Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-07
GREAT MEETING IN WILSON.
The Voice OF the People for Peace and
the Rights of the white MAN.

j
Rssemblage of the people of Wilson in con-
ventiou here today. The meeting was
organized by calling Col Joseph Motley
to the Chair On motion w. A. Wade,
! w. NJ. McCorlle, Zach. Thompson and
] T. H. Bostick were requested to act as Sec
retaries. On motion a committee was APP
pointed TO draft and present suitable me-
mortal and resolutions for action. Col.
Edward l. Gollady, Col. Robert Cantrell
and Maj. w. II. Williamson were named
by the Chair, who retired TO consult, The
crowd, during their absence, were RECALLED
with delightful music by the Odd Fellows
Silver Cornet Band Of Nashville. ~ 2, i
On the coming in of the committee, Col,
Edward ]. Golladay took the stand, and in
a speech of uncommon force and elOquence
presented the great issues Of the hour. He
was listened TO with profound interest and
attention. He spoke for peace. At the
conclusion Of his remarks, he read the de-
| claration and resolutions below. Let every
one read them for the sake Of their noble,
manly and eloquent sentiments.
u Col. Jordan Stokes was the next speaker.
| He was peculiarly happy and effective in
| his remarks. He planted himselfin broad
and open opposition to the Radical policy,
| and vas warmly cheered by the crowd for
! his lofty patriotism. Tie caused the voters
| of the vast crowd in attendance to lift up
their hands, and for the DISTINGUISHED to
lift up their hands. 1t was deeply painful
| to see so many noble faces and stout arms
| deprived of the rights of freemen.
Col. Cantrell was the next speaker. He
counseled peace. He reached the popular
| heart with great success. He advised
every man to do his whole duty and never
despair. No one should be discouraged in
this great contest. He was frequently APP
plauded during his remarks.
DR.. John T. Gleaves, our gifted public
speaker, succeeded 10 the stand, and was
fully and eoquently alive to the great issues.
His effort was a happy success.
Major w. II. Williamson was then
loudly called for Everybody was cheered
and delighted with the noble sentiments of
this worthy patriot. The arm which he
left on the dark and bloody field of Gettys-
burg, with bis veteran experience through
all the bloody war, made Major w. pc
culiarly fit counselor. We earnestly wish
we could give every word as it fell from
the speakers lips, They were truly "apples
of gold set in pictures of silver" He
warmly and earnestly counseled peace.
At the conclusion Of the speeches the
vote of the vast crowd upon the declara-
ton and resolutions, read by Col. Golladay,
was taken With uplifted hands, and not a
hand was raised against them.
DECLARATION AND RESOLUTIONS.
We the people of Wilson county, in con-,
ventiOn assembled, keenly alive to,the eX-
cited and troubled state of public affairs,
and anxious to avert all disturbances and
violations of law, and desirous above all
things of preserving peace, honor and good
feeling among all the citizens of the State,
do declare our views and principles touch
ing the present unhappy differences. exist
ing among the people. ....r L ~
We hold that all true republican gov
ernments are instituted and founded for the
benefit of the governed; and that to be-
come permanent they must be founded in
the consent and affection of the people.
We hold, as did our illustrious fathers be-
fore us, that taxation without representa-
tion is Tyranny and oppression. Equal
rights, equal privileges and a common
protection 10 all constitute the ground work
Of every free government; any govern
mental institution disregarding these max
inns must in the end prove failure. We
do not regard revolutions, war, military or
CARNATIONS and bloodshed as the proper
remedy for any of the evils which now in
hiCt the State. We are for peace, and for
peaceful methods and means in redressing
| our present wrongs. We are for free, open,
intelligent and dispassionate discussion of
all the questions which are upon us. We
can but look with distrust and fear upon
all and every one who counsels military Or
! CARNATIONS and secret political associations
as the proper remedy for the evils of the
hour. A pure ballot can never be had in
the midst of bayonets or enforced by oath
bound societies.
All secret political combinations, in our
estimate, which are banded together for
the protection of their own members, the
redress of public grievances, the achieve
ment any common object, are dangerous
to public liberty, and destructive of law,
order and good feeling in the community,
and especially so in this hour. Whatever
of patriotism and good intent are claimed
by the founders of such secret political as
sociations for their objects and purposes,
sad experience and observation have taught
US they are perverted and carried in ex-
cesses by a majority of the members of such
organizations. We therefore shun all, by
whatever title christened, regardless of the
objects protested. In common with our
fellow-citizens throughout the State, we
feel the deep oppression and the gross in
Justice of our present elective franchise
laws. We feel humbled and degraded in
the reflection that some of our fellow citi-
zens have favored the foisting upon the
! l,f
negro misrule, negro misgovernment, to
the exclusion of large loyal, intelligent
and honorable body of white citizens, and
made them galley-slaves and exiles in the
| land of their fathers We cannot feel it Is
right to deprive 30 worthy a class, consti-
tuting much of the wealth, chivalry and
intelligence of the State, of the inestima-
| BILE and sacred right Of suffrage; if crime
they committed in the past, free and gen
erous amnesty has absolved them; no sue
cessful prosecution can be waged against
them under law for any of the alleged of
lenses Of the past. Their rights and privi-
leges under the law are high and sacred as
can be, and their right to have voice in
the selection Of their rulers is as dear to
them "a ireemen, as honor, life aud pro-
perry. We can bat feel they should be
| reviewer anu restored 10 the great Ilkut
Of the ballot. They are IA deeply inter
ested in the welfare and happiness Of the
State IA any class of citizens within her
borders. Their pledges and conduct for
three years past have shown them 10 be
trustworthy. The misconduct and law
lessness Of a few cannot in fairness be laid
on their shoulders. Every holy instinct Of
freedom and every principle of free gov
eminent, implore the removal of present
restrictions
In common with our felloW-citizens
throughout the State, we groan beneath the
weight of heavy taxation, much Of which,
in our opinion, is caused by extravagant
and excessive legislation, the destruction Of
public credit and want ofpublic confidence.
But we counsel obedience to the laws of the
land and the proper officers thereof, in
good faith by every one, until the same
shall be changed, altered, or abolished by
the methods pointed ont under the laws
and Constitution of the State. Until those
laws shall be repealed or changed by the
Legislature, or declared void and uncon-
stitutional by the courts or abrogated by a
! constitutional convention, legitimately