Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-02
06lo tStutesnrart.

ering-HighIy Interesting Pro
ceedings.
The telegraph has already given the
main points of the prOceedingso OF the Union
State Convention of Tennessee, held at
Nashville. The following are extracts
| from the address presented and adopted:
] The people of Tennessee are excluded
| from the benefits of the Union upon the
unfOunded assumption that they are not
| sufficiently loyal to be admitted to represen-
| tation In the two Houses of Congress. The
| delegates to this Convention, representing
the great body of the people of the state,
embracing as well those who participated
In and sympathized with the rebellion as
those whose loyalty to the Union was never
questioned, come forward to place upon the
record their united testimony against the
truth of this imputation of disloyalty made
against the people of the State.
The delegates to this Convention,
with full knowledge OF their responsible
ity, do not hesitate to affirm that the people
OF Tennessee were never, at any former
time, more sincerely anxious for the pres
ervation of good order and the restoration
| of civil law, nor more earnestly united IN
their determination to support, defend and
preserve the Constitution and the Union
against all assaults, open or concealed, do
nestle or foreign, than they are at the pres
ent time. They are as ready now as they
were in days gone by, or as are the people of
any other State in the Union, to pledge their
fortunes their lives, and their sacred honor,
in defense Of the Constitution and the
| Union.
In declaring their willingness to main
tain the Constitution, they desire to be un-
derstood as recognizing the late amend
ment, forbidding the existence of inyolun-
tary servitude, as part thereof; and as
avOwing their determination to give to
that clause an honest and sincere support.
They are prepared to aid In extending to
the free persons of color such protection
as shall secure to them the undisputed en-
joyment of all the blessings of freedom;
and of conceding to them all the civil and
political rights that may he compatible with
the best interests OF both races. They in
sist, however, that this subject belongs eX-
cluSiyely to the people of the State, and
that the same has not been transferred to
Congress by the amendment Aforesaid
They are satisfied that whenever all eX-
traneous influences are Withdrawn the re-
latiOns between the two races will be es-
tablished upon principles of justice that
will be mutually satisfactory and bene-
fetal.
Entertaining these sentiments, the peo-
pie OF Tennessee. with unprecedented una
nimity, have observed with unaffected ad-
miratiOn the wise and patriotic efforts made
by President johnson to secure an early
aud complete restoration OF the Southern
States to the Union. By the liberal eXer-
else of executive clemency he has shown
that he understands and appreciates the
plighted faith of brave men, and by repOs-
ing in them this generous confidence he
hos at rte nd "
pledge of loyalty doubly sure, not only in
oeunrinS thOir jealous support of the
% Union, but in overcoming sectional antipa-
thies, and in restoring sentiments of toler-
alton and fraternity between those who
were lately public enemies.
The people of the Southern States had
responded so promptly and efficiently to the
wise suggestions and liberal policy of the
President, that when the present Congress
, assembled most of the States lately in re-
bellion had complied with the terms and
conditions upon which their restoration to
y the Union was to be consummated. Moth
e ing was then wanting for the effectuating
of the great work of re-establishing the
Union of all the States except the approval
by Congress of the policy adopted aud car
ried out by the President. This approval
was withheld by dominant majority Of
. Congress, who have thereby repudiated the
policy of the President ignored the exist
H ence Of the Southern States, repelled the
Senators and Representatives from the two
Halls of Congress, and usurped the power
to govern the Southern States as conquered
provinces. AS if to make their usurpatior
T more glaringly revolutionary, this domi-
nant majority, instead of acting in accord
ance with the provisions of the Constitution
in the matter of admitting the Southern
| S,ol okoI7 l,oE ;rrl,
ton, and handed it over to joint com.
mittee of fifteen-a committee which sit;
with closed doors, which deliberates in Sc
cret, which shuts itself out from the knowl-
% edge and observation of Congress, and
% which does not even desire to give the in.
b formation it was appointed to collect but
which sends its rescripts into the two Hous.
es and demands their ratification, without
reasons and without facts, before the going
down of the SUM-" M
Availing themselves OF their usurpet
power, the majority in Congress do not hes
e itate to declare their purpose of excluding
the Southern States from the Union unti
they have effectuated such amendments t
the Constitution as will render the Southern
States utterly powerless in all future time
% as will insure political, civil and socia
equality between the white and cOlOret
races, as will concentrate all political pow
er in dominant majority of Congress, a.
a will absorb and annihilate all the rights re
served to the States, and as will perpetuatt
the power and dominion of the politica
party which now holds the reins of gov
ernment. In these efforts, to undermin,
and revolutionize the Federal Government
and to build up on its ruins a fanatical des
potism, the Congressional conspirators hav,
the Jealous sympathies and active encour
agement of lean minority of our owl
State, who are knowingly defying the will
OF an overwhelming majority of the people
and persistently depriving them of thei
, just rights in the Government. . ..
= In this fearful conflict between patriotic
devotion to the Constitution and TIN
Union on one side, and sectional ia
naticism, seeking to perpetuate its po
Z litical power, on the other, Presiden
johnson has borne himself with unshrink
ing firmness, with an amount OF far
seeing wisdom, disinterested love of Justice
mingled with liberal clemency, aid un
firing perseverance in the grand work o
restoring the Union of the States, whicl
have secured for him the hearty approva
and the unbounded confidence of all tru
! friends of the Constitution and of the Union
Upon his continued tirmness and wisdom
they now rely for the final overthrow 0
the enemies of the Union; and with tn
prompt cooperation of the people, who's
4. confidence he enjoys, he is destined to crow
, his administration with the glory Of hayin,
saved the Constitution and the UnioI
' against the most dangerous assaults eve
z made upon them. But against the power
full combination now arrayed against hin