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

ended any loyal election heretofore In
be interior counties, and would now at.
end them in perhsps five sixths of the
counties Of the State, will be testified To
~ every refugee who has reached this
,ity from any portion Of the Stale. We
leed not argue what madness, nay, what
actual treason, IL would be TO hold cleo
in counties where ii would not be
In the power Of the Government to keep
from voting, if they choose to
do 80. Even 10 Kentucky a State
comparatively at peace, where the
of civil Government, except for
a very brief period in a few counties, and
where even the forms Of civil authority
were strictly complied with, unless the
virtual deposition of MagOffin DO con-
sidered an exception, Gen. Burnside, to
preserve the purity of the ballot box on
yesterday, had to issue a stringent order
forbidding under severe penalties all
rebels from voting for any officer what
soever. Tho connection Of Tennessee
with, and her obedience to the National
Government is not a debateable question,
except at the mouth of the cannon, nor
will Governor Johnston, by any act OF
his suffer ii 20 be debated in any other
way for one moment. The freedom OF
the ballot box does not, according to his
understanding Of the phrase, imply the
freedom of Tennessee 70 vote herself in
to the Southern Confederscy, or elect it,
partisans and sympathizers to any office
municipal, state or national. Ga this
point his policy and determination arr
~irrevoeably fixed; Tennessee must vot,
as 8 true and loyal member of the Fed
eraI Government, or not ut all.
This Ia not an illegal or unconstitu.
tional doctrine il is in the s%trictes
n Of the word constitutional and i
sustained by the highest legal authority
The President of the United States dare
not leave Tennessee TO the mercy an
| control Of the Southern ~Confederaoy, /
he can prevent IL. He dares not permi
her State Government 10 be modified &C
cording to the suti-republica principle
of the Richmond dynasty. he is solemn
ly sworn not TO suffer it, and he wou
be a perjured officer if he should foff
il. The language Of the Federal Con
stitution on the duty Of the Executive Q
the United States, in this regard is clea
and explicit.
The trainers of the Federal cons,itu
tion anticipated aad provided for REBELLION
inasmuch as rebellions are incident TO a
forms of Government, even the holy on
of Heaven itself, as we are told in I'll
sacred records.
Now the extent of a rebellion in a Stai
~ o--@t n- s~alI n may ha Z
small as TO merely delay the exercise
a single official duty or it may defei
that duty altogether; or it may ovel
power all civil authority in a county, {
in a district; but still not grow to larg,
dimensions than may be eventually col
trolled by the military and civil pow,
of the State. But there 10 q possibilit
that the rebellion may become SO poweI
full as to overthrow the whole civil go'
srnmeat of the State, and set up in i
stead an independent usurpation who'll
different in its character. What is Il
duty of the United States GovernmeI
in this stage of the difficulty, when
revolt is about 10 change a republicl
State Government into a Brigham Youn
or Isham Harris, usurpation? The col
stitutiOn of the United States gives
an unequiVOcal and positive answer
this question. Article ", sec. 4, prOvid
as follows:
THE United States SHALL GUARANTl
TO EVERY STATE IN H UNION A REPUI
LIcAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT, and shs
protect each of them against invasion
The language of this clause is imper
tive. The President of the Unit,
States has no more right to leave Tei
nessee TO the control Of the enemies
republican government than he has
sell 1t to Great Britain. But what If
majority of the people do not desire
republican form of government? TIL
let them seek another country. Eve
foot Of soil within the limits of d
United States, belongs politically to 4
people OF the United States, and to the
! only, and the people Of the Unit
States, being publicly bound by th,
Federal Constitution to guarantee a :
publican form Of government to each a
4 every State, over which that Constit
ton has authority, are not at liberty
? suffer any State, under any prete
whstever, to lapse into an oligachy. mo
= srchy, deBpotism, or aver anarchy.
Ia every aspect of tho matter, il
desirable that the people Of a State al
: organised by rebellion, shall resul
: their local government as speedily
possible. The United States only wis
4 es to lead the cOnvalescent patient
a the hand until exercise aud nutritio
o diet shall have restored vigor to !
o his limbs and elasticity to his step, a
then leave him TO walk by hi