The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-08-05
OF civil Authority

among ali classes of our citizens, when
civil government will be reinstated in
Tennessee, and what are the policy and
purposes Of the Federal Government and
lts agen,a in this department, on this
grave matter. These are not questions
Of recent origin they would naturally
present themselves 20 all who feel a de-
sire for the perpetuAtion of popular gov
eminent In Tennessee, and doubtless
have been seriously pondered by every
patriot since the day when the national
Gag was brought back, triumphsntly to
Nashville.
We will say briefly In response 10
these inquiries, so natural to . people
who love freedom and feel a repugnance
to military restraint, that the purpose
Of the Administration is to see that pro-
visions Of the Federal constitution are
carried ont with respect to the future
government of this Stale; that the pur-
poses Of Governor johnson are to-day,
in all essential particulars, what no an
nounced them 20 be in bis proclamation
to the people Of Tennessee, issuSGson his
assumption of an office which had been
UNANIMOUSLY betrayed, Wickedly admins
tered, and basely abandoned by his pre-
dccessor, Gov. Harris, q man who Prac-
ticed all the treason Of Catiline,
"without his decent dignity Of fli.'
No change has been made in any Of the
essential points Of the programme then
laid down, which all judiciOus men both
here and elsewhere, applsuded as neces-
sary, just, and eminently salutary, both
for the internal peace OF Tennessee, and
for the preservation of her connection
with the Federal Union.
We are also officially authorized TO
state that Governor johnson purposes
issuing writs of election for a Legisla-
ture, at the very earliest practicable day;
that is when the progress of our militia
,ry operations is such that loyal citizens
can 60 to the polls in safety, and when
sympathizers with the rebellion will no
longer dare, backed by the presence of
Confederate troops, and by guerrilla ter
rorism, to control the policy of the State.
Rega ard will also be had 10 the DISPOSE
ton manifested by the people to resume
their former privileges in the Federal
Union. They must indicate in some
way = desire to vote for their officers, as
ssy-a vs.a--- HA-s- IA - L.
forced upon them against their will
They will not be compelled TO receive
civil government unless they desire it,
They can free themselves from military
government only by expressing a wish
to exercise the right of suffrage, as true
and loyal citizens of the United States
If half q dozen, or two, or one county
refuses TO take any action in the work o
restoration, and still displays . suller
attachment to rebellion and treason
1t will most assuredly enjoy military
rule, sc long as that feeling exist
among lis people.
The delay in issuing writs of election
hitherto has been, az all intelligent OBJ
servers must have seen, not a matter o
choice, but Of memorable and painful ne
cessity. Practically, it has been i'm
possible TO hold UniOn mass meetings 0
the people, or 60 through the form of al
election in one Eth of the counties 0
Tennessee. We doubt whether any 0
those who have been most urgent 70
holding elections and restoring civil gov
ernment, would at any time within tn
past twelve months, have run the risk O
making speeches for the Union an,
against the rebel government at AM
precinct ten miles from a Federal en-
oampment. Throughout the State a
large the loyal people ore unOrgAni1ed
while the ramiications Of rebel organi
Sations extend everywhere. in the shan
Of cavalry bands, or guerrilla troops, or
gained for pillage and murder, or sue
lodges as Knights Of the Golden Girol,
All loyal organisation, except 10 Nash
Vile, Memphis and probably secretly /
some counties Of indomitable East Ton
nessee, has been utterly destroyed. Tn
people have so long been trodden und,
the heel Of rebel tyranny, that ~terroisr
has possessed their souls, and they hav
lost confidence in their own mower
some extent. Ii deei, the history
treason aud rebellion In this State a
fords a signal illustration Of the eai
and rapidly with which a minority (
uiurpers, consolidated by one great pa,
sion, and working in harmony, can ovei
gun and trample upon and e~nslave O
unsuspecting, unorganized, surprised an
terror-stricken people. Why make q
idle call upon the people to assemble
hear a Union speech, when the peop
are all kept Al home through fear
the arrival Of a troop Of rebel caValr
to break up the meeting Why issue
writ Of election for q count.
where a guerrilla baud of fro
twenty to fifty might visit every preoin,
in the county on the day of %elee,io,
We must bear in mind that the psopl
especially all the loyal people, have be,
disaImed and can't defand H.