The weekly Butte record., 1862-05-03
Andrew Johnsons Appeal to the People
of Tennessee.

-" A-eEls lA4 sAi 4a t4 >VS u tc-l sIAl44 uN
Andrew Johnsons Appeal to the People
of Tennessee.
Fellow Citizens: Tennessee assumed the
form of body polite. as one of the United
States of America in the year 1896, at once
entitled to all the privileges Of the Federal
Constitution, and bound by all its obligations
For nearly sixty-fve years she continued in
the enjoyment Of all her rights, and in the per
formance Of all her duties, one Of the most loyal
and devoted Of the sisterhood of States. She
has been honored by the elevation of two Of
her citizens TO the highest place in the gift of
the American people, and third had been
nominated for the same high office, who recei-
we'd liberal though ineffective support Her
population had rapidly and largely increased,
and their moral and material interests CORE
spondiugly advanced. Never was people
more prosperous. contented and happy than
the people of Tennessee under the Government
of the United States, and none so little burden
ed for the support Of the authority by which
they were protected. They felt their Govern
meut only in the conscious enjoyment of the
benefits it conferred and the blessings it be-
slowed.
Such was our enviabe condition until within
the year just past, when, under what baneful
influences it is not my purpose now to inquire,
the authority of the Government was set at
defiance, and the Constitution and laws con.
! temned, by rebellious, armed force. Men
who, in addition to ordinary privileges and
duties of the citizen had enjoyed largely the
bounty and official patronage of the Govern
ment, aud have by repeated oaths obligated
themselves to its support, with sudden ingrati-
tude for the bounty and disregard for their
solemn obligation, engaged deliberately and
ostentatOusly, in the accomplishment of its
overthrow. Many, accustomed to defer to
their opinions, aud to accept their guidance,
and others, carried away by excitement or
overawed by seditious clamor, arrayed them
selves under their banners, thus organizing
reasonable power, which for the time being
stifed and suppressed the authority Of the
General Government.
In this condition of affairs it devolved upon
the President. bound by bis official oath, TO
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.
and charged by the law with the duty of sup
pressing insurrection and domestic violence, to
resist and repel this rebellioas 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 momentous and
responsible trust. That body came promptly
to his aid, and, while supplying him with trea-
sure and arms TO an extent that would pre-
viousy 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 oppression, nor for any
purpose of conquest or subjugatioD, nor
purpose of overthrowing or interfering with
the rights or established institutions of these
States. but to defend and maintain the supre
macy of the Constitution aud to preserve the
Union with all the dignity, equality and rights
of the several States unimpaired and that as
soon as these objects are 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 national
flag to float undisputed over the Capitol of our
State Meanwhile the State Government has
disappeared. The Executive has abdicated :;
the Legislature has dissolved; the Judiciary is
10 abeyance The great ship Of s tate, freight
ed with its precious cargo Of human interests
and human hopes. its sails all set, and its glo-
rious flag unfurled, has been suddenly abandon
ed BY her officers and mutinous crew, and left
to float at the mercy of the winds, and to be
plundered by every rover upon the deep. IN
deed, the work Of plunder has already COM
menced. The archives have been desecrated /;
the public property stolen and destroyed; the
vaults of the State Bank violated, and its
treasures robbed, including the funds carefully
gathered and consecrated for all time to the
instruction of our children.
In such lameutabe crisis, the Government
of the United States could not be unmIndiul Of
its high constitutional obligation to guarantee
to every State in this Union republican form
of government, al obligation which every State
has direct and immediate interest in having
strictly observed towards every other State,
and from which, By no action or the part OF
the people in any State, cau the Federal Gov
ernment be absolved- \ republican form Of
government. in consonance with the Constitu-