Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-04-24
THE KNOXVILLE WHIG.
&soxviIIe, Tenn, April 81, 1867.
yrom the y sshyille Pres and Times.
OSS2ERVATISM,
The Stase S0nEentIOn.
Speeches, DOIngs, BsSS'utIOps, etc.


The long talked of Conservative ) >te Conven.
vention came Of at the Capitol yesterSAS
The Convention was held in the Hall o. Repre-.
sentatiVes, which was pretty closely packed, e>ssci
ally about the speakers stand. cRe gallery Nce'
hled with colored men, who came to watch the coz
Quoting Of affairs.
colored band, hired for the occasion by the
Memphis delegation, dscoursed music on the portico
some time before the house was called to order and
Afterwards played several times inside.
The colored delegates were few indeed, and were
packed together in corner of the hall. For any
part that they took in the proceedings Of the Con-
vention, with the exception Of jos Williams har-
rangus, they might as well have staid at home
At fifteen minutes past IL A. NJ, the Convention
called to order by John Baxter, who stated tha.
at held the previous evening it was deemed
eKpedent for the expediting of business TO dispense
with the usual form Of temporary organization.
For permanent organization, be presented the fol
lowing, which adopted
President, Hon. Elijah Walker
Vice Presidents, Hon. A j. Donaldson, Hon.
Austin Miller, Hon. Jesse H. Gaut.
Secretaries, +. A. James, Gen. Theo. Trauernicbt,
NJ. d. l.. Stewart, Moses Parrish, Henry Waiter
son, l. p Jones, Major Bruce, Joseph II. Thomp-
son.
Hon. Elijah Walker Of Harding county, was ac-
oordingly escorted 10 the chair. He said:
Gentlemen Of the Conyention--It is with diff
dence / assume the responsibilities the Convention
Il
could have expressed 10 be chosen to preside at the
present meeting. / have eschewed political con-
tests and believe that this is the very first cOnven
ton at which / have ever presided. But we have
fallen upon extraordinary 'imes, and it should be
the duty of every to take part in the contest.
he deemed that the object Of the Convention was TO
nominate a person who should be their standard
bearer in the present political contest and who, If
possible should lead them on to success and If pos
sible, vanquish the party in power. He asked the
indulgence Of the Convention, and thanked them
for the honor they had conferred upon him.
Report Of TIE number Of delegates present was
called for next and the delegations from the differ
eat counties responded as the roll was called. Only
about One-half of the counties were represented,
while twelve counties had but enc representative
each present. Rutherford hhG foriyeigbt delegates
and Davidson ifty. The whole number of delegates
footed up three hundred and fly, including both
white and colored.
The following resolution reported sy ths
Commfttue OF OfgnnfLatIOn, asa vas ak1opc51.
RcsolUed That each county be entitled 10 .he same
number Of votes in nominating as il has members
in the lower House
The Committee on Organization also reported the
following, which was adopted
RssoLUed, That committee Of fourteen be ap-
pointed one from each Congr essional District and
lix from the State ct large TO whom shall be refer
red all resolutions and who shall report resolutions
70 the Convention for their adoption.
SPEECH OF DORSET IHOAAts
The above gentleman being called for, came for
ward and spoke at considerable length in the fol-
lowing strain
He was sorry he could net entertain them better
than he should be able but he had no preparation
but that Of general character The condition Of
the State had forced upon him, he said, an e1smi-
nation which qualified him 10 speak TO them in
something OF an understanding manner upon the
present occasion. The country had passed through
a struggle without parallel in the annals Of history,
and had now fallen upon times never remotely APP
preached by any other nation. They had tondiy
hoped when the war had been brought 70 termi-
nation chat they would be returned to the enjoy
ment OF their rights Party spirit, however, had
taken the place Of forcs of arms. Party spirit be
al v- ~sght and proper ~-~-~' -Vhe- c~--'~A ="
excess -l5 ed. ..-s y. .- .l 0-g.ne. H..g
different position now from thss ol sy6 o. Co.
ago Now, he said, no one knew hardly what rights
he possessed such Wal the vehemenee against them.
