Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-23

rather than to heal the breach between the North
and South, and to impair rather than to benefit
the negro
with the Constitution Of the United States it be-
ing unwise craftsmanship 10 endeavor to change
the fundamental law of the Land in the midst Of
when the people of eleven Of the States, upon
whom the amendments are 10 operate have no
representative will in the Congress Of the nation
6. The guarantee Of the payment Of the public
debt incurred for the maintenance OF the Govern
I. The freedom Of all the inhabitants Of the
land. and their protection. By law, in the enjoy
ment Of life. liberty and property.
We further resotpe, That the present administra-
ton of the Government of the State, though IN
formal in its origin, established under eireum
stances which justified its creation, and which, in
the interests of peace and order is still entitled to
recognition and support but II il due TO truth to
say, that to receive that cordial support which
good citizens desire TO yield to government, Its
measures should be temperate, tolerant. and heal
ing In their character just 10 all, and vindlctive
toward none; earnestly striving for an early re-
sumption, both regards the State and its people
| of their proper and normal relations with the
| Federal Government, and for such restoration OF
law and order as will relieve the people OF the
presence OF the military authorities, and oil dis-
| quietude therefrom.
That we approve most heartily. and endorse
most fully. the policy Of President johnson IN the
administration of the Government. and especially
| his recent message yetoing the bill amendatory to
| the act establishing the freedmen's bureau.
The Chairman, Mr.. BAXTER, accompanied
his Report with appropriate remarks upon
the recent and present condition OF the
country, bearing testimony to the good feel
ing that now prevails with the people in
Tennessee in their disposition towards the
Government He spoke Of the great work
which the President had to discharge and
expressed his full confidence in his ability
to discharge ii, and thus save the country
| from the tide of fanaticism which now
threatens it. His recent visit North gave
him hope in the sober second thought of
the people, to whom the President would
look for support.
Mr.. Mullins, of Bedford, offered a series
of resolutions in lieu, which were thorough
" radical in their character, at war with
the policy of the President and which were
intended to disturb the harmony of the Con-
vention. In this, however, they signally
failed, as they were promptly and almost
unanimously laid upon the table.
The report of the committee was then
submitted to the decision of the Conven-
ton, and was adopted by such reclamation
| that Mr.. Mullins was heard of no more
during the day.
Gen. Cooper of Knox, asked TO be heard
touching the preamble and resolutions which
had been adopted by the Convention. He
had no objections to make to the report OF
the committee, but he did object to the hasty
and informal manner in which it had been
acted upon by the Convention. He thought
there was some trick in it.
The Chairman explained that the gentle
man was mistaken in supposing the manner
of acting OF the report informal, but for the
entire satisfaction of every one the chair sub
mitted to the Convention motion to recon-
slider the vote adopting it, which motion was
| carried.
The preamble and resolutions being again
| put to the Convention, were ratified by &C
clamation. This seemed to give satisfaction
| to Gen. Cooper, who avowed himself a cor
dial supporter of the present restoration pol
| icy of the President.
Hon. Jordan Stokes being called to the
| stand, said: Ers
| THANK this convention for the opportunity YOU
/ have afforded me of announcing to this large dele
CATION from every county in the State OF Ten
| nessee that most cordially endorse and approve
the preamble and resolutions; aAp p that
| YOU should announce the views and principles
| that YOU entertain, for ifyou look to the lesisa-
ton Of national Congress or IN LOOKING az ,ne
! in the action of Congress and the State of Ten
nessee. and ,it is peculiarly appropriate on this
| day the 22d Of February the birthday of the first
| President of the United States; 1t Is peculiarly
| appropriate that the people Of Tennessee should
assemble to Ray Dass 70 no TIN
| ion the first President, we should pay, homage
1 To the last, yet not by any means the least,
in the galaxy of men who haye presiaed over inc
gone BY were not found holding the principles OF
! the President, but past party politics nave now
| no influence We need not dwell with the past.
| II il useless to refer to the past. We have high
and serious duties to perform looking 10 the pre-
| sent, and looking to the future. iAppiauseI 1t Is
much ratified that this vast assemblage, repre-
santatives from every part of Tennessee, have
| given in their most hearty and cordial indorse,
ment and approval q Inc p 1on bope He i
| now, perhaps, the only sure hope OF any portion
Of the country. North or South, can rely upon to
preserve the integrity OF the Fedora. constitution
| II can be done. 1t will be done; tor the day Is
| not far distant, when all over this country, not
only in Tennessee raasa rs;a.d w aga Shk rbe
| words of the speaker, were here drowned IN the
| tumult of appiause.] Have We not common
country? We have differed IN w, tne pas[ upon
| few msnths since occupying the relations OF ma
| tional enemies but with the surrender OF the
Southern armies. thank Gotrny neart was oro a
| that came and said he was for the Stars and
| Stripes [Applause.l Let us regard the past, as
past; forget all the chickering's of the past. GIVE
me the man that prefers to bind up the wounds
4 which this rebellion has made, rather than the
| man that feeds and fittens upon the scabs and
sores which this strife has made. Applause
am for the healer Of these national difficulties
am for the man.that is acting the part OF the good
| Samaritan who is willing to administer comfort
and consolation to this distracted and bleeding
country. In the person of Andrew Johnson we have
| that healer. [Applause.l Gentlemen, thank you.
| [Cries Of Go onl Go onpl L would Ike
| there are other distinguished gentlemen here
whose voices we have not heard for years, that we
| have heard in times gone by, but which we desire
| to hear again. This looks more IKE hVe OF SIX
! wears ago than any occasion we have seen In
| This place. We want to hear from every part in
| the State. We have already this day done good
work. an excellent piece of work, conceived IN the
right spirit, conceived in a proper Tone laying
/ down platform that is broad enough for any
4 man who prefers the freedom of his to the
| triumph and success of another race. being ele-
| waited at the expense of his own. si u
Hon. E. H. Ewing, of Rutherford, intro
duced the following resolution, which was
referred to the committee ff.ae,l
| Resotred That in the opinion of this Cenyen,
| ton loyalty to the Government Of the United
States and loyalty to the State of Tennessee, con-
| sists in present submission to the laws and con-
| situations of both, and determination heartily
| and honestly to support and maintain the same IN
| future on the part of citizens of both.
Resotred, That special pardons by the President,
/ and general pardons under the Proclamatlon OF
| Amnesty restore the subjects of them to all their
pre-exsting rights citizens ofthe United States,
With the exception of such rights as are excluded
| BY said pardons.
| Resolued, That loyalty in its meaning looks not
| to the past, but TO the present and the future.
ResOtUed, That any other meaning gwen 10 the
| term Loyalty is not warranted and Is an abuse OF
| the term, and is generally introduced for mis-
| chievous purposes.
Col. A. w. Putnam, of Coffee, then made
the following remarks:
The historian Motley, in his history OF the Meth
| erlands. speaking of the seige OF Antwerp. says
| that the commander of the assaing forces prose-
cuted the sege by rhetoric and failed; but at the
| same time he persisted in building bridge which