Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-18

constitutional acts and cease to trample
upon organic law.
He referred to the Greeneville resolutions
adopted in 1861, adopted ten years ago,
which declare substantially the same as
eppeared in the platform submitted few
days ago and published in the UNION AND
AMERICAN.
He then read the 8th and 9th resolutions
as published in the Greeneville platform
and urged the people of Tennessee to
make disclaimer.
He then referred to the Declaration of
Independence of 1861, which waived the
expression of all opinion on the doctrine
of secession, but in that Declaration of
independence, dissolved their relations
with the Federal Government for he pur-
pose of becoming ga free, sovereign and
independent State
He also referred to the schedule of 1865.
which revoked all the measures passed by
the Legislature of 1861, dissolving the
Union. He then referred to the Constitu-
ton of 1870, which abrogated the schedule
of 1865, and showed that by the abrogation
secession measures were left in full force.
and that the resolution adopted by the
convention was a re assertion of the latter
PoAS Va bAO AOOAdAdtAOl4s bnO uioL PdEdRIdpu
of which says: Tennessee is a free, SOW
ereign, and independent State.
He then read the resolution as adopted
by the Convention:
Resolved, That the Southern States
should be Immediately restored to their
rights under the Constitution of the United
States as sovereign States of the American
Union.
This seemed to him, whether intended
or not, to be secession and revolution in
disguise, and he would now, as he did in
1860 and up to the passage of the first Or
dinance of secession, warn the people of
the danger that was before them. He felt
it to be his duty, though it was the last
act of his life, to admonish the people
against a repetition Of all that had transs
pired during our disastrous and unhappy
civil war.
He thought it was our duty, in view of
the posture of our public affairs, to act
with discretion and wisdom in all that we
now propose to do. He felt that our main
hope of being relieved from our present
condition was to form close 4
alliance with the national Democracy, who /
were our only friends in resisting the arb;- I
trary encroachments of the Federal gov I
ernment upon the rights of the States, and /
in forming that alliance it should be done /
in such manner as would strengthen and /
hold up their hands in our vindication.
In placing a standard-bearer at the head
of our column, he should be clear of all |
of secession, or a desire to enter
ag. in into revolution, and this should be
followed up and carried out in the election
of all our members to Congress and the
Legislature. We should not give them
any greater excuse than they have now, to
put the State under process of reconstruc-
ton predicated upon the idea that we were
still secessionists and revolutIonists We
should stand by and maintain the Consti-
tuition, and earnestly insist upon compi-
ance with all its provisions, guaranteeing to
the States their rights
We have witnessed the Federal Govern.
ment dismantling States, unseating Legis-
aeures, establishing military posts, sinking
The States with all their constitutional
rights into mere military dependencies If
this is te be done, let the States keep
themselves in the right, relying upon an
intelligent public Judgment and the refor
nation in Congress, which it is hoped can
be accomplished
In referring to the reconstruction of the
State, he would not suggest anything as
remedy that was incompatible with the
but, on the contrary, would
make it our guide as being the most GER
tain and efficient means of rescuing us
from the grasp of Congress. The State was
now hanging suspended like Mahomends
coffin before the Committee of Reconstruc-
ion, and no ore could now tell what course
Congress would pursue, Hence the i'm
portance of keeping ourselves right and
1rging compliance with the organic law of
.he land.
In regard to some of the resolutions
which have been adopted by the recent
he thought it important for
he people to give them a careful examina-
ion before their acquiescence or adoption,
md especially so, when we see that Con-
7ention refusing even te consider a series
If resolutions which enunciated principles
md laid down platform upon which the
yreat National Democracy, North and
south, could stand united
1t is risking too much to take and
.dopt resolutions that are submitted by ,
without a careful examination !
If them. l am free to say that the Con-
yention which recently sat should have {
passed resolutions emphatically disclaiming
secession. But instead of adopting reso-
utions which were before their Committee |
IN Resolutions. they were suppressed and :
withheld from the consideration of the
Convention. He then read resolutions 8 {
md 10, as published in the UNION AND
AMERICAN.
8. That no State has the right to secede
rom, or of its own will renounce its place ]
n the Federal Union without the consent ]
If the other States which ratified the Cou- ]
tit.tion. The Constitution when ratified ]
ormed the Union without any provision
whatever for its dissolution. The Consti-
ution was adopted by the State 'in toto
nd forever, without reservation or condi-
ion While we deny the right of a State
onstitutionally, or of its own will, to ,
ecede or renounce its place in the Union,
,e admit the great and inherent right of
evolution, abiding and remaining with
very people; but a right which should not
,e exercised except in extreme cases and !
q the last resort, when grievances are l
Without redress and oppression has bs- a
ONE intOlerable. S
10. That the Congress of the United C
tates have no authority or right under the t
to eject State or States from r
ut OIlOA VI CACluNsC VI bLiCIA 4AOAu III
quail footing aud perfect equality with the /
ther States composing the Union. Nor /
las Congress the right to deny any State }
II States their full representation, nor to
mend, or even authorized to propose any
mendments to the Constitution which
ould deprive any State of its equal suf- Z
rage without its consent in the Senate,
nd that most, if not all the laws passed
" Congress in reference to representation
nd reconstruction of the Southern States !
7ere arbitrary assumption of power and
,alpable violations of the Constitution. I
He insisted that if those resolutions dis
laiming secession on the one hand and
he arbitrary assumptions of power by Con
ress on the other were submitted to the
,ublic Judgment after fair and full discus
ion that they would be adopted by nineH /
cen twentieths of the whole population;
nd in doing this, it would give strength,
nd power to those who are fighting the :
,attle against Radicalism.
He suggested the propriety of holding :
,ublic meetings in every county In the =
state, for the purpose of taking into con- :
Iteration the propriety of taking steps by I
which the public judgment could be en-
ightened in reference to our real status. {
ie thought that, at those public meetings Z
he people could adopt resolutions reflect
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