The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-04-18
Andrew Johnson's Appeal to the Peo.
pie of Tennessee,

Andrew Johnson's Appeal to the Peo.
pie Of Tennessee.
FELLOW CITIZENS: Tennessee assumed |
tho form OF body polite, as one of the
United States OF America, in the year sew /
onteen hundred and ninety.six, at onco on.
titled to all tho privileges of the Federal
Constitution, and bound BY all It's obliga.
tons. For nearly sixty.five years she con.
tinued in the enjoyment of all her rights,
and 10 the performance of all her duties.
one Of the most loyal and devoted of tho
sisterhood Of States. She has been hoDored
by tho elevation of two of her citizens TO
tho highest place in the gift of the American !
people, and third had been nominated for
the same high Office, who received a liberal
though Ineffective support. Her population
hal rapidly and largely increased, and their
moral and material interests corresponding.
ly advanced. Never was o people more
prosperous. contonted and happy than tho |
people of Tennessee, under the Government |
of tho United States, and none SO little bur-
dened for the support of the authority BY
which they were protected. They felt their
Government only in the conscious enjoy
ment of the benefits il conferred and the !
blessings It bestowed.
Such was our onviable condition until |
within the year just past, whom, under what
baneful influences II is not my purpose 10
inquire, the authority of the Government
was sot at defiance, and the Constitution
and Law contemned, by a rebellious, armed
force Men, who 10 addition to ordina- |
ry privileges and duties of the citizen.
had enjoyed largely tho bounty of official
patronage of the Government, and have BY |
repeated oatbs, obligated themselves to its !
support, with sudden ingratitudo for the
bounty and disregard of their solemn OBJ
! legation, engaged, deliberately and ostenta-
tiously, 10 the accomplishment of its over
throw. Many, accustomed to defer to their
opinions and to accept their guidance, and
carried away by excitement or overawed BY
seditious clamor, srrayed themselves under !
tboir banners, thus organizing REASONABLE
power, which, for the time being, stiflod and
suppressed the authority of the Federal
Government.
In this condition of affairs il 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 supprcssing nsurroction and
domestic violence, to resist and repel this
rebellous force by the military arm of the
Government, and thus to re.establish the
Federal authority. Congress, assembling
at an early day, found him engaged in the
active discharge of this momeutous and
responsible trust. That body came prompt
ly to bis aid, and. while supplying him with
! treasure and arms TO an extent that would
previously have been considered fabulous,
they at the same time, with almost absolute
unanimity, declared "that this war is not
waged on their part in any spirit of op-
preston, nor for any purpose of conquest
or subjugation, nor purpose of overthrowing
or interfering with the rights or established
institutions Of the States, but to defend and
maintain the supremacy of the Constitution,
and to preserve tho Union with all tLe dig
nifty, equality, and rights Of the several
States unimpaired and that as soon ns
these objects arc accomplished, the war
ought to cease" In this spirit, and by such
cooperation, has the President conducted
this mighty contest, until, as Commander.
in.Chief OF the army, he has caused the ma
tional flag to float undisputed over the
capitol of our State. Meanwhile the State
government has disappeared. The Execu-
tive has abdcated; the Legislature has
dissolved tho Judiciary is in allegiance.
The great Ship of State, freighted with its
precious cargo of human interests and bu-
man hopes, its sails al! set, and its glorious
flag unfurled. has been suddenly abandoned
by her officers and mutinous crew, and left
to float at the mercy Of the wind, and to be
plundered by every rover upon the deep.
Indeed the work of plumber has already
commenced. The archives have been des-
ecrated; the public property stolen and
destroyed; the vaults Of the State Bank
violated, and it's treasures robbed, including
the funds carefully gathered and conse-
Grated for all time 10 the instruction Of our
children.
| Iu such a lamentable crisis, the Govern.
ment of the United States could not be
unmindful of it's high constitutional obliga-
tion to guarantee to every State in this
Union Republican form oe government,
an obligation which every State has direct
and immediate interest in baviDg observed
toward every other State, and from which,
by no action on tho part of the people in
any State, can the Federal Government be
absolyed. A Republican form Of govern
ment. in consonance with the Constitution
of the United States. is ono OF the funda-
mental conditions OF our political existence,
by which every part of the country 10 alike
bound, and from which no part can escape.
This obligation the Nstional Government is
now attempted to discharge. i have been
appointed, in the absence Of the regular and
established State authorities, as Military
Governor for tho time being, to prcsorve
the public property o: the State, to give the
protection of Law actively enforced TO her
citizens, and, as speedily as may be, to re-
store her government to tho same condition
as before the existing rebellion.
In this grateful but nrduous undertaking.
l shall avail myself of all the aid that may
DO afforded by my fellow citizens. And for
this purpose respectfully, but earnestly,
. invite all the people of Tennessee. dosirous
or willing to see a restoration of her ancient
Government, without distinction of party
affiliations, or past political opinions, or ac.
ton. to unite With me, by counsel and co.
operative agency, to accomplish this great
end find most If not all of the offices,
both State and Federal, vacated, either by
actual abandonment, or by the action OF the
incumbents in attempting to subordinate