Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-03-28

immediate interest in having observed to-
wards every other State, and from which,
by no means on the part of the people in
any State, can the Federal Government
be absolved. A republican form of gov
eminent, in censonance with the Constitu-
tion of the United States, is one of the
fundamental conditions of our political ex-
istence, by which every part of the coun-
try is alike bound, and from which no part
can escape. This obligation the National
Government is now attempting to discharge.
| have been appointed. in absence of the
regular and established State authorities,
as Military Governor for the time being,
to preserve the public property of the State
to give the protection of law actively en-
forced to her citizens, and as speedily as
may be. to restore her government to the
same condition as before the existing re-
bellion.
In this grateful and ardurous undertake
ing, / shall avail myself of all the aid that
may be afforded by my fellow citizens.
And for this purpose | respectfully, but
earnestly invite all the people of Tennessee
DESTROYS or willing to restoration of her
ancient government, without distinction of
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 subordi-
nate their functions to power in hostili-
ty to the fundamental law of the State, and
subversive of her National allegiance.
These Offices, must be filled temporarily,
until the State shall be restored SO far to
its accustomed quiet that the people can
peaceably assemble at the ballot box and
select agents of their choice Otherwise
anarchy would prevail. and no mans life or
property would be safe from the desperate
and unprincipled.
shall, therefore, as early as practlca-
bic, designate for various positions under
the State and county governments from
my fellow citizens, probity and Intelligence
and bearing true allegiance to the Consti-
tuition and Government of the United
States, who will execute the functions of
their respective Offices, until their places
can be filled by the action of the people.
Their authority, when their appointments
shall have been made, will be accordingly
respected and observed
To the people themselves, the protection
of the government is extended. All their
rights will be duly respected, and their
wrongs redressed when made known. -
Those who through the dark and weary
night of the rebellion have maintained
their allegiance to the Federal Government
will be honored. The erring and misguid
ed will ;be welcomed on their return
And while 1t may become necessary, in
indicating the violated majesty of the law
and in reasserting the imperial sway, to
punish intelligent treason in high places,
no merely retaliatory or vindictive policy
will be adopted. To those, especially
who in private, unofficial capacity have
assumed an attitude of hostility to the
Government, full and complete amnesty
for all past acts and declarations is offered
upon the one condition of their again
yielding themselves peaceful citizens to
GHe JUST SUPREMACY Vi Ile laws. 1nlS
advise them to do for their own good, and
for the peace and welfare of our beloved
State, endeared to me by the associations
of long and active years, and by the enjoy
ment of her highest honors.
And appealing to my fellow-citizens o.
Tennessee, | point them to my long pub
lie life as pledge for the eincerity of my
motives and an earnest for the perform
ance of my present and future duty.
ANDREW JOHNSON.