American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-30
9eopIe.
.ential contest is now

@@scr