Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1862-04-04
ANDREW JOHNSON'S SPEECH In
NASHVILLE.

Union speeches made upon tennessee SOIL since
last spring were delivered last night By An
DREW JOHNSON, EMERSON ErHERIDGE, and
HORACE MAYNARD, during serenads by one
of the army bands. a large crowd had as
sembled in front Of the hotel TO listen to the
music and the expected speeches. Governor.
JOHNSON, IN response to enthusiastic calls for
him, appeared 90 the balcony and saids--a
| deeply and truly appreciate this demon
stration of respect and confidence. / am af-l
feeted by the circumstances under which re-
turn to you, which renders me all the more
sensitive to, and grateful for, this testimony
from my fellow citizens. | return 20 you with
no. hostile purpose, with no now doctrine to
avow, no strange teachings to inculcate. For
what do ] come? | come with the olive branch
in one hand and the Constitution in the other,
to render you whatever aid may be 10 my pow
er. ID re-erecting, upon her rightful domain of
Tennessee, the Star Spangled Banner-the
flag borne by him whu was "hrst 10 war, first
in peace, and first in the hearts of his country
men," borne by him, also whose sacred ashes
repose almost within the sound of my voice,
aud borne also by many thousand Of our
countrymen, wheu the blood spoated from their
heel, and no covering sheltered them but the
stormy, pitilcss cloud; to aid you in re-estab-
fishing the supremacy of this flag, so dear to
y6ur fathers and mine. l come TO aid you 10
tho upholding and defending of this, the best
Government that God ever spoke into existence.
/ have never deserted that Government. how!
cocld l? The exiled-my wife driven hither
ana thither, her servants stolen; my home
Rebel hospital-how could desert the glori-
GUS Government under which bad been so
richly and abundantly blessed, and under which
SO many of my fellow beings have enjoyed,
and do enjoy, so beautifully the eo0n OF liberty
snd security.
The Governor then passed to the inquiry Tor
what purpose is the war, and pressed home with
great zeal and force the answer, for the main
tenance Of the Constitution and Goyernmcnf.
lie then REQUIRED to the wicked deception that
had been practiced upon the people in the can
vass of 1860. he referred t. his own speech
here at THAI time, in which he ceEteaaed in all
sincerity that the Breckinridge party was aa
much the party OF The Uuiun as any othcr.--
Bell, Breckenridge and Douglas men were all
taught the doctrine of 'sthe Union, the Con-
stitution and the Enforcement of the Laws"
BREcKINRIDGE deceived him. lie was dis
unionist at the time His was a disuniou party.
notwithstanding al the vieiug with each 9TH
or of those three parties for the palm Of Up-
ionisnl, every one of their several leaders 10
this State have become open Rebels against the
Government of the United States.
lie then laid bare with seathing severity the
real cause of the war against the Government,
which he declared TO be disappointed ambition,
and not slavery. The latter was but a pre-
text, predicted by JACKSON. Look at the
bypo critic YANcEY telling Great Britain now
that slavery was not the eause of the war. -
These men pretended that they were protects
ing slavery by withdrawing from the Union,
while it was clear to every candid mind that
the only protection TO slavery was in the Con-
stitntion of the United States.
genuesseeans- have taken part 10 your
politics since 1S38-have / ever deceived } ou!
Is there man within the sound of my voice,
or man, woman, or child 10 the State, who
can ay that be. or she has been deceived b.
ANDREW JOHNSON? /? Why oil this persecu-
tioa against me aDd mine Why am | exiled,
driven from my home, aud my bard earnings
taken from me 2 Simply because | adhere to
my Government and yours, mg flag and your
flag, the Government and the flag Of your faith
ers. Because ! loved them TOO well. Because
hagiDg been born and bred under them, have
I determined to die under them.
An eloquent tribute was then paid to the
United States Government, as the Government
Of the people by the people.
lie painted, in telling terms, the track OF
desolatiou that secession left. Bridges, crops,
dwellings destroyed; brother arraysd against
brother in deadly conflict; antilles torn assun-
der; widows broken hearted and orphans cry
I IN oh
ou the track of the Demons tread lie point.
ed tie eyes of SeeessieLists present to this
/ scene, aud asked where it not enough, had
they not suffered enough at the hands Of this
accursed monster? Would they not see their
/ folly and crime, and return to their alIegianee'
! lie searched them With the question, Was there
a man there who had lost single right Oh
been deprived Of single privilege under taC
Constitution They were eutTeated to ponder
and reflect upon their suicidal course; TO re-
member that ':the soul of liberty was the love
Of law" that there was no hope for US but il
reverence for the Constitution and laws oe the
country.
The Governor closed by most affecting a /
lusIon to East Tennessee, where his desolate
home was and his sick, sad wife. his voice
rang out like clarion through the silent city
calling upon bis countrymen to come forward
In the defence of bis beloved section of th'
State; to show their hands, to fear not, and
speak out. He declared bis willingness Il
share with them any and all dangers for the
rescue of Tennessee from the jaws OF the IN"
fernal monster.
Traitors should be punished and treason
crushed. He came with no hostility or anI'
monty in his heart; be came for the defence
of the weak, the restoration of the errlng. th'