Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-23
Gen. johnson was also invited to accept 3
seat in the Convention.
Hon. GEO. w. JONES being called for by
the audience. came forward and said.

the audience, came forward and said:
in the proceedings of this BODY but 10 give cor
dial and unfcigned approval to the policy of Pres
ident J ohasen. ! can speak Of him as S man and
as a statesman. My Acquaintance with him com
enced in this city. where we first met in tho Leg
stature, a third of a century ago. At that time
our intimacy was founded. which wss never
marred IN the slightest degree FIR quarter of
century. | know him to be man of clear and
discriminating intellect--ofa well matared judy
ment-of a will second 70 no man ever knew and
OF q hxedness OF purpose that knows no welding
but in success. knew him. too. to possess an
honesty OF purpose and devotion to what he be-
leved TO be right.
bitter opponents, and / am glad TO see on this
floor many Of those who had but little confidence
IN him in former times, but whc are now cordially
cooperating IN this meeting for the purpose OF
Endorsing him in the present hour of the nations
dlfhculty- There were those, even of his own
party-in party times-who were never cordial IN
supporting ham, inclined to class him with dema-
gogues. IL ls tset III his history that he never
relied much in what called leaders and par
ties. lie acted ON his convictions and relied on
the justice Of his cause and in his ability to plfce
his claims fairly before the eoantry. lie was em-
phatleaiiy one OF the masses, and he Is a living
instance M OF man who has risen from obscur,ty.
attained the highest rounl on the ladder of ambi-
tion. lie has never forgotten the source from
waemcs ne came LIS ~ r .9a a ars a
as they ever were. ~ fN4
Why are we here to-day to endorse and APP
prove his policy in the present emergency Of the
all, but it is freemen, cherishing the liberties
and rights which were achieved under the leader
ship of him whose anniversary VIC this day cele-
brate.. 1t is in his determined efforts to re-
establish those rights on the constitutional basis
Of the countr.. that we are here to endorse his
course. We have passed through the greatest war
Of modern times. and peace has returned. What
did Andrew johnson start out to-do when the
terrible conflict commenced. 1t was TO maintain
the integrity of the Union the principles Of the
CONSTITUTION. He is now laboring to carry out
and protect the results of that bloody struggle,
and for that purpose We, as delegates. are here
from every county in the State. to endorse him.
But there are some who say that those men who
have been in rebellion are net fully restored to
feelings of loyalty, Gentlemen, they have tried
force-they have been oyerpowered-and have
come back to the country and complied
with the terms the Government required. You
may rest assured they have no disposition
to involve themselves in similar troubles They
have returned home to abide as loyal citizens
have had n good opportunity OF knowing thsir
sentiments. Did not Judge Cooper, the Chairman
of this Convention, tell you he believed that those
who had returned from the Rebel armies were
now true loyal men, and who has a better oppOr
tnnity of judging than one whose profession car
res him over number of counties. and throws
him in contact with ths people? They have met
him as loyal citizens, and aided him in the exeeu
ton of his duty. The Judge from neighboring
circuit told me that when the armies of the Con-
federacy surrendered. he did have apprehension
that difficulties would spring up; bat he said he
had been happily disappointed IN all such appre-
tensions. In the whole If his circuit there had
not been a Rebel arraigned before any one of his
courts. and he believed they were the most order
Sd be Sdae II bs ntsG saes p
trict Court tell the grand jury at its sitting in
October last? That there were no rebels in the
country. He had no charge to give them on the
subject of treason, and they would have no in
quiries to make on that point.
What are we here for? To aid. by our influence.
to restore TO the whole country the incstimable
Af rg.trQr m
hope TO attain that object-that Andrew johnson
viii conduct the country through this Egyptian
darkness to a land of promise and peace; that he
will restore harmony, order and concord of feel
ing among the great masses of the people OF the
entire country and that we will have more
permanent government than at any time hereto
fore.
Returning his thanks Mr.. Jones retired
from the stand.
Mr.. Driver, of Davidson, asked that the
letter of Hon. Horace Maynard, addressed
to this Convention, end which had been
published in the Press C Times, be read by
the Secretary, which was done. The letter,
while pretending to support President
johnson, was covert attack upon his policy,
and was not in harmony with the purposes
of the Convention. Want of space precludes
it at present.
COL Blackburn moved that the letter be
filed, as the sentiment of this Convention.
Hon. Jno. S. Brien moved to lay that
motion on the table, which was carried with
but three dissenting voices.
Judge JNo S. BRrEN, responding to re-
peated calls, said in substance, that he would
greatly prefer hearing gentlemen who had
come from distance as he had not intended
addressing the Convention, but as it would
seem like obstinacy to decline so many calls
he had taken the stand. He had never falt-
cred in his loyalty to the government. He
had always opposed secession without the
shadow of turning. He was not subject there
FORE to the charge of being copperhead.
He loved the country for its Constitution, its
government, and its people. They were his
people. When he saw good men in the re-
Gently deadly strife, and the land made red
with their blood, he could only say:
II would not live always
| ask not to stay
Where storm after storm
Passes dark Der the way"
He thanked God the storm had subsidized,
and that peace and harmony prevailed once
more He witnessed to-day what he had
not seen for five years before-fellow citizens
from every part of the State comforting in
unison at their capitol. He would have
freely given his life to have saved his conn
try from the scenes through which it had
passed. Is there any one who desires to
perpetuate this strife-any one whose thirst
for blood has not been satiated /?
Christians even, from their differences
have been involved in strife. and some
terrible scenes have followed as
consequence This has been the case
from the fall Of Adam to the present day,
always be differences of opinion. 1t is the
duty Of all citizens, therefore, to forget and
forbear. We should approximate as near
as possible to harmony and quietude. Many
who have mingled with us in days gone by
are numbered with the slain, because of
these unfortunate differences of opinion
between US. Though We cannot bring them
back, we can do much to preserve the life
of this nation and to forget what has passed.
1t is our duty. He referred to the generous
policy of Generals GRANT and SHERMAN.
They knew that the plighted faith of brave
men would be observed. They had favored
liberal policy to the brave men they had
conquered. The Radical policy is in
antagonism to this. He understood the
character of the people Of Tennessee. A
more honorable body of men did not live on
earth, whether they were in the rebellion or
out of it, and he would trust them as quick
az he would trust himself Some said 9TH
erwise--keep them out in the cold-give
them no voice in the Government for ten
years to come. What would be the effect Of
such policy? Could We expect that by
such severity they would love us more, and
final clasp VI in their arms. No. But
citizenship ten years from now. He thought
it would be in very bad taste because he
had been loyal, to say that other good men
with whom he had been at variance in this
war, should not have equal advantages and
privileges at the bar. He paid s passing COM
nliment To Mr. lincoln. He knew that his