Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-07

unanimous vote ofthe Convention Of Union
Soldiers and Sailors, now in session at
Cooper Institute, TO return to you our
thanks for extending to Us the privileges of
the floBr Of yOuT convention. The objects
for which we are assembled are clearly set
fort ia the address of our presiding officer.
Der convention IS composed of two
thousand delegates, elected to represent
every State and Territory in the
Union, who have served in the
Union army or navy, every one Of whom
believes that 10 cooperating at this time
with the Conservative party Of the country
he is still engaged ia the same cause for
which he risked his life during the war,
namely, TO preserve the Union and main
tain the supremacy of the Constitution.
We believe that the crimes now being per-
petraied ia the name Of Republicanism aud
loyalty, are not less alarming than those
committed by the armed foes of the gov
eminent during the war. The party now
in power has destroyed the equality Of the
States has forced the Southern States to
submit to have their Constitutions and laws
framed by ignorant negroes Just released
from serYitude, while the North has de-
MED the negro, though comparatively edu-
Gated, the right of suffrage. IL has at
tempted to influence the highest tribunal of
the land by calling meetings Of excited
partisans to condemn all members of the
court who might refuse TO act in accord
anoe with their dictatiOn, while all the
leading journalists of the party, since the
close of the impeachment trial, have de-
nounced and vilihed them in unmeasnred
terms; their own party going so far IN
some instances, as 10 threaten personal yiO-
lence and for no other reason than that
they were unwilling TO peIlure themselves
at the behests of party. Il has freely re-
| moved political disabilities from men Of
the North who, before and during the war
werethe most violent aud malignant Rebels,
but have since become the sycOphants of
the party in power, while it persecutes
those in the same localities who have all
WAYS been true to the Union, but are IN
| willing to be ruled by their recently
emanCipated slaves at the North has
denied official position to hundreds of the
veterans of the war, most of whom are
| disabled by wounds received in battle,
whilst it has hOisted into place parlisans of
its own having no claims upon the govern.
ment, many OF whom, fortunately for the
country, have, during the past few months,
| become inmates of our penitentiaries. Ii
has placed the General of the army beyond
| the control Of the President of the United
| States, to whom the Federal Constitution
| makes his subordinate. 1t has nominated
him for the Presidency, and the events Of
the last four months indicate that by the
use of the army under HIS supreme con-
troll, there is a determination to cause
| the electoral nominees of the Southern
| States 10 be cast for himself through force
aud fraud. We solemnly declare our con-
Viction that the free Institutions of the
| country have never been in greater
| jeopardy than at this time; and we look TO
the deliberations Of the Democratic party
now assembled in convention, with the
deepest anxiety, feeling that on its action
depends the future prosperity Of our coun-
| try. We earnestly trust and believe that
no devotion to men or adherence to past
Issues will be permitted TO endanger the
success of the great party to which the
country now looks with anxious eye, for
Permanent peace and perpetuity OF our
| institutiops. We believe that there are
| living a half million Of men who served in
| the Union army aud navy, who are ia SYM
pathy and in judgment opposed to the acts
| Of the parfy in power, and at least another
half million who have heretofore acted
| with the Republican party, but who, view
| ing with alarm the recent acts OF that
marty. are now anxious for a change Of ad
ministration. With a platform OF Prlnci-
ples renewing no dead issues, and looking
| only TO the arrest Of existing evils, and
with candidates whose fidelity to the Con-
stitution and devotion to the country can
not be questioned, we shall cooperate with
you in this campaign with enthusiasm and
confidence that will bring victory aud sal
walton to the country.
At the conclusion of the reading OF the
address, three cheers were given for the
soldiers and sailors, and calls we're made
for Thomas Ewing, Jr., of Ohio, who was
introduced TO the convention, and was
greeted by a round Of applause.
Mr.. Ewing said; Gentlemen Of the con-
vention, if it were appropriate for me, it
would be impossible, for lack of voice, to
express to this convention the thankiulness
which and the members Of the Soldiers
and Sailors Convention feel for the enthu-
siastic manner of this reception. We feel
that the members of the two conventions,
however Separate their paths may have
been in the past, will march henceforth in
one line. Applauss.] We earnestly
wish to accomplish the purposes Of the
war as We understood them. Applause.
The truly cordial, unconditional resto-
ration of this Union. [Applsusel We
have no sympathy for those purposes that
have been falsely and dishonesty substi-
tuted by the Republican party for avOwed
objects of the war. Applause. We
care not for their dogmas OF negro sut-
frage; we abhOre their measures Of
white Acknowledgement. Applause We
look upon them as enemies of the repnb-
lie when We see them endesvOring, by
means of their power which a great aud
confdng people entrusted 10 them, to I'M
dermine and overthrow the settled fOunda-
tious Of our government. Applause.
We cannot, We shall not associate with
them longer, Applause. We earnest
ly wish to associate with the great body Of
the Democracy, North and South ap-
plausel with thousands against whom we
fought during the war; lapplansel with
thousands who felt, perhaps, coldly 10 the
North, towards the Union cause while the
war was going on against all those who
cordially believed il the established theory
of the Constitution that the Onion
was immOyable, aud who will stand by
and defend the Constitution as inter
preted by the government and the Su-
preme Court. lApplause. Since our
meeting here, We have had the pleasure Of
friendly intercourse with many Of the most
prominent Generals of the Confederate
army. [Applause Knowing them to be
men of honor, comparing views with them,
and feeling that their views and our views
as to the present and future policy OF this
government coincide, we will take them by
the hand "a brothers. Applause For
getting past issues aud passions, We will
recognize political enemies only in those
who are plotting to overthrow the Union
of the States aud our constitutional form
Of government; we viii recognize political
friends in all those will who sustain us ia
ende3Toring to overthrow that party. APP
planse. ! thank you, gentleman, for the
very unexpected honor Of being called |
upon to address you, and beg that you will |
excuse me for this exiempore effort.
NJ. d. Dowdle, Of California, offered the |
resolution, which was adopted
Resolved, That the address Of the Sol |
1iers' and Sailors Convention, jusi read by |
heir Secretary, be received and entered |
AMOR, he r.fr4fa5 Of -Fsr rrr.1..1sw.,r i