The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-03-27
Address Of Andrew johnson Military
Governor of Tennessee.


Military Governor of Tennessee by the Presl-
dent In assuming the functions Of his office,
Gov. johnson issued the following address to
the people of Tennessee:
FELLOW CITIZENS Tennessee assumed
the form of body polite as one OF the CniIeo
States of America, in the year seventeen nun
dred and ninty six, at once entitled 70 an 1ns
privileges of the Federal Constitution aDu
bound by all its Obligations. For nearly siA
tv two years she continued in she enjoyment
Of all her rights, and in the performance u a.,
her duties. one of the most loyal and devoted
of the sisterbood of States. She had been hon
ored bv the elevation of two Of her citizens to
the highest place in the gift of the American
people. and a third had been nominated Tor
the same high office, who received liberal
though ineffective support Her population
had largely and rapidly increased, and their
moral and material interests eorrespondingly
advanced. Never was people more prosper
Gus, contented and happy than the people of
Tennessee under the Government Of the Unit
ed States, and none so little burdened for the
support Of the authority by which they were
projected. They felt their Government only
in the conscious enjoyment Of the benefits 1t
conferred and the blessings it bestowed.
Such was our enyiable condition until with
10 the year Just past, when under what baneful
influence it is not my purpose now to enquire,
the authority Of the government was set at de-
fance, and the Constitution and the Laws con
temned, by a rebelious armed force. Men who
in addition to ordinary privileges and duties
of the citizen, had enjoyed largely the bounty
and official patronage of the Government, and
have by repeated oatns, obligated themselves
to its support, with suddensingrdttUde for the
bounty and disregard for their solemn obliga-
ton, engaged deliberately and ostentatiously,
in the accomplishment Of its overthrow. Many
accustomed TO defer their opinions and to ac-
cept their guidance, and others, carried away
by excitement or oyerawei by sedtions clamoT
arrayed themselves under their banner, thus
organizing a reasonable power, which, for the
time being, stided and suppressed the authori-
ity Of the Federal Government.
E6In this condition of affairs it devOlved upon
the President, bound by his official oath, to
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution,
and charged by the law with the duty of sup
pressing instruction and domestic violence, to
resist and repel this rebeilious force by the
military arm Of the Government, and thus to
re-esyablish the Federal authority Congress
assembling at an early day, found him engaged
in the active discharge of this momentous and
responsible trust. That body came promptly
10 his AID, and, while supplying him with treas
uTe and arms to an extent that would previous
ly have becn considered fabulous, they, at the
same time with almost absolute unanimity, de-
cared that this war ''is not waged on their
part in any spirit CT oppression, nor for any
purpose Of conquest or su1Jugation, nor pur-
pose Of everthrOwing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions ofthese States
but to defend and maintain thesupremacy Of the
constitution and to preseTuo the Union with al
the dignity, equality and rights Of the severa
States UnimDaired; and that as these object,
are accomplished, the war ought to cease. in
this spirit, and by such cooperation, has the
president conducted this mighty contest, until
as the ommandeTiu-Chief OF the Army, he
has caused the national flag to float undisputed
over the capitol of our State. Meanwhile the
State Government has disappeared. The exc
cutive has abdicated; the Legislature has dis
solved; the Judiciary is in allegiance. The
great ship OF State freighted with its precious
cargo Of human interests and human hopes
its sails all set and It's glorious flag unfurled
has been suddenly abandoned by her officer.
aud multitudinous crew, and left to float at tn,
mercy Of the winds, and to be plundered b,
every rover upon the deep. Indeed the wori
OF plumber has already commenced. The ar
chiYes haveg been desecrated; the public prom
erty stolen and destroyed, the vaults of tn,
State bank violated, aud its treasures robbed
including the funds carefully gathered an,
concentrated for all time to the instruction 0
our children.
In such a Iamentable crisis, the Government
the United States could not b unmindful O
its high constitutional obligation which ever,
State has a direct and immediate interest il
having observed towards every other State
and from which, by no action on the part O
the people in any State, can the Federal Gov
eminent be absolved. A republican folm of
Government, in consonance with the Constitu
70 ton Of the United States. is one of the funda
mental conditions Of our political existence, hi
which every part OF the country is alike bound
and from which no part can escape. This OBJ
legation the national Government is now at
tempting to discharge. | have been appoint
ed, in absence Of the regular and established
State authorities as Military Governor for the
time being, to preserve the public property Of
the State to give the protection of law active
ly enforced to her citizens, and, as speedily rs
may be, to restore her Government to tbe
same condition as before the existing rebellion
In this grateful but arduous undertaking..
shall avail myself of all the aid that NAV he
afforded b. my fellow citizens. And for tbi.
purpose | respectfully, but earnestly invite al
the people Of Tennessee, DESTROYS or WILLING II
see a restoration of her ancient government
without distinction Of party affiliations, or pas
political opinions, or action, to unite with m,
by counsel or cooperative agency, to accom-
plish this great end. / find most, if not all q
'
either by actual Abandonment or by the actor
of the incumbents in attempting to subordinat,
their functions to a power in hostility to tbs
fundamental law OF the State, and subversivf
other national allegiance. These offices mus
be filed temporarily, until the State shall be
restored so far to its accustomed quiet that the
people can peaceably assemble at the ballot box
and select agents of their own choice Other.
wise anarchy would prevail and no mans life
kvr yrlvglH fo fn FOO a.,
and unprincipled.
shall, therefore as early as practicable, des.
ignate for various positions under the State
aud county government from my fellow citi-
zens, persons Of probity and intelligence. and
bearing true allegiance TO the Constitution and
Government of the United States, who will ex.
ecute the functions IF their respective Offices.
until theis places can be filed by the action Of
the people. Their authority, when their an.
p0intment shall be made will be nccosdinptv
respected and observed.
To the people themselves the protection of tbe
Government is extended. All the rights will he
duly respected, and thor wrongs redressed vben
made known. Those who have through the dark
and weaay night of rebellion maintained their
allegiance to the Federal Government will be
hhnoEod. The erring and misguided viii be wei.
coined on their return.
And while it may become necessary in vindi
eating the violated majesty of the law and in re-
asserting its imperial sway, to punish intelliuent
snd conscious treason in high places, not merely
retaliatory or vindictive policy will be adopted
To those, especially, who in a private, unofficial
capacity have assumed an attitude of hostility to
the Government. full and complete amnesty for
all past acts and declarations is offered upon the
one condition OF their again yielding themselves
peaceful citizens OF the just supremacy of the
laws. This j advise them to do for their own
good, and Tor the peace and welfare of our below
co State, ondeared to me by the association of
long aud active years, and by the enjoyment of
her highest hOnors.
And appealing to my fellow citizens of Tennes-
see, point them to my long public life as a
pledge for the sincerity Of my motives, and an
earnest for the performance of my present and
future duty.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
News Er0ns RiehmOnd.
FORTRESS MONROE, March 25.-A fac of
trace went to Norfolk to-day
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