Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-05
S. W. ohildrsss offered the following

maintained under all circumstances: tina
all debts should be fully paid, and that re
pudiation IN any form or to any extent j
unwise, impolitic and unjust
Resolved, That our delegates to tn
State Convention, called to amend tn,
State Constitution, be instructed to oppos,
any movement, looking directly or indi
rectly, to the reputation of any portion o
the States liabilities.
Which were, on motion, laid on the table
by nearly unanimous vote.
Z. b. McClanahan, ESQ, was loudly
| called for, and responded in a few timely
| remarks, beautiful and eloquent in senti
ment During its delivery he was frequent.
| ly spplauded.
After he had taken his seat, the commit
tee appointed to wait upon the candidates
elect returned, and conducted the gentle
men to the Speakers chair. Loud calls
were made for Thompson, and that gentle
man responded as follows:
REMARKS OF JOHN O. THOMPSON.
Gentlemen of the Convention: l can
only assure you that am truly sensible of
the high compliment you have paid me in
concerning upon me the nomination; an
honor which was not within the line of my
ambition, and which was not solicited by
me, either directly or indirectly. But,
however much l may differ with you as
to the eligibility of the selection, with my
views of the duty of a citizen, have no
right to decline to serve the State to the
best of my ability when called on in this
manner.
1t is right to say that wish no man to
vote for me in ignorance Of mysentiments.
| am, and have been always, a State S
rights Democrat The events of the last
few years have not changed my principles
in the slightest degree. 1 recognize the
fact that the relations of the States to the
general government have been finally set
tied by the result of war. Those were
doubtful questions perhaps, such as are at
last irrevocably decided by the sword; and
that decision accept, but just so far and
no farther than the questions decided by
the sword were at issue. | believe that
the politics of this country will soon be
represented by two great parties into
which all others will be absorbed. The
one will be the old federalist party intensi-
fed; the other will be by whatever name
called, the party of States rights and strict
construction; and l shall be with that
party if l live. trust that great party is
destined, on those principles, to restore
the integrity of the general government by
securing the rights of the States under it.
l believe we cannot do better than to de-
vote the remainder of our lives to accom-
plishing that end And should we fail
in the endeavor, it is my opinion that those
who are to come after us will do best to
aim at a great, consolidated government,
-
fast and loose with the great principles Of
the constitution, having one measure Of
justice for Massachusetts and another for
Tennessee. | hope and believe that the
admirable provisions of the constitution of
Tennessee, which is soon to be framed in
convention, will form great and striking
argument to the nation at large In favor of
the coming party, whose platform shall be
the protection of the rights of the States as
the first duty of the national government.
This is not the proper occasion either to
discuss or to suggest the measures which
will be before the Convention. Allow me
to conclude, therefore, by repeating that
am profoundly sensible of the very high
honor you have conferred on me.
Gov. NELL S. Brown was received with
great applause, when he arose to address
the convention as follows:
GOV. BROWNS REMARKS.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen Of the
Convention Il am here at your summons
to tender you my profound acknowledge
ments for the honor you have done me in
selecting me as one of the candidates for
the State Convention.
l am well aware that you could have Sc
lected another as well or better qualified
than I am and 1 would have been amply
satisfied if some one else had been chosen.
1t was my sincere wish to avoid this, or
any other public employment, and when l
was first solicited in connection with this
service, was disposed to decline. But l
had lived in this community for more than
twenty years. the people of this county
had dealt kindly with me, overlooking my
faults, and repeatedly hOnoring me with
their confidence, and l did not feel that l
had a right to refuse to serve them in
matter of vital concern both to them and
me. And now, under this call, I respond,
by pledging the exercise Of my best iudg-
ment if elected, in behalf of their inter
ests. I shall approach the task of
amending the Constitution, should | be
chosen, with more difidence than would
the responsibilities of a seat in Congress;
for the work done, if ratified by the peO-
pie, will outlive the present generation.
Il is perhaps not expected that | should
attempt to discuss any of the subjects
likely to come before that body; and L can
only here say that shall favor such
changes as will clearly tend to the best in
terests of the State, avoiding speculative
theories or doubtful projects. To regulate
the great question of suffrage, and fix it
upon Just and proper basis, will be chief
among the subjects of consideration, and
rejoice that the opportunity has been pre-
sented when the evils connected with this
delicate and inestimable right can be cor
rected and put to rest. | have looked,
and wished and sighed for the day when
the freemen of Tennessee could be restored
to their lost rights. Thank God the time
has come, and L shall feel honored in aid
ing in such work But in this task l
shall be animated by no spirit of proscrip-
ton, but shall be prompted by a sense Of
Justice, and with sentiments of moderation
and hberality.
Reforms are also demanded in the jul
dietary, and there are others of minor inn
port that will occupy the attention of that
body. Upon all these questions | shall be
guided by the light of experience, and en-
deavor to look at things as they are, and
act accordingly. Ihave no idea that can
attain all 1 wish, or that the action of that
body will meet the appreciation of all. We
are in the midst of an anomalous state of
things, when the rights of the States, such
as have been educated to regard them,
are in conflict with the central power; but
we must so act as not to impair our general
relations. We must have peace-real
peace-and from that will spring prosperity
and happiness.
1 can assure you that I shall be animated
by no partisan, or sectional, or personal
ambition; yet l ambitious for the honor and
glory of the State. To preserve the pub
lie credit-to do Justice to the whole peo-
ple-and be true to our obligations to the
general government, may be said to
comprise the full range of our duties.
And in this spirit and with these
purposes, I accept the tender of your
confidence, and shall act for you and the
whole people as l would for myself Let
it be remembered that the functions of the
Convention are only suggestive, and that
their work is nothing until ratified by the
people.
If we should fail in meeting the demands
of the occasion, the remedy is in your
hands, And if we should propose and
you should ratify what may not be alto
gether satisfactory, we can only wait for a
remedy until brighter and happier days.
Peace, justice and the prosperity of the
State, constitute the motto by which
shall be guided, in the discharge of the
last public trust that 1 expect to seek or to
hold.
The Convention then on motion, ad-
journed sine die.
The PcnifenIiapy.
We we're informed by Mr.. Chumbley,
the affable warden of the penitentiary yes
terday, that there are now confined in the
penitentiary SOC prisoners, 400 of whom are
colored the balance white sixteen females,
one white, the others colored. The sani-