Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-04-03
JOiinsOn'S Appeal to tn C
People of Tennessee.

FELLOW CITIzENs-Tennessee assumed
the form Of body polite as ono Of the
United States of America, in seventeen
hundred and ninety six, at once entitled
to all the privileges of the Federal Con
stitution, and bound by all obligations.
For nearly sixty-fve years she continued
in the enjoyment of all her rights, and
in the performan ce of all her duties, one
of the most loyal and devoted of the sis
terhood of States. She had been hon
ored by the elevation of two of her citi-
zens to the highest place in the gift of
the American people, and a third had
been nominated for the same high office,
who received liberal though ineffective
support. Her population had rapidly
and largely increased, and their moral
and material interests correspondingly
increased. Never was people more
prosperous, contented and happy than
the people of Tennessee under the gov
ernmcnt Of the United States, and none
SO little burdened for the support of the
authority by which they were protected.
They felt their government only in the
conscious enjoyment of the benefits it
conferred and the blessings it bestowed.
Such was our enviable condition until
within the year just past, when-under
what baneful influences it is not my pur-
pose now to inquirc--tho authority OF
the government was set at defiance, and
the Constitution and the laws contemned
by rcbcllious armed force. Men, who,
in addition to ordinary privileges and
duties of citizens, had enjoyed largely
the bounty and official patronage Of the
government, and have. by repeated oaths
obligated themselves to its support, Will
sudden ingratitude for the bounty and
disregard for the solemn obligations, en-.
gagged deliberately and ostentatiously, in
the accomplishment of its overthrow
Many, accustomed to defer their opinions
an to accept their guidance, and others,
carried away by excitement or overawed
by seditious clamor, arayed themselves
under their banners, thus organizing q
reasonable power, which for the time be,
ing, stihed and suppressed tho authority
Of the Federal Government.
In this condition of affairs it devolvec
upon the President, bound by his oiiicia
oath, to preserve, protect and defend th'
constitution. and charged by the law will
the duty Of supprcssing insurrection AM
domestic violence, to resist and repel th
rebelious force by the military arm o
the government, and thus to re establish
the Federal authority. Congress, assem-
bling at an early day, found him, engas
ed in the active discharge of this mo
mcntous and resi- onsible t:ust. Tha
t body promptly came to his aid, and Will
supplying him with treasure and arms t.
an extent that wo'd previously have bee
t nsdered fabulous, they, at the sam
time, with almost absolute unanimity
declared that this war "is not waged OIL
their part in any spirit of oppression
, nor for any purpose of conquest or sui
iugaton, nor purpose of overthrowing O
5 interfering with the rights or establishe
institutions of these States, but to main
tain and defend the supremacy Of III
t constitution and preserve the Union wit
all the dignity, equality and rights
= the several States unimpaircd; and tha
y as soon as these objects are accomplishe
S the war ought 10 cease. IN tlls spur
and by such operation, has the Pres
dent conducted this mighty contest, III
+. til as Commander in Chief of the Arm.
| he has caused the national flag to Hoi
undisputed over the Capitol of our Stat
/. Meanwhile the State government has dl
appeared. The Executive has abdica,e'
!. the Legislature has dissolved; the jud
0 ciary is in obeyance, The great ship {
State, freighted with its precious carg
of human interests and human hopes, i
p sails all set. and its glorious flag unfur
o ed has been suddenly abandoned by h
officers and mutinous crew, and left
float at the mercy of the winds. and to
.e plundeled by every rover upon the dee
,e Indeed tho work Of plunder has alread
4e commenced. The archives have be-
If desecrated; the pubic property stolen al
la destroyed /; the vaults Of the State Bar
/, violated and its treasures robbed, inclu
% ing the funds carefully gathered and co
secrated for all time to the instruction
% our childre n.
= In such lamentable crisis, the 90