Year: 1866

tives, who proposed for temporary chair
man Mr.. Speaker Heiskell. The motion
was agreed to. and after prayer by the
Rev. John 2. Campbell, the regular order
of business was entered upon.


The committee on permanent organiza-
ton reported Hon. Henry Cooper, of Bed
ford, fol President, and a number of dis
tinguished gentlemen for Vice Presidents,
all of which nominations were unanimously
adopted.


Judge Cooper was escorted to the chair,
and addressed the convention as follows:


Gentlemen of this convention. I thank
you for the high and distinguished honor
your committee have done me in making
me the presiding officer of this convention.
and ycur ratification so unanimously of the
nomination of the committee and myself
We have assembled, my countrymen, again
10 the Capitol Of Tennessee-We have as
sembled again as representatives of the
loyal masses of the State of Tennessee. to
renew our allegiance to the Constitution of
the Government of the United States and
the State of Tennessee, the Union of the
Statet and enforcement of the laws. We
have met to satisfy the world that we believe
in the patriotism, in the integrity and
craftsmanship of Tennessee's son who is
now President of the United States
(Cheers.) We viii stand by the Consti-
tuition of our country, not caring for the
consequences. While, my countrymen,
many whom we were wont to greet is not
in the hearing of my voice, while they are
not now to be met in our assemblies and
while many others cannot leave their bust
! ness, we must not forget to do our duty
for the living, for the present, and % take
care of the future. Let the past dead bury
! its dead, and let US look forward to the ad-
vancement of our country. Let US cooper
ate together as a band Of brothers in the
advancement of our State to the position
to which she is entitled in the family Of
States. We have met to-day, my country
men, under the call of many patriotic gentle
men to announce to the world and to our
fellow citizens of the United States of
Ameriea that we are loyal to our country
and our Government. (Cheers.) It has
been announced as a slander upon the peo-
pie that they wish to rebel and to again
throw the country into revolution and a
war


accepted the Office Of Judge from the
Military Governor of the State, now Presi-
dent of the United States. I went into
counties where no Federal soldiers were.
was a stranger to the people, aud they
knew me as a civil representative Of the
United States. They have met me cordially,
and supported me in my official duties.
denounce it as a slander upon our people
to say they are not law abiding people,
and that they do not desire to return to
their allegiance. They have returned to
their allegiance and loyalty to the Govern.
ment and State. (Cheers.) I have no
other kind of people in my circuit. They
have gone to work to re-establish the State
in its former position, and to healup any
unfortunate differences. While we mourn
the war, and the differences which divided
us; while we mourn for the past, we should
forget il, and build upon the ruins d gov
eminent which shall have the respect of all
men. We are for the Constitution as it is.
recognize it as the Constitution of the
United States Of America, and as a citizen
of America I will observe and obey it,


After the conclusion of Judge Cooper
speech, Hon. Mr.. Martin, of West Tennes-
see, Hon. Geo. w. Jones, of Lincoln coun-
ty, and Judge Baxtes followed in short and
able speeches, fully endorsing the objects
of the convention.


Judge Baxter then read the report of the
Commit le on Resolutions which are given
in full as follows: sreer g.


"The friends of the Union and of the
| National Administration, have deemed the
recurring anniversary of the birthday of the
Father of his Country to be a proper oc-
casion on which to assemble in Mass Con
vention, for the purpose of declaring their
continusd devotion to The Federal Gonsti-
tation and the Federal Union, and of pro-
claiming their earnest approval of the policy
adopted by President johnson in his patri-
otic efforts to preserve the Constitution and
to re-establish the Union of the States, and
thereby to secure, for the whole country,
the blessings of permanent peace and of
republican freedom. Such celebration of
the day is. rendered peculiarly appropriate
in view of the extraordinary resistance made
/ by Congress to the restora ton of the South
ern7 States to an equal participation in the
benefits of the Union; and ip view of the
fact that small portion of the people Of
Tennessee, possessed of an accidenta! in
fuence in the Government, are giving en-
couragement to that spirit of sectional fa-
! 49, - n