Year: 1874

CONVENTION.


Proceedings OF the CHATTANOOGA C0nven'


tion-Governor Parsons Address Com


snit,ees Appointed. and Other Business


Transacted.


CHATTANOOGA, October i3.-~On taking
the chair, Mr.. Parsons said that the causes
which had brought them together we're
painful to tho heart of every lover of his
country, but were BY no means new to the
members Of the convention. More than ten
years, he said, had passed since the clash Of
arms had been heard; more than six years
had passed since the States were recon
structed upon the principles Of liberty to
all. II had been reasonable to suppose that
the tree of liberty then planted would flour
ish. The Republican party had planted and


watered il, and had right to suppose that
it would become beacon light to the


world. But life. liberty and property have
committed. and how few have been pun.
ished. II not tor the authority of the


United States perhaps this convention
could not meet here in peace; perhaps the
gallant Tennesseans who stood so firmly BY
the Union would have sustained US. but in
many parts of the land We would not meet


but for the protection Of the general govern.


ment.


He regretted this state Of affairs, but it


was entirely due to the Democratic party,
or secession party rather. that such q
lamentable state of affairs existed. When
he referred to the Democracy he meant the
secession Democracy. and not the old


Union Democracy OF the days Of jackson.
VThooo no,nnrrAto "a mara hpnuuhf s,v> IN ho.
lieve. and believed honestly. that secession
was right. and that it was to the interest Of
the cotton States to get away from tho fed
eral government; but having put their all
at stake in 1860, and having lost. after four
years struggle, their minds were not pre-
pared TO. anything more than that slavery
must be abolished; but they still expected
to make use OF the colored population for
their own ends. and in some way to con.
settled policy OF the United States to
make the colored men citizens in reality.
clothed with all the powers and right Of
citizens, they rebelled against it. Now.
let US reverse the picture. Suppose Grant
had surrendered TO Lee. and that conyen-
tiOns had been called ut tho North 20
declare that slavery ia forever established;
that all bonds, State and federal, greenback
obligations. etc. collected in the war
against the South be void, that all COufed
crate bonds. pensions. ETC., be forever held
sacred and inviolate. how long do you
think it would be before the people Of the
North became reconciled TO such . state of
thingsi Then you can see how tho secession
element look upon the present state Of
affairs. They are "a much opposed to il Us
they ever were. They seek to overthrow
the Republican party by showing that Re
publican reconstruction upon the basis Of
civil and political equality is an utter fail
ure. This 10 the Season why nurdeEers can
not be punished.


We must address ourselves to tho con.
sideratiOn of how this state of affairs can
be changed. Until it is changed We can
not hope for peace in the land. The gov.
ernment has said that reconstruction shall
be sustained, and has had recent occasion
to exercise its power in one of the Gulf
States. Fortunate was it for the country
that there was a man with the nerve to do
his duty in the executive chair. Now,
what shall be dOnes Livery man here, it is
presumed, desires to see State authorities
preserved and used in. protecting lite,
liberty and property. Such state of things
once existed, and why can not they again!
Nothing prevents but q change of public
opinion. There are only two ways of en-
forcing q law; one is by intelligent public
opinion, and the other by military power.
Why is it that men are unwilling to serve
as grand jurors and witnesses are 10th to
testify9 Why is it that petit jurors will
not convict when grand juries have
indicted 7 Because there is an underlying z
public sentiment that will not sustain the
laws In the speakers own State every
citizen took an oath not to interfere with
the equal freedom before the law; yet how
could they join in the perpetration Of such
tn6 So
public sentiment in opposition 60 lawl
Can not the people Of the South be brought
to see that it is vain to make war against
this idea Of civil and political equality!
Can they not see that it is vain to war
longer against the federal government! for
despair of State authority. 1t not, the
power OF tho federal government must be
invoked to give protection to life, liberty
and home.


It will be one Of the n ost eOuiemn duties
Of this convention 10 consider when and
under what circumstances this invocation
shall be made. We do not desire TO see
these fair States Of ours turned over 70
military rule. unless there is no other alter
native. the federal government has power
10 use the military as posse 60 aid the civil
laws. and when they arc not sufficient
Congress has power 20 mako such laws ~
sre necessary. This we should invoke until
these terrible evils are eradicated. Then
peace will smile and prosperity will return
% us under the federal constitution.


A man can not be indicted except by
ury in the district where the crime is com
nitted. Under this law the Ku-Klux. CT
ls they are now called, the White Leaguers,
.an have grand and petit juries composed.
Jurors should be compelled 60 declare under
oath that they d" not belong TO this White
League or ku-Klux. Under the present
aw judges are not authorized to make such



He could never understand how murder.
srsOn and kindred crimes could be cOnsid
red political; they are nothing but feionies.
w here il the Southern chivalry shOwn in
going in disguise in numbers TO murder ono
nan? That was not the chivalry the South
displayed in the late war, nor in tho Mexi-
,an war, nor in the war Of 1872.


In conclusion he thanked the convention
or the honor con nterref upon him and urged |
hat in the solemn deliberations Of the con-
yention, which were 70 affect every home
n the South. which would touch the homes
e tho North, and would 60 far 70 show to
he eyes OF the world whether we were
spsble Of eelf-government or not. to act |
With view 70 tho vast responsibilities
placed upon US. We were not called upon
o pour our hearts blood, like him who
the spears in his hand and said,
Make Way for liOerty." and die. But We