Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-03-28
Andrew Johnson's Appeal To The People
Of Tennessee

FELLOW CITIZENS: Tennessee assum-
ed the form of body polite as one of the
United States of America, in the year sew
enteen hundred and ninety-six, at once en-
titled to all the privileges of the Federal
Constitution, and bound by all it's obliga-
tions. For nearly sixty-fye years she
continued in the enjoyment of all her rights
and in the performance of all her duties,
one Of the most loyal and devoted of the
sistelhood of States. She had been hon
ored by the elevation of two of her citizens
to the highest place in the git of the A
merican people, and third had been nom
mated for the same high office, who receiv-
ed liberal though ineffective support
Her population had rapidly and largely
increased, and their moral and material
interests pondirgly advanced. New
er was people more prosperous contented
and happy than the people Of Tennessee un-
der the Government of the United States,
and none so little burdened for she supper t
of the authority by which they were pro-
tected. 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 influence it is not my purpose now
to inquire, the authority of the Govern
ment was set at defiance, and the Consti-
tuition and the Laws condemned, by re-
bellious armed force. Men who, in addi-
ton to ordinary privileges and duties of
the citizen, had enjoyed largely the houn-
ty and official patronage of the Govern
ment, and have by repeated oatbs, obliga-
ted themselves to its support. with sud-
den ingratitude for the bounty and disre-
gard for their solemn obligation, engaged,
deliberately and ostentatiously, in the &C.
ccmplisbment of its overthrow. Many ac-
customed to defer to their opinions and to
accept their guidance, and others, carried
away by excitement or overawed by S di-
tious clamor, arrayed themselves under
their banners, thus organizing treasona-
bic power, which, for the time being, sti-
fed and suppressed the authority Of the
Federal Government.
In this condition of affairs it devolved
upon the President, bound by his official
oath to preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution and charged by the law with
the duty of suppressing insurrection and
domestic violence. to resist and repel this
rebellious 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 momentus and re-
spoDsible trust. That body came prompt
ly to his aid. and, while supplying him with
treasure and arms to an extent that would
previously have been considered fabulous,
they, at the same time, with almost unan-
unity, declare that this war sis not waged
on their part in any spirit of oppression,
nor purpose of overthrowing or interfering
with the rights or establis he'd institutions
of these States, but to defend and maintain
the supremacy of the Constitution and to
preserve the Union with all the dignity,
equality and rights of the several States
unimpaired; and that as these objects are
unaccomplished, the war ought to cease"
In this spirit, and by such cooperation,
has the President conducted this mighty
contest, until, as the Commander in-C Chief
of the Army, be has caused the national
flag to float undisputed over the capitol of
our State. Meanwhile the State Govern
ment has disappeared The Executive
has abdicated the Legislature has dissolv-
ed the Judiciary is in allegiance. The
great ship of State, freighted with its pre-
cious cargo of human interests and human
hopes, its sails all set, and its glorious flag
has been suddenly abandoned by
her officers and mutinous crew, and left to
float at the mercy of the winds. and to be
plundered by every rover of the deep
Indeed the work of plumber has commence
ed 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 concentrated for all
time to the instruction of our children.
In such lamentable crisis, the Govern
ment of the United States could not be
of It's high constitutional obliga-
ton which every State has a direct and