Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-08-16

the WGrk they 5au IN haud. lhef
was but little disposition TO talk. &
make 4 display in verbose and win
dy speeches. The proceedings vii
show that their purpose was to dea
with facts, and not theories. The
put forth no arrogant claims to an
| territorial autonomy, but with be
coming modesty they seemed 10 ap
preciate the difficulties In their way
l think
EVERY MEMBER OF THE CONvEN
TION
would say that, so far from fhpii
considering it a failurr, evcry On'
was gratified at finding the body a
large, as harmonious, and as carnesi
4 in purpose as il was.
Having gone to the convention
free from all prepossessions, shoul
say that the rationale of the view,
and sentiments held by that body
was as follows: Here is territory
of seven hundred thousand inhabit-
ants, very rich and productive ia
agricultural resources, blessed with
remarkable commercial facilities, oi
great hrfif',s ist''V of p0puiGt,0n,
and symp-.thies, ahd interests, the
feasibility of forming n State ont OF
which haS he~n talkrd OF for thirty
years, as have been informed by
many more advancrd IN life Lat
terIy. without anv manipulali.en or
wiTe-working to bring 10 about,
there seems to have been an out
pouring of public feeling on the
subject, and the people, in their pri-
mary meetings, have taken the mai
ter in hand. They have not been
prompted 10 il by the politicians,
who have had but little to say on
the subject. The incipient steps OF
that convention all look TO still
more satisfactory demonstration of
public opinion. Ia taking the steps
which they have, the members of
the convention did not stop to count
the cost, or the wish of personal
popularity. Believing the measure
had merits that il WAS based on
the promotion of the public good.
to those included in the proposed
State-that if the people desired it,
and could accomplish il without
impinging upon the rights of others,
so far from being in opposition to it,
it would be in conformity with the
nature of our institutions that they
should be allowed 10 establish
A NEW AND DISTINCT COMMUNE
TY,
and a government adapted to their
peculiar interests and opinions. /
admit, and presume every member
of that convention would admit,
that the only rational basison which
the movement can rest is, that the
people of the State, suggested with
n feeling approaching unanimity.
convention did, and all it proposes
to do at present is to ascertain what
is the calm, unbiased, unperverted
opinion, wish and desire of the peo-
pie included within the territory
involved. After that is accomplish
ed, then it will be time enough to
other difficulties that may
present themselves. This thing of
organizing State is big affair 1t
can't be done in a day, or a month,
or a year. 1t has been ungenerOus-
ly and unkindly charged that the
desire for offices and honors incl
dent to a State government had
their influence in calling that body
This charge is as strange
as it is illiberal. The most rigid
scrutiny, the closest canvass of the
members of the convention, show
an absence of aspiring politicians.
1t is notoriOus-a fact often COM
meuted on-that the ambitious as
pirants to place and power of the
territory involved have certainly
abstained from committing them
selves either way. / don't know
that they can be particularly blamed
for it. They should not be abused
for it. 1t only superinduces the sad
reflection that the day and genera
ton will not tolerate an honest diff
ference of opinion, when that opin-
ion is against the popular consent.
THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THE
"NEw STATE MOVEMENT
may rest assured that the friends
and advocates of the measure have
no wish or purpose to fight it thrO'
against the consent of public Opin-
ion. They propose to follow in the
wake of public opinion, not to con-
troll or direct it. Wiling as they
are TO encounter any odium or I'M
attached to the enter
prise; ready as they are to lend their
aid, their time and labor, if thereby
theY can subserve the wants, the
interests and prosperity Of the peo-
pie of the proposed community;
much pride as they would fitly feel
in having been the pioneers in lay
tho fnnnhat1nn of n grPn0f onH
and happy common
wealth, yet they are not so transcen=
dental in their patriotism aud be-
as 10 wish to force bless
ings on a people against their con-
sent. Let public opinion pronounce
it, let it be clearly seen that
the people do not desire the new
State, by an overwhelming majority,
and, my word for it, the members
of the Jackson convention will lay
down the laboring oar with the
same alacrity with which they took
it mp. l think represent the feel
ings of the members OF the conven-
tion, when say that we fully recog-
niZe the right of the public press TO
criticise our action, and the merits
of the object we wish TO accomplish
to-day. In fact, we invite a calm
and fair and honest discussion of
the merits or demerits of the plan.
But we feel that there was nothing
in the personal character of the
members of the convention, nothing
in the history of its proceedings,
nothing in what it has proposed or
wishes to effect, which should sub
ject that assemblage to the taunts
and ridicnle some of the public
Journals are trying to cast upon it.
If their action is not to be commend
ed, let it at least be treated with re-
spectfHl consideration. There is
something unnatural in
THE PERSISTENT BLOWS
with which certain journals contin-
ne to belabor the "new State''
movement. They first pronounced
the convention a failure because it
did no more-because it did not
make State. They have pronoun-
ced it dead" and preached its fu-
neral. That respect which civiliZa-
tion awards to the dead should al
low il, if dead, to rest in peace. We
of the convention are willing to
pledge ourselves that, if dead, we
will not attempt to disinter its car
cass. But if this movement has
proven "a failure"-if il is dead"
sure enOugh-why this continued
warfare against it? Are those who
continue the fight against it quite
sure it IS deadP Are others likely
to believe in their sincerity whilst
they continue to taunt their victim
with its death and yet persist in