Year: 1867




petaate strife and ill-blood But if there


is any man in this assembly animated by


such sentiment, he is in the wrong place


Not only the people of Tennessee are look


ing with interest on us and our proceedings


to-day, but this feeling is shared by the


whole people throughout the United States


Interested persons whose trade it is to fo-


ment strife and cause division have en-


deavored to produce the impression that


we are a set of outlaws and assassins, re-


specting neither the person, the property,


nor the right of those who may differ


with rs, and thus they endeayor to keep


our brethern in the North incensed against


us. We are anxious to disabuse them
| of these unfayorable impressions. Before


the war, and, indeed, after the war began,
| there was not in the Union a more loyal
State than Tennessee. Difference of opin-


ion, however, arose on certain questions af-


fecting their rights and interests, and to


maintain and vindicate these rights, they


adopted a proceeding, which, in my opin-


ion, was both improper and impolitic. IL


is principle recognized by the American


people that they have the right TO revolu-


tionize the government Cheers They


exercised this right when they resisted the


tyranny Of King George the Third, and


threw off the British yoke. There were


but few men in Tennessee who advocated


the doctrine of State rights to the extent of
secession, but there were some, and they


went iowa OF that issue.


| We know the result. Those Tennessee


ans that took sides with the Southern peo-


pie, and identified themselves and their
| fortunes with the Southern Confederacy,
fought brayely, and by their proves and
heroism reflected honor on their race and
on their State And now that the war is
| over, these same men have shown them
selves as prompt to submit to the constitu-
| tion and obey the laws of the United States
| as they were to take up arms when the
| quarrel began. They accept the present
situation Of things in good faith What
| more can be required of them? The con-
stitution of the United States they-loveand
revere. Then, what more should be de-
manded of us, now that we submit
to the laws, that we recognize the con-
dition of the negro as free
man Surely, all men of candor
and fairness will confess that we have acted
with honor and good faith, and that we do
not deserve the imputations that our un-
scrupulous foes try to afix to us. As to
the colored man, what is his actual status
among US? He stands before you now as a
citizen of the United States, entitled to all
the immunities of citizen of this great
commonwealth, and to-day the people
of the State of Tennessee are willing to
accept this as his status; therefore instead of
conflict We expect nothing but harmony
between the colored man and the white
citizens of the country. The status of the
negro then is fixed, and we are bound to
protect and secure him in the enjoyment
Of the right accorded to him.


There is another question in which we
are deeply interested. The State of Ten
nessee, in the hebeginning Of the,rebellion, re-
fused to participate in it. The strife ran
high and this State was precipitated into
rebellion. The people protested against
going irto rebellion, but they were sold out
by the leaders, The war progresses, finally
it terminates, and We the people of Ten
nessee return to our ancient moorings, the
State constitution. Thus it is seen that we
stand and occupy the same position that we
did before the war. On what principle of
right or Justice then, are a large portion of
the people of Tennessee debarred from the
enjoyment Of those rights and immunities
which are their birthrights, and which
heretofore have been accorded to them
as their inalienable heritage? 1t is
plain that it is in this act of spoi-
lation and deprivation of civil rights
that every principle of justice has been
violated, and the sacred guarantees of the
constitution been broken. 1t will then be
one of our primary aims to bring back
things to their normal condition. We seek
to subvert no mans rights. We are only
intent in establishing our own. i'll under
stand the position of the men who are here
present, and who compose this convention,
it is this: We are here for the purpose of
harmony and peace, for advocating the ex-
tension of the franchise to every man in
this State that is not under disability to the
United States. We are emphatically the
enemies of prescription and partizan rule,
but the uncompromising friends of equal
rights and liberties to all GCheers.1


There is party organized in this State
that claims to be par excellence Union, and
Immediately man refuses to get upon
their categorical plank he is a Rebel.
This is a miserable cheat which they are
practicing on the people of the Northern
States. But this cannot last long; in the
very nature of things, the trick will be
soon exploded, and then the deception will
recoii on the heads of the miserable crea-
lures who bave perpetrated it, So far
from being the legitimate objects of oblo-
guy and ungenerous imputation, the people
of Tennessee deserve the utmost credit for
the manner iR which they have accepted
the situation and the hearty goodwill with
which they have fulfilled the obligations
which the present condition of things has
,n1 IL L L
with a gallantry which has never been
surpassed cherish no hard feelings to-
wards the enemy by whom they were van
quished; they mutter no threats, they
mediate no revenge, but to-day are ready |
with that magnanimity so characteristic to
the true soldier to extend TO them not the |
hand of friendly recognition merely, but !
the hand Of fraternal affection. Cheers |
They have returned TO their homes, and
have resumed their several vocations with
an alacrity that is truly surprising, and the
soldier, is now completely merged in the
citizen. As | contemplate this glorious |
spectacle, my heart glows with love to my
native State and her gallant sons If they
err, it is in excessof nobleness. | care not
how misled a man may be, he may seek |
without just cause to change even the laws
and constitution of the State, but if he does
this by honest and open means, however
much may regret his folly, can still re-
spect his motives. Bat, designing tricksters
and hollow-hear;sd traitors, | abhor and
despise. Loud cheers.


In response to general call c. 5. Came
ron then mounted the rostrum.


Mr.. Cameron began In response TO this
call, have to say that we who have come |
here from Shelby county come in the spirit
of harmony and Cancellation. We come
for one ooject, and that object is TO nomi- |
nate a standard bearer who shall carry our
banner triumphant through all the opposi-
tion and hostility which il may encounter
at the hands of dastardly foe, and who
shall give its folds TO the breeze, and plant |
il successfully on the ramparts of freedom, |
on the first Thursday in August next at
once the symbol Of our sovereignty and the |
pledge of our liberties. While we have |
our preference as to men, we shall cheer |
fully accord to you the right to say who !
that man shall be. And whoever he is, |
pledge you now that Shelby county, not
withstanding the metropolitan police bill !
which was enacted in these halls for our !
especial good, that the outgrowth Of liberty |
among us might receive timely check, |
and be prevented from an undna rankpess |