Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-17

by the Federal government 10 prevent dis
union; by the Confederate States, with a
hope of succeeding in the establishment Of
distinct and separate government. This
question, thus submitted to the arbitrament
of the sword, has been decided in favor OF
the Federal arms. The South has accepted
the award of war and of fate. 250.OOO
men returned to their homes to find their
homesteads despoiled and desolated, per-
haps destroyed; their plantations laid
waste; their cattle seized their imple-
ments of husbandry burned; their cities
sacked their villages burned; their little
ones hel pless and hopeless, without cloth
ing, food or shelter. Yet these men, one
and all, have gone to work in such a way
as only Americans can, to repair their mis-
fortunes and restore their lost property.
And this is the people that Mr. BroWnlow
and his Legislature say "we can't trust"
Great God Cant trust" The native
ignominy of your sordid andselfsh natures.
and the hideous deformity of your charae-
tiers, if they did not stamp you with an
infamy too profound to come within the
range of even our contempt, might have
impaired to this declaration an air of inso-
lent assurance which would have enkin-
died our indignation. As it is, it only
excites our disgust.
Who are the men that are hounding to-
day the Confederate soldier and eoncocting
measures for gratifying their spight upon a
fallen foe? Are they the gallant soldiers
of the Federal army, or the honorable
statesmen that mould and sway the public
sentiment of the North? y? No. sir: they.
cowardly abolitionists of the North. the
men that brought on this war, but were
themselves too discreet to fight the men
who characterized the constitution of their
country as a covenant with death and a
league with hell" They had no connec-
tion with the Union army, but simply fol-
lowed like locusts in its wake, to pilfer
and eat up your substance, and destroy the
fruits of your years of toll and selfdenial.
There is another class somewhat akin to
these, here in our midst men who were
restive under the constitution; that class of
people who despised the "cowardly Yam
kees," and were painting to encounter them
at any odds, and longed only for the chance
being afforded them to illustrate their
powers by chasing them back at more than
railroad speed across the Ohio or the Poto-
mac When they saw, however, how their
greedy instincts might be gratifed at your
expense, they came back to you and fur
nished supplies for the people and the
army of the South, and then, when nothing
more could be made ont of you, became
"loyal," and followed out their schemes by
similar proceedings towards the North.
These are the men that stole your cotton
these are the men that stole your school
fund, that you had set apart to educate the
children of the State. There is not one
single outrage within the range of their
limited capacity that they have not
on this people. This
is the class and character of men
with whom we have to contend for
our rights, and whose usurpations we have
to resist And truly, if their ability was
equal to their knavery, we might have TO
encounter hard time with them. But this
is far otherwise. I deny them the right to
have intellect accorded to them. They are
mere pigmies in understanding, and APP
proach the magnificent only in the dimen-
sions of their malice and the intensity of
heir avarice..
In contest with such foe, and armed
With right and justice, we need not enter
Iain the slightest misgiving as to the issue.
Let us be true to ourselves, and our victory
IS sure
At the conclusion of Colonel Cameron's
speech, Hon. Edmond Cooper, in behalf of
he Committee on Resolutions, reported
he following
THE RESOLUTIONS.
We, the Conservative Union men of
Tennessee, adopt the following platform of
principles:
lst. We are in favor of the Union of the
States under the constitution of the United
States, and pledge ourselves to support and
the same.
I'd. We are the friends of peace and civil
law, and that these great objects can be best
promoted by legislation recognizing equal
and exact Justice TO all-exclusiye privi-
eges to none.
Sd. We are in favor Of immediate resto.
ration of our disfranchised fellow-citizens
10 all rights, privileges and immunities of
full and complete citizenship.
4th. That our colored fellow citizens,
being now citizens of the United States and
citizens ofthe State of Tennessee and voters
If this State, are entitled to all the rights
md privileges of citizens under the laws
md constitution of the United States and
If the State of Tennessee.
5th. We are opposed to the reputation
If the national debt; and are in favor of
squal taxation, as the proper method of
paying the same.
9th. That the establishment of a stand
ng army in our State in time of peace, is
fragrant and dangerous encroachment
lpon the rights and liberties of the citizen
heavily oppressive to the tax payer, and
designed to overawe voters at the
,allot box.
9TH. We cordially approve Of the patri-
tic efforts of Andrew johnson, President
# the United States, in defending the con
titution, preserving the union of the States,
nd maintaining the supremacy of the
avs.
The resolutions were adopted unani-
nously and enthusiastically.
NOMINATION OF Mr.. ETHERIDGE.
Hon. Edmund Cooper, after an eloquent
md effective speech, which we regret our
inability TO publish entire, for lack of space,
moved that the Hon. Emerson Etheridge,
of the county of Weakley, receive the
nomination of the convention for Governor
Of this State. The motion being seconded
was carried by acclamation, and with de-
of the greatest enthusiasm.
PEECH OF JOSEPH E. WILLIAMS, CoLoRED.
Now succeeded loud calls for Williams"
ghereupon Joseph +. Williams (colored)
presented himself to the audience. The
'peaker expressed his sense of the honor
lone him by this invitation TO address the
Meeting. lie adverted TO the mutual in
erests Of the black and white races in this
State and counseled the cultivation of good
md kindly feelings by both parties. He
howed how Brownlow, during the whole
# his career as public man and a jour
lalst, had signalized himself by his hos
ility 10 the colored race, and only changed |
lis tactics few months ago, and then only |
or the most sordid and selfish purpose.
lie avowed his conviction that the South
IN people were the true friends Of the col
red man. and that his own experience