Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-25


eminent, is increased by the perils of tn,
past and the dangers of the present; and
whereas, we appreciate the duties and obi
cations now resting upon us as heirs of
great and glorious Inheritance, aud are de
termined to act in the present for the futur,
happiness, peace and prosperity of our co u
mon country; now, therefore, we, a porti,
of the people, 10 mass meeting assembled
discarding the unfortunate differences p o
du ed by the recent war, and all old pat
ties and affiliations, recurring to the fund
amental principles Of our government, ant
anxious for its perpetuisy and the happi
ness of our people, do solemnly proclaim
these the principles OF our political creed.
1. We are in full accord with all of ever
party and creed who sink sectionalism in a
patriotism so large as not to be confined t.
! any local point, but to embrace every Dor
ton of our entire country.
2. The Union must not only abe perpet.
ual," but, if possible, "nore perfect.s
3. That both the State and National Gov
ernments are of limited power.
4. That the American system of Govern
ment guarantees to all men equal rights tC
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
and freedom of conscience.
5. That the continued existence of the
Government is dependent upon the supreme
authority of the Constitution OF the United
States.
6. That the Federal Government was
founded by, springs from, aud is dependent
upon the people, and was ''made for the
people and not the people for it,"
Z. That fraud and corruption in the Gov.
eminent are more dangerous to its per-
| petuity than intestine or foreign war, and
| public creditors and honest taxpayers are
| alike interested in an honest administration
! of the finances.
s. Monopolies, perpetuities, and class
legislation are contrary to the genius of free
! government.
9. Government being for the protection
OF the weak against the strong, the honest
against the dishonest, every act of the State
or National Government which inhicts in.
jury upon the honest industry Of the citizen,
or forces it into unfair competition with
penal labor is contrary to the spirit OF
our government and the Intentions of its
founders.
10. The present conventional system of
nominations being promotive only of the
interests of intriguing politi -ians, Iemov-
ing power from the hands of the people, and
thus defeating their will, and opening wide
the door to fraud and corruption, has be-
come an intolerable oppression more odious
than the Congressional caucus system, and
should be crushed and destroyed.
IL. All sectional strife originating in mil
itary distinction is wrong and injurious to
the nation, and especially the South.
y. That retrenchment, reform and
economy should. be carried into every
branch of the public service, the expendi-
lures of the Government reduced, and the
people relieved from oppressive taxation. a
sound currency should be established, and
the public faith in regard % all its Just and
equitable obligations be sacredly observed.
The accomplishment of these impo tant re-
suits, together with a complete restoration
of the Union Of the States upon the priC,
ciples of the constitution, would inspire
confidence at home and abro ad in the sta
bility of our institutions, and again bring
to a people, once more united, peace, pros
peTity and good will, and make the nation
in fact, as it is in theory, the asylum of the
exile, and home for the oppressed of every
land, where there is work and bread for
all.
Resolved, That in ex-President Andrew
Johnson we recognize man If large expe-
rience, ineorruptible patriotism and a man
Of known ability, aud BELIEVING him to be
the choice of an overwhelming majority of
the people Of the State, for the important
Office Of Congressman for the State at large,
we invite him to become candidate, and
pledge him our earnest support.
Resolved, That We recognize in William
G. Brien man of the people, independent
and liberal in his views, and of undoubted
ability, and in every way suited to become
the standard bearer in behalf of the people
in this movement. We therefore declare
him our choice for Congressman for this
district, and ask him to become a candi-
date, piedging our hearty support.
These proceedings being bad, Mr.. john
son, mid an excited ferVor like unto that
already mentioned, was introduced by VIM.
G. Brier, Esq, in the following words:
INTRODUCTORY BY w. G. BRIEN.
You are assembled here tonight to hear
one who lives for the good Of the country.
In behalf of this large assemblage Of the
De ople am commissioned with the duty Of
his Introduction. Compare this assem-
blage with that which assembled at that
NulCu COAfChC0 AOu NoJo
ago, and then ask yourselves which repre-
sents the people. The people have deter
mined TO grasp back our stolen powers.
TIE internal improvements of the South
have been neglected; but in the North the
railroads, which reach even 10 tie great
Pacific, are every year built, while we have
been ansuccessfully begging for road in
Texas that shall bring forth that
rich OFT unGeveloped land. You, sir,
are selected as the champion of this
grand movement of the people. Fellow
citizens, we will now have the pleasure of
listening to statesman instead OF Gene
raj, and candidate of the people and not OF
the convention. (Cheers and applause.)
SPEECH OF ANDREW JOHNSON.
Fellow -citizens:-I have been in the hab-
it, in times gone by, of appearing before
you and addressing you on various topics,
but it is with somewhat of Difference that
have permitted myself to appear before you
tonight. To come before an audience so
vast and orderly SIS this 10 surely great
honor. The inquiry is, what has been the
cause of this gathering? 1t commenced
with caucuses, and strength has been gath
ering for long time, which has eliminated
in the uprising Of the people. There
is deep feeling somewhere.
There is something wrong. We may
20 back anterior to on. unfortunate
difficulties of the late war, and there We
find that conventions were becoming irk-
some to the people. In 1924 they were In
the habit of holding what were called con-
gressional caucuses, where the men were
Indicated who were to serve as candidates
for President and Vice President. In the
administration of him who now sleeps at
the Hsrmitage, this scheme was broken up.
These caQcuses arrogated to themselves
the rights of the people. From these eau
cuses we went to the State Conventions,
and from this to the National Convention.
The power is exercised at these Conven-
lions by few men who are more distin-
guished for treachery and corruption than
they are for integrity and fidelity to the
people. This has gone so far that
the State is now under the rule of
these irresponsible parties. We have had
various parties; there has been the Demo
cratic party, the Wing party, the Tory par
ty, and the Know Nothing party-but
where is the peoples party? When we go
back to the history of Rome, we find that
Caesar had party, Romulus had party,
Croesus had party, but the commonwealth
had none, and so it is with our common
wealth of to-day. Loud cheers.1
This shows that the people want to have