The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-06
Reconstruction i'm Tennessee
Npecch Of GOV. Johnson.

Al the great meeting III NaShNIile or the
olst Of January, 10 consider the question
Of breathing anew into Tennessee the
breath OF loyal life, Hon. Andrew Johnson
made an able speech, from which we eX
tract SO much as pertains to the Questions
OF reconstruction and emancipation.
THE CASE STATED.
After a few preilninaries, he thus states
the case:
Our object is to restore the functions OIL
State. We have been involved, or. more
properly, engaged. ia Rebellion. Rebel
lion is known to the Constitution. Rebel
lion or rebellions were expected by our
Forefatners, and consequently they have
been provided for. Means have been pro-
vided for their suppression, and when q re-
bellion occurs it devolves upon the Gov
ernment of the United States TO suppress
that rebellion. Admitting the functions OF
a State to be paralyzed for time. 1t does
not destroy the State, as has been very cor
rectly remarked here tonight. In at
tempting 20 suppress rebellion, the Gov
ernment Of State may fly to seek protec-
ton in foreign climes the Legislature may
disappear the civil magistrates may cease
to act but that does not destroy the State.
It's functions have only been paralyzed-
| it's powers are only remaining inactive.
! We are called upon to establish, reorgan-
ize, and impart vitality to the functions of
State. We find that while rebelllOns were
provided for, at the same time we tnd VI
talizing power in the Constitution. In the
ith Section Of the 4th Article Of the Consti-
tuition we find that the United States shall
not make, but shall guarantee, to each OF
the States OF this Union, Republican form
of Government. And instead Of taking
the opposite position, l take the affirma-
tive-instead OF petitioning 70 the Presl-
dent or to the Congress OF the United
States--instead Of assuming the attitude OF
suppliants in reference to the restoration OF
the powers Of State Government, we stand
in the attitude of fdemanding-claiming at
the hands Of the Federal Government the
guarantee of q Republican form Of Gov
ernment. We are no suppiants-no petl-
TONERS. We stand upon the broad plat
form of the Constitution, demanding our
righ.s-that the guarantees in the Cons;i'
tuition shall be secured 10 us-that =. 70 Sc
cure 20 US :. Republican form Of Govern
men..
HOW TO REGiN.
lie then states, how. IN his opinion, tht
State Government can be reSusiiateC. lnt
election Of the primary officers. sucn a
| Justices OF the peace. constahles. &C., IS IL
ed bv the Constitution Of the State on lh'
,, first saturday in March, and he thinks th'
Executive should say TO the people OF tha
state 10 90 TO the ballot-boN on that da,
and elect conStables. justices, she:lhs
, county trustees and clerks. Ard whel
elected let them be commissioned as the,
ordinarily are. The Agen. Of The Govern
, meut supplies the vacuum. Is there any
thing outside OF the principles OF the Con
stitu,ion in that? Is there any usurpa,iol
, in it? There must be a beginning some
where. Don't we all know that III the ab
! sence Of Government there must be some
thing done, seemingly irregular, tor III
purpose OF bringing back order? Then "
: take q step without precedent, but eiearl
4 iustitable. and proceed 10 eject our OIL ter
: as we have done heretofore. We look on
in the various judicial districts OF the Stat
ana md they are vacant tor Judges; +"
D turn TO the laws and Constitution OF III
= State and lind that when vacancies occu
: bv death, resignation, or otherwise, III
Executive shall make temporary appoint
( lnents and these appointees shall hold thel
4 places until their successors are elected an
u qualified. Then. don't we see how easy III
the process is I? Begin at the foundation
: elect the lower officers, and then come u
:, to the judiciary. and put it in motiol
wherever it can be. But il might be san
J, this can, be done IN all the counties. Wei
u II il is done III half dozen counties, II
:, 50 much done, and that much done sc ca
F" do more.
WHO SHALL VOTE.
And in this connection there comes up
very important question, and that IS, WI
shall vote? That is the tOuch-stone. Al
let us talk about this practically, let
talk about il in q common sense way. al
see if we can ascertain who ought 10, ar
e who canno: vote. l assume that an IND
yidual who has engaged in this rebellio
who has got his consent to give up Il
~ Government OF the United States, and Wi
u his person attach his fortune 10 the Sout
y err Confederacy. or to any other Cover
| f,o has hapy ncfi V q
n patriated-he ceases, at the point of tin
le at which he gets his consent to take ,
e. arms against the Government OF the VI
IN ted States. longer to be a citizen Of /
ie United States. [Applause.l And now '
he must pe practical. A man coming in fro
~ Great Britain. Ireland or elsewhere: {
ee for. he comes he is not a citizen, and aft
ld he comes he is not citizen until certa
w things be done. We describe in our Ia
as the process by which he may become q c
~ izen. By renouncing his allegiance TO
i. powers, kings and potentates, and by d
ing certain other things, he can become
citizen and be admitted into this gre
family Of nations, and be acknowledged
citizen of the United States. Now
-. - come back to the other proposition, that
- man at the time he gets his consent, a
=. lets this consent lead him into active p;
le le ticipa;ion in this rebellion, then he ceas
- TO be q citizen OF the United States a
:, cpaSluR 10 Dc Sucu, ne loTlelS dll lIdIlCAA'
y. pertainingto to citizenship. Now the que
"a a. comes up. We know that a great ma
~ who went into that rebellion, went into
- under reign OF terror; We know gr'
y. many were conscripted; a great ma
- went from interest and speculation; a
=, oe others-the Intelligent portion-went il
'Ih,' it for the purpose Of changing the &C
w, ernment and establishing an aristocra
e at or negro oligarchy. [Laughter.l This
-. know: and now the query comes up: sh
we act upon the doctrine that man ca
"a repent, or, as it were, act upon the Chr
as a., tian principle that a man can console
-. :. tiouslv acknowledge his error, and OF
lat "a. more become citizen of the United Stat
Or Dr. That is the question.
ha Ihm know it has been said by some Uni
ne ne men. that we should not be placed in
40 70 attitude of culprits-of men asking
~ ~ pardon. l do not feel that you, and y
@ ~ and YOU should be required, for the sake
ea ,d vote to ask for pardon. lam not a cri
~ ~ inal-i have violated no law-I have
.ne .a raised my arm against my Government
s" Therefore, I do not want pardon. But
a :" tho oloctiou Of officers who are to e