Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-02-20
Meeting nf CnInrad Men.

| AASNtAA6 VI 1ACns
Convention of colered men of Knoxville and
East Tennessee, was held in Logans Chapel on
Tuesday evening, the 18th instant.
| The House was called to order by Rev Alfred E
Anderson, and the following organization effected
For President, Fl. Alexander Secretaries, NJ. ].
R. Gentle Allen McNutt.
After few remarks by the President, touching
the object for which they had assembled, he intro
duced Professor o. 81. O. Hughes, Chairman Of the
Committee on Resolutions, who read and submitted
the following preamble and resolutions
! WHEREAS, The House of REPRESENTATIVES of the
State of Tennessee at its session. has amended the
| franchise law, removing the obnoxious features
| whereby colored men were prohibited from exer-
cising the elective franchise. And whereas, AL
mighty God through this act, has given us another
assurance of this aim and purpose to SO shape pub
lie sentiment and regulate the affairs of nations
that all men, without regard to race color birth OF
fortunes, shall stand equal before the laws of the
land, and so to revolutonize governments that they
shall answer and subserve the great end for which
they were instituted of giving permanence securi-
| ty and happiness to all mankind in the endowment
of their rights and whereas it is through the I'M
yielding adherents to the Radical Republican Par
ty who by their indefatigable energies and untr-
ing exertions have secured to US the potent and in
valuable ballot it becomes US to declare in unmis-
taxable terms our preference Of candidates for the
mex. Governor of our great Commonwealth. There
| fore,
ResotUed That we, the colored people of the city
of Knoxville and East Tennessee in convention as
sembed do declare that we do cheerfully recognize
the substantial evidences of sympathy philanthropy
and justice, displayed by the noble band of patriots
in the General Assembly of our State who 30 earn
esty abored for and voted in favor of the passage
of the amendment to the franchise law granting to
coored men the right of suffrage; that we view
this with peculiar pleasure and satisfaction as tho
evidence OF returning sense of justice magnanimi
ty, and disposition the part of the loyal citi-
zens of our beloved Commonwealth to place them
selves Ia history the first of the Southern States
who threw down the barriers TO the development of
our manhood, and recognized the rights of the col
ored man to WELD the ballot
Resolved, That this acknowledgment of our man
hood and citizenship, is lasting tribute to the 10y
atty and patriotism to our race and a manly recop-
milton of the heroism and daring displayed by our
colored soldiers on bloody battle fields in
deU0ton to the National flag during the war for the
suppression of the great rebellion; yet, no more
than the outgrowth of the justice and honor of
| those who, when the war cloud hung dark and low
Ah over thss State and the strong hearts of brave
men trem6ted for the safety of the Government re-
quested us to share with them the fearful response
| bilities of citizenship.
! ResoLUed, That we recognize the unerring hand
of Providence in the affairs of this nation and a.
our first and most pleasing duty, we solemnly ac-
knowledge IN special manner, our boundless OBJ
| legations to the gracious and Almighty God, who
in the fullness of time has so visibly and triumph
anty led us from whitening servitude to enfranchis
ed freedmen; after whom, our gratitude is due to
the host of just men, through whose insrumentality
our deliverance effected that we do especially
desire to tender our most fervent ACCOMPLISHMENTS
to that remnant of them in the General Assembly
of State for the noble stand they have taken in
defense Of humanity and acknowledgements that al
thQU hQv rpf 1ollu horyo I,
sired-in that not per mitted To q seat in the
jury box, nor allowed to hold ofice-yst, we will
labor and wait in hope that they may still stand
firmly upon the rock Of eternal justice battling for
the right till we can rejoice in the exercise of every
right belonging TO an American citizen.
ResoLred, That no plan of reconstruction of the
Southern States should be recognized that aims to
exclude colored from the privileges Of the BOZ
lat bor that justice demands that the elective fran
chse should be extended to the coored men of those
States, reward for their loyalty and patriotism;
and that the Government, failing to extend TO them
this right shows lack of principles of liberty,
honesty and good faith; that as these men have
fought to defend and perpetuatq the unity of this
Government, and maintained its liberty every prin-
ciple Of honor demands that they should be placed
on an equal footing with other citizens of those
States; and that we hope the glorious sentiments so
often enuncisted and now reiterated by the Radical
Republican party of the country, may continue to
live, spread and thrive until every State in the
great Union (going back to the foundation of the
Government, and standing firmly and immovably
upon the never-dying principles that gowed in the
bosom of its fathers when they asserted "that all
men created free and equal" with the right TO
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,) shall re-
cognize the right of every man, regardless of COM
pexional distinction TO declare by his ballot who
shall be his rulers.
Resolved That we hereby reafirm our devotion
to the political party Of the country through whose
nstrumentalty rights thus far have been secured
that we pledge them our hearty cooperation, and
we intend to support only such men as adhere 10
the principles advanced by the Radical Republican
party, we herein declare preference for the next
Governor, and will support at the coming election,
VIM. G. Brownlow, of Knoxville
Resolved That as we fully realize the truth of
the old adage: 1.-THE gods help those who frat help
themselves" and that education is the strong and
potent shield to protect Us from the arm of oppres
sion to our feet into the ways of freedom and use
fulnessi to rear fabric that will never decay
we will with accord unite our hands and hearts
to shed abroad among us the gifts of mental Iiobt
that we may think right, vote right and do yicht
hoping by our energies, industry and economy 70
acquire wealth, whereby we may add our contribu-
tons TO the strength, glory and honor of the ma
tona characters that notwithstanding it has toler-
ated our enslavement and degradation whereby we
have been kept in ignorance SO many long wears,
still our motto is "0ur Country first our country
Iast-the Union one-the U5sios i,lseparabLs-the |
Union now, and the Union forever"
[Signed,l PRoF. o. L. c. HUGHES,
A. b. PARKER
DR. j. B. YoUSG
VIM F. YARDLEr,
WV. DoeTAS. =.
The reading of these resolutions was interrupted /
by frequent rounds Of applause and especially the
one endorsing Governor Brownlows nomination
for the second term when his name was mention
ed the applause was desfening, lasting for several
min utes-the audience standing.
After the resolutions were read, WIN. f, YArdley,
was called, who responded in neat little I
speech. Rev. 4. Z. Anderson, was next called, who
also responded in a very able speech in favor of
Governor Brownlow for Governor
Professor Hughes having been repeatedly called
Tor at length yielded and came forward and in
very able and eloquent speech Of nearly an hours
ength, presented the claims Of colored men to the
unconditional and unlimited exercise OF the elective
franchise; passed glowing tribute to the eolored
oldiers of the war and closed with stirring aid
orcbe appeal in favor Of the election Of Governor
and the whole Radical Republican tick
Mr. Shade, was loudly called for, who favored :. ,
nth short but patriotic little speech after which
be resolutions above named, were sdop,ad h, 49,
lamation; " ~0
Rev. A. z. Anderson, moved that COPY Of these :,
Foceedings be furnished to Brownlow's Whig for !,
aoiicAtion. resolution was also adopted, Ap- n
o'ntng NJ. ]. r. Gentle, A. p. Parker and VIM p