Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-11

On The 2sd of September Mr. Yeaman
introduced a series Of resolutions. among
which were the following a-
Resolved, That the suspension Of the
writ of hdbsds corpus, and the declara-
ton or the establishment of martial law,
and any attempt to emancIpate or set free
any person held tc labor or service in any
of ihe States under thelaws thereof, when
| done By Che President, or any subordi-
nate executive or military. officer OF the
United States, are unauthorized by law,
and are dangerous assumptions of power
Resolved, That Congress has no
| power to interfere with the institution Of
slavery in the States, nor declare forfeit
ure, in punishment for treason, for a
longer term than the life of the
offender. -.rr,..y n.
| 'Resolved, That the common territory
of the Union should be held free to &C
cess and settlement by the citizens of all
the States equally, while in a territorial
condition. leaving TO the citizens thereof
4 the right to determine the form and
character of their institutions in establish
ing a State Constitution, subject to the
constitutional restriction that Congress
| must guarantee to every State republi
| can form of government.
'Resolved, That the requirements Of
the constitution in regard TO the rendition
of fugttiYes from labor must be faithfully
executed e., ..-. --..g
'Hiesolyed, That the State of Kentucky
will to the utmost, defend herself against
hostile invasion from any quarter, and yet
holds herself in readiness, at any moment,
when it can be done without sacrifice of
her honor, to unite with all or any part of
the people of America to stay the present
unhappy war, and restore the peace, har-
| mony and greatness of our common coun-
try, upon terms satisfactory to just men
and safe to all.'
On the 18th Of December Mr.. Yeaman
introduced joint resolutions as follows:
"Resolved, by the General Assembly of
the Commonwealth of Kentucky, That
the government of the United States, in
resisting and suppressing the rebellion,
need not and ought not to interfere with
the property rights of loyal citizens or
those not aiding the rebellion.
| IhCSOlNtu, 1HdI III JuG ClSpOSlliOu Oh
any property legally confiscated to the use
of the government, the object should be
to punish treason and suppress the rebel
lion, and no such property should be con-
fiscated, used or disposed of SO as, by the
action of the government, to alter per
manently the legal or political status Of
slaves.
'Resolved, That the causes for which
property may be ConfisCated, the kinds
that may be, and the term for which it
may be, are questions of judicial cogniz-
ance, which we leave for the courts to de-
termine.
''ResOlyed, That while we are willing
to meet, in spirit of Cancellation, those
who are willing to be reasoned with, we
do now affirm that we have no COM
| promises or terms to offer to those who,
in advance, reject all terms compatible
with the authority and existence of the
government, and especially none to those
] of Kentucky who, in their public pro-
ceedings, have bid defiance to both the
federal and State governments. They
must either submit Internationally to the
to the constitution and laws of the United
States, or conquer the government; there
fore, the first thing to be done is to try
which is the stronger, the rebellion or the
/ Government
'Resolyed, That the people of Ken
| lucky will continue to determine their
| conduct toward the federal Government
by their own relations with that Govern
ment; that they will address themselves
to their own grievances when any arise,
and not to the grievances, supposed or
real, Of their enemies that they will not
make the complaints of those who begun
the rebellion without justification a cause
for TeVolutiOnizing their own Government
or their connection with the federal Gov
eminent; and that whatever sympathy
they once may have had with the people
| of the seeded States, Kentucky will not
make common cause with those who are
using all their power to subjugate her
people and make conquest of her terri
tory.
'Resolyed, That the Government of the
| United States would violate every prin-
ciple of right and humanity, and be made
infamous in the eyes of the civilized
world, by putting arms in the hands Of
slaves; therefore, we do not for mo-
ment believe it will invoke the assistance
of such allies. If the Government can
not support and defend itself without
their assistance, it had better surrender
The struggle now.
Judging from these resolutions Of Judge
Yeaman, the people Of Kentucky and
Tennessee have much cause 10 be thank
full that he was appointed instead of Hon.
Horace Maynard. Judge Trigg was the
choice of Tennessee, and the bar and PEG
pie will regret that he did not receive the
appointment.