The Van Buren press., 1866-09-21
Public Meeting in Crawford County.


ford County was held at the Court House
on Saturday, the 18th day of September
which was organized by appointing Rev
j. S. MCCuRDY, Chairman, and BENTON
j. Brown, Secretary. On taking the
chair the Chairman of the meeting ex-
planned the object of the meeting, was to
ratify the proceedings of the Philadel-
phia Convention whichwere read to the
meeting, whereupon, on motion, com
mittee of seven were appointed to draft
resolutions expressing the sentiments of
the meeting, consisting of Hon. Jesse
Turner, Col. NJ. F. Locke, Hon. James
Sangster, Whitfield Bowen, Esq, Gran
vile Wilcox, Esq, VIM. F. England and
Rev. Mr. Shibley, who, after mature de
liberation returned to the meeting the
following resolutions:
WHEREAS. The declaration of principles
and the resolutions adopted by the great y a
tional Union Convention assembled at PNis-
deIphia. on the l4ih of August last, are In our
judgement aminently wise. just ana proper
and whereas the ayowed objects and purposes
of said Convention were to uphold and sus-
tain the President of the United States in his
bold and manly efforts to restore the Union
and maintain the rights of the States, and OF
the people under the Constitution against the
persistent efforts of a desperate faction IN
| Congress who regard the Southern States as
conquered provinces. and the people OF those
States as subject vaSsals. Therefore
| ResoIUed That we do most heartily endorse
and ratify the action of the late Conservative
Union Convention held at Philadelphia on the
| l4th of August last and that we do earnestly
desire a restoration OF the Union, on the ba-
sis of the Constitution.
Resolced, further, That we do approve OF
/ President ,Johnson's reconstruction policy as
the only policy by which the revOlted States
can be restored TO their constitutional rights
| in the Union.
Resolued, furtker, That the right of repre-
sentation guaranteed to the States and the
people cannot be denied by Congress to any
OF the States or people without gross injus-
tice and palpable infraction ofthe Constitu-
tional rights of the States and people.
Resolred, That while we are, in the present
conditions of the country, opposed to further
Constitutional amendments, we have no OBJ
lection to any amendments which experience
may show to be necessary and proper, proyi-
ded that all the States have an equal opportu-
nifty of proposing and passing upon such
amendments. .
ResOlced. further, That the constitutional
amendments proposed by the late Radical
Congress are not only unnecessary. but theil
adoption by the Southern States would be de-
grading to them, because they offer bribt
for negro suffrage. and propose to disfran'
cniSe a large proportion of the Southern peo
pie, because of their sympathy with the lat'
rebellion, all of which we regard as unwise
illiberal. and unstatsmanlike.
ReSolred, FURTHER That while we regarC
this as white mans government. and arr
unalterably opposed to negro suffrage, we re-
gard the whole subject of suffrage as matte
of State regulation exclusively, with whicl
congress has no right to interfere.
uoRiSaIifln dvrMfrs That tbs public wslfar
ly desire the preservation of the Constitution
and the perpetuity Of the union should la,
aside all party proclivities and prediction;
and come and work together as one grand Ma
ti0ndl Union pdrty, lor the success Of the prn
ciples laid down by the Philadelphia Conven
ton. and the consequent restoration OF peace
happiness and Uuion.
Resolred r,rther, That in Andrew johnson
President of the United States, we have
man of unsellish patriotism and sterin.
worth, whose whole public life has demon
strated his attachment and devotion to tn,
Constitution and the Union. and whose plal
ofreconstruction establishes his wisdom. fore
sight and statesmanship and we tender t
him our earnest cooperation and support In
his patriotic efforts to preserve the Constitu
ton protect and guard the rights of the States
promote peace and harmony throughout tht
i Union. and elevate us as nation to degree
of prosperity and greatness without example
or precedent in the history of the world.
JESSE TURNER, CHAIRMAN.
These resolutions were fully explained anc
ably advocated in pointed speech by the
Hon. Jesse Turner, followed by Gen. T. NJ
Bowen, late of the L. s. A., who fully, and to
the qualification of all showed co nclusively tc
Confederate armies that those who were Con,
servative Union men. and who are now adyo-
eating the policy of the President, were the
true Constitutional Union men-that it requi-
/ red no change for the Federal soldiers to be
such that as such they stood as heretofore
that he and they are, as in the late war, bat
tling for the Constitutional Union as it was
! that the radicals are the rebels and dsunion-
lists now. Col. NJ. f. Locke being called for
responded in spirited and appropriate ad.
! dres in behalf of the resolutions, quite to the
satisfaction of all present.
| On the conclusion of the above speeches the
question on the adoption of the resolutions
was put, which resulted in their unanimous
adoption.
The following additional resolutions were
also adopted:
Resolred, That this County will send two
delegates to the 3rd Congressional District
Convention, to be held at Clrksylle. John
son County, on the twentieth of October next.
Benton j. Brown, Esq, and Col. NJ. f.
Locke were elected as such delegates ..
Resoiced, further. That copy of these pro-
ceedings be furnished to the Van Buren Press
for publication, and that all papers in the
State advocating the foregoing principles are
requested TO publish the same.
j. s. McCURDY, CHAIRMAN.
BENTON j. BROWN. Secretary.
After the above proceedings the johnson
Club was organized which was declared should