There we're certain inalenable rights which passion
and prejudice had been sppealed 70 eubvert InsteSd
Of allowing passion 70 sleep it was the policy OF the
Radicals 10 stir up the worst feelings. he nnder-
stood the object of the Convention 20 be TO consult
together 10 peace and harmony. II any one came
there for different purpose, he thought he had
mingled in the wrong company. Not only were
the peope Of the State watching them, but men far
removed had their eyes directed towards them.
Interested phrtisans, he said, had been creating
strife in the hearts Of The peoPle-had been perse
that they were parcel Of outlaws. They were con-
vened together Cor the purpose Of disabusing people
Of any such deaor belief Before the war, fAid the
speaker, the citizens Of Tennessee were noted for
their unity in supporting the constitution and the
laws. No people could be suddenly alienatedi he
contended from habit A difference Of opinion
arose 20 the Interpretation of the constitution, and
the question finally settled by an appeal to arms
az appeal they had right 20 make in their efforts
TO revolntionize the government when they eonsid-
cred their rights infringed. lCheers Should
they the descendants of the men who fought against
the tyranny of Great Britain, be base as not 70
struggle for tho rights which belonged 70 them2-
The Federal Government had paEdnned and re-
stored them, but the State Government had stepped
IN and disfrsnchsed them. The question of slavery
having been decided, they hsd pledged themselves
10 the support of the government. The constitution
was as much theirs AZ il was the Northern people
or the Radicals. Their forefathers helped to frame
H. Wanted 10 know If they were gong 20 submit
peaoeably 10 such proceedings.
The country had decided to give the eolored man
me rights of citizenship, and be now stood before
them citizen Of the United States, entitled 70 al
Ihe rights and immunities Of any other citizen.
4hey bad no necessity 20 attempt 10 dodge the Is
tee The people Of Tennessee were as willing 10
sdopt this status Of the colored man as any of the
states He hoped that harmony would exist be-
'Ween the white snd the colored people. lCheers
4he speaker next referred 10 the breaking out Of
The rebellion, and said that il the leaders who
IFecpitsied the State into rebellion, and now that
ne question had been settled by the triumph OF the
Reaerai army, be desired 10 know why they could
Lo' return TO their f0rmer status. What right SAID
ea had any body Of men TO meet together and dis
HHnchise US? He was for peace and harmony, he
saia and 50 was every delegate from bis county.
The speaker here indulged in n lengthy TRADE
Agsinst the tennessee Legislature, which vas loudly
cheered, as might have been expected IL said the
speaker fighting against such body as this consti-
tutes rebellion, then 1 Am proud 10 caIl nvself a
rebel. There is 3 party low in power ssia tha
speaker-par crcegicnoe the Radical partv ana Il
they did not get on the platform Of
they were rebels This party were prRcticinr ,ro.
cheat upon the people, North as well as South III
complimentod tbe people upon their conduct unde,
these embarrassing circumstances.
They had been quiet, orderly snd peaceable unde
the taunts Of the Radicals, and had taught him
Lesson Of forbearance FOR which he owed them
lasting debt Of gratitude. [Cbeers.
Rebel soldiers bad been universally peaceable an
quiet he was proud TO say. He hoped they woul
al unite in dispellingthe delusons conceived agans
them and aid in huryipg their traducers 50 deepl
that the sound of The final trump would baTdl
reach them. Cheers.
The speaker here indulged in some baneomb J
regard 70 lova Of State, etc.
In conclusion, he hoped that everything woul
be done in legitimate way if possible
SPEECH OF CHAs. 8. CAMERON,
Charles S. Cameron, Of Memphis, being loadl
called for came forward. He said that IN respond
ing 70 their call, he should azure them that the De