclination, TO abuse NAL
| treat them in any manner. That the Freedmen's
| Bureau is hurtful in its operation and dangerous
in its tendency. That we do not believe there is
any warrant in the Constitution for appropriations
of money TO sustain it. and that sound policy and
every consideration Of justice and humanity, de-
mand its discontinuance."
The meeting was addressed by Hon. Thos.
A. r. NELSON and j. NJ. FLEMING, Esq.
The long list of delegates is composed OF
old and influential citizens of the county,
known as Union men during our unhappy
war. Their action cannot fail to have its in
Huence in that portion Of the State.
BEDFORD CoUNTY.-Probably the most
exclusively "loyal" meeting that has been
held, assembled at Shelbyville on Saturday
last, presided over by our present Attorney
General and Reporter, Hon. THos. II. CALD-
WELL. Judge Henry Cooper, Joseph IL.
Thompson, Esq, Colonel Robert Galbraith,
Captain L. Frierson, L. p. Fields, r. P,
| Shapard, Thomas w. Buchanan, and r. II.
| Lewis were the committee on resolutions.
The preamble adopted declares that unjust
and erroneous statements have gone abroad
in regard TO public sentiment in Tennessee,
| and especially erroneous TO the wishes Of a
majority OF the loyal people therein"
| Furthermore, 1" that neither the Chief Exc
cutive Of the United States, the Congress,
nor any agent of the Government whatever,
have, either singly or combined, any legal
power to declare State out of the Union,
and thereby assume to govern such State
as a Territory or conquered province belong
ing to the General Government" And that
although not certain as to whether the
| Congress Of the United States had the Con-
stitutional power toimpose any Congressional
test OATH we were nevertheless careful to
see that no member was elected to that body
| from our State, who could not conscien-
| tiously take any oath which had been pre-
scribed, that looked to the loyalty of the
members asking admission" That they can
see no reason for the delay in the admission
of our delegates, "unless it is attributable to
what we conceive to be unjust and erroneous
statements having been sent to Washington
and elsewhere and which, in our opinion,
are exercising an unjust and improper in
Auence upon the minds of the loyal people
of the North" In view of which they
resolve:
That we believe that the entire people Of Ten
nessee, including those hitherto considered as
disoyal, are now. as a mass. determined to main
tain quiet and good order, and in all things faith
| fully to obey the laws of the United States
That the enactment BY the Congress of the
| United States, Of any law imposing upon the
| tions or restraints which do not, and which arc
| not intended 20 apply with equal force to the
| loyal people Of every Stat Of the Union, would
| be unjust 20 us. and in cur opinion, uneonstitu
| tional.
That We were in no wise responsible for the re-
hellion. and that while we utterly repudiated the
| doctrine of state Rights aS adhered 20 by JEFF
| icrson Davis and other leading spirits Of the
South, VIC nevertheless, insist that each State has
certain rights under the Constitution; and that
these rights are equal one State with another.
Entertaining these views, we do most heartily
approve of, and endorse, the principle enunciated
| BY Andrew johnson. President Of the United
States 10 the effect that the hitherto inSurrcctOn-