Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-03-13
Platform OF the Radical Union Part,
OF Tennessee.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT THE UNION CON
vENEIoN IN NASHVILLE, FEB. %. 1867.
aWe the representatives of the loyal people
Tennessee, in convention assembled. are tbanlfnI
Almighty God for the success OF the arms Of IN
United States over the army of traitors VIII eo,b
to destroy the best government ever known 10 mar
thereby saving US and our posterity the BLESSING
and privileges Of our republican institutions and
solution of the heretofore doubtful problem tina
man is capable of self-goyefnment.
ave hold these truths to be self-eyident .p-r =
l. 9 That all men are created equal endowed
with certain inalenable rights" and therefore tbr
law should afford equal protection to ali in the ex
excise of these rights and so far as it can. insure
perfect equality under the law.
2. That Stste OF nation should be governed
controlled and directed by those who have saved Il
in times of peril and who seek TO preserve il with
friendly hands from foes and dangers, external and
internal roflf7e =
3. That wise care for the public safely some
times renders it necessary that those who have
sought resolutely TO overthrow government should
not hastily be restored to the privileges of which
they have deprived themselves, by their crime of
treason certainly not until they have shown evil
denee OF sincere repentance and disposition as
energeticaly to support as they have in times past
sought to destroy. II
A. That rebellion is disfranehisement. and armed
attempts TO overthrow our common government
treasohapie e1paIraIloni and the present franchise
organic law, is but the declaration Of the bandi-
work of secession and rebellion. Tft,se who have
sought our countrys ruin cannot be entrusted with
its safety. n
5. That lawless violence reckless DISREGARD of the
rights of persons and property, murder, assassina
ton, arson and kindred crimes, must be put down
by the strong arm of power, and be made To feol
that law is indeed terror 70 evil doers. !.
g. Therefore, IN accordance with the sbove nrin
cpes, fully in5orse the policy and acfi9H ~ the
General Assembly of the State of Tennessee in re-
strictng the elective franchise to those who are not
hostile to the government in extending it to those
who proved their loyalty by imperilng their lives,
and who need this privilege for their own protec
tion, and in establishing military organization
which shall give necessary physical support TO the
moral power Of the State Government beooming.a
salutary terror to evil doers and cheerful hone to
those who do WE'LL. J. 7H
7, That the privileges and immunitiesa guaran-
teed under the constitution of our Union to the 10y
al from other States, and the pledge of freedom
and equality in the declaration of American inde
pendence shall be tiUi'lg truths and practical mag
ms III Tennessee for the protection of life ber
ty and the pursuit of happiness -
g. That we have entire confidence in the integri-
ty, wisdom and ability Of the Republican Union
majority of Congress and deem Il sipnaIIv frtu
nate that they in whom alone the power resides to
restore preserve and govern the country, have
shown themselves 80 emineutly fitted for these high
ddtes that State should be admitted to represen
tation in Congress without adopting the constitu-
tional amendment. .---
g That the Republican Union party of Tennes-
are in favor of free speech and free discussion
and to this end we invite our friends from other
States to come among US, and discuss the great is
sues now before the people, and we pledge the Re-
publican Union party of Tennessee to tolerate all
legitimate discussion, and at the same time claim
ing equal privileges on our part, and that any in
reference TO prevent this will be regarded as an
unwarranted act and resisted to the last extremity
10. That we honor the frmness, courage and wis
dom which has characterized the administration of
our Chief Magistrate, the Hon. VIM. G. Brownlow,
and while we sympathise with him in his bodily
suffering, we admire the healthy mind, conscious to
itself of recttude, which bears with like equanimi-
ty, the throes of pain and the perilous cares of
State and that we declare him the unanimous
choice of the loyal people of Tennessee for next
Governor. a.
II. That we cover our faces with shame when we
the disgrace brought upon our beloved
State by the detection and degeneracy of her I'M
principled adopted son, who, by the bullet of an
assassin has assembled to the Chief Magistracy of
the nation; and we shall cordially endorse any ac-
ton Of Congress which shall legitimately deprive
him Of continued powerto disturb the peace Of the
country