The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-28
Andrew Johnson at Nashville

Union speeches Alaue upon 1ennesSee Soil
since last spring were delivered last night,
by Andrew johnson, Emerson Etheridge
and Horace Maynard, during serenade by
one of the army bands. A large crowd
had assembled in front of the hotel to listen
to the music and the expected speeches.
Governor johnson, in response to enthusi-
astic calls for him, appeared on the balcony,
and said:
deeply and truly appreciate this demon
stration of respect and confidence. l am
affected by the circumstances under which /
return to you, which renders me all the
more sensitive to, and grateful for, this tes-
timony from my fellow citizens. I return to
you with no hostile purpose, with no new
doctrine to avow, no strange teaching to
inculcate. For what do 1 come? / come
with the olive-branch in one hand, and
the constitution in the other, to render
you whatever aid may be in my power
in re.erecting, upon her rightful do
main of Tennessee, the Star-Spangled
Banner-that flag borne by him who was
"frst in war, first in peace, and first in the
hearts of his countrymen )" borne by him
also whose sacred ashes repose almost with
in the sound of my voice and borne also
by many thousand of our countrymen,
when the blood spouted from their heel, and
no covering sheltered them but the stormy,
pitiless cloud to aid you in re.astablishing
the supremacy of this flag, so dear to your
fathers and mine. come to aid you in the
unfolding and defending of this the best
government that God ever spoke into exis-
tence! l have never deserted that governs
ment. How could II Though exiled-my
wife driven hither and thither servants
stolen; my home a rebel hospital-how
could l desert the glorious government un.
der which had been so richly and abun.
dainty blessed, and under which so many of
my fellow-beings have enjoyed, and do en-.
joy, so bountiiully the boon of liberty and
security?
The Governor then passed to the inquiry
for what purpose is the war, and pressed
home with great zeal and force the answer:
for the maintenance of the constitution and
the government. He then required to the
wicked deception that had been practised
upon the people 10 the canvass of 1860 He
referred to his own speech here at that time
in which he contended in all sincerity that
the Breckenridge party was as much the
party of the Union as any other. Bell,
Breckenridge and Douglas men we're all
taught the doctrine of "the Union, the con.
stitution and the enforcement of the laws"
Breckenridge deceived him. He was dis
unionist at the time. His was disunion
party. Notwithstanding all the vieiDg with
each other of these three parties for the
palm of Unionism, every one of their sevs-
raj leaders in this State have become open
rebels against the government of the United
States.
He then laid bare with scathing severity
the real cause of the war against the gov
ernment, which be declared to be disap-
pointed ambition, and not slavery. The
latter was but pretext, predicted by Jack.
son. Look at the hypocrite Yancey telling
Great Britain now that slavery was not the
cause of the war. These men pretended
that they were protecting slavery by with
drawing from the Union, while it was clear
to every candid mind that the only protec.
tion to slavery was in the constitution of
the United States.
Tenneasears, l have taken part in your
politics since l83S--have 1 ever deceived
you? Is there man within the sound of
my voice, or man, woman or child in the
State, who can say that be or she has been
deceived by Andrew johnson? Why all
this persecution against me and mine ? Why
am | exiled, driven from my home, and my
hard earnings taken from me? simply be
cause adhere to my go, eminent and yours,
my flag and your flag, the government and
The flag OF your fathers. Because l loved
them too well. Because, having been born
under them, have determined to die under
them.
An eloquent tribute was then paid to the
United States government as the govern
ment of the people by the people.
lie painted in telling terms the track of
desolatiOn that secession left. Bridges,
crops, dwellings destroyed brother ar
rayed against brother in deadly conflict
families torn asunder widows broken
hearted, and orphans crying for bread. All
such scenes as these are on the track of the
demons tread. He pointed the eyes of the
secessionists present to this scene, and ask.
ed, was it not enough ?-had they not suf.
fered enough at the hands OF this accused
monster +? Had they not been duped and
deceived by such as Davis, Toomhs and the
like long enough? Would they not see
their folly and crime and return to their
allegiance He searched them with the
question, was there man there who had
lost single right or been deprived of a
single privilege under the constitution q?
They were entreated to ponder and reflect
upon their suicidal course; to remember that
the "soul of liberty was the love of law;"
that there was no hope for US but in rever-
ence for the constitution and laws of the
country.
The Governor closed by most affecting
allusion to East Tennessee, where bis Desc
late home was, and bis sick, sad wife. His
voice rang out like a clarion through the
silent city, calling upon his conntrymen to
come forward in the defence of his beloved
State to show their hands, to fear not and
speak out. He declared bic willingness to
share with them any and all dangers for the
rescue of Tennessee from the jaws of the
internal monster.
Traitors should be punished and treason
crushed. He came with no hostility or ami