Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-04-16
ADDRESS OF GOV ANDREW JOHNSON

AUUhESS Of GUV ANUhEW w JObNSQNs
DELIVERED IN THE HALL OF THE HOUSE OF REP
REsENTATIyEs, IN NASHVILLE, MARCH 22, 1852.
LADIES AND FEtbow- CITIZENS: I'll am here
o-day under extraordinary circumstances. 1t
is not my habit to make long exordiums, nor
will make long one to-day. | must begin
hy calling your attention TO what L said long
ago, when [ az ade my vaedctory in this hall,
when retiring from the duties You had imposed
upon me, ard passed them to other hands.
When made that address, | feel sure my fell
low citizens will testify to the truth that the
affairs OF the gubernatorial office had been
faithfully administered and that yielded its
honors when all was in state of undisturbed
repose upon The bosom of peace. Peace with
all its attendent happiness, pervaded the Com
monweath then. How is it now ; What con-
dtion do we find the country in now Look
out, and see what is TO be found. When you
extend your vision over the vast boundary of
this beloved country, what do you find You
see men armed in all the appointments Of war
marching columns of infantry. cavalry. and
artillery you look upon battle fields, and see
fellow couutrymen bleeding. Why all this 2
And may not inquire what it has been for
Why do we behold weeping fathers, disconso-
late sisters, and broken hearted mothers
Why is the matron clothed in black and bathed
in tears Why is this distress brought upon
q contented and happy people Why is our
beautiful laud--the asylum OF the oppressed
of every clime-bathed in human blood ? |
hope you Will keep up the inquiry, Why all
this Four years ago LETT my beloved State
quiet and happy her free sons and lovely
daughters had not dream OF disorder. re-
turn to-day in the midst of civil war and the
camp in the sound of the cannon's roar, and
in the view of gittering bayonets. Again
ask, Why all this? Sisters, mothers. fathers.
/ intend to ask you something, and call upon
tn11 ~ rt,i1f oil 10 {pr nod
ding innocent blood. You know that il has
been said-and said to me--that this is an un-
just war, that the United States is unjustia-
bly, prosecuting war against the South. 1t IS
said the South is carrying IN the war tor
rights-Southern rights. Who ever sought
to abridge their rights The Government
has never ceased to respect and foster its ma
tional structure. This, our mother, knows no
East, no West, no North, no Souh-it is
purely national in its character. The inquiry
runs along, and what is the conclusion reach
ed They complain of lost rights, and say
they have been deprived OF their just and con-
sttutional rights in the Territories. Permit
me to make an Dquiry-in no offensive sense,
but simply that may be NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
inquiry. What right hHs been denied, what
privileges withheld, what prerOgative lost, un
der the Constitution and the laws of the u nj
ted States, by any citizen thereof, and partic-
uarly a citizen Of Tennessee What one
you take up the Constitution and call atten-
ton to any right there guaranteed which you
have lost Can You it-Smell lt-taSte
it-feel it You may tax all your faculties,
and cannot tell what right has been lost
What excuse, then, is there for all this tur-
mol of war What has the South lost under
the Constitution, that palladium of our lber-
ties framed by the patriot fathers of another
century .sSlavery" is the reply. Where has
the institution OF slavery been invaded Can
any one telli Here Governor Johnson allud-
ed to the fact that he and others, who had de-
termined to stand firm by the principles OF
self government had been denomiDated tral-
tors, and read the constitutional definition OF
treas0n.1 If, continued he, 1t be treason to
stand by ones country, am here to-day
traitor in your presence. | was making the
inquiry, Why all this / direct your atten-
tion to some facts in our history. In the fall
of 1860. YOU remember the memorable contest
for the Presidency. Three candidates were
put before the people-Bell, Breck inrldge,
Douglas. \ fourth was nomlnated-Mr. Lin
coin, but he had no ticket in this State. |
ask of Mr.. Bell's friends, what position did
YOU take "Tho Union. the Constitution
and the enforcement of the laws" What did
the Douglas men propose for your approval
The Union, the Constitution and the enforce
mept of the laws. How did Brecknredge
stand The same.
| voted for BTcck mirage because tnouSht
him a better Union man and stronger candl-
date than either Douglas Bell. And here
let me ask those Bell, Douglas or Breckin-
ridge men present if they did not cast their
votes under the impression that they were
irving to elect the strongest Union candidate
Nv belief was that Breckenridge was more
eligible man than Bell that from his well
known position in the eyes of the nation ne
could defeat and put down Secession. lie
was stronger man in the South than Douglas,
while it was agreed that Douglas was the
. stronger at the North. We had reason to
hope that by com mbnation of their strength
Lincoln might be defeated. If all were de-
feated but Mr.. Lincoln, we would give him
trial. If he administered the affairs OF state
wisely and constitutionaly, We would b@
thankful if Motif he attempted to encour-
age sectional legislation and administered al
fairs disparagingly to any part OF the country,
turn him out.
was not for breaking up this Government
because. forsooth, the aims Of any set OF pol
jticians had miscarried. If we are to have
revolution upon such pitiful pretext, what
stability of government do we possess 10
Weld to the displeasure OF certain set OF
party. so far as to partition political strnc-
ture of such grandeur ours. would be to foi.
low in the Footsteps of distracted Mexico. L
told my countrymen TO give Lincoln iair
chance. If he sought to invade their rights
or compass their freedom, elect another; the
ballot. box and not the sword, was the instru-
ment to WELD. In the support OF brecRin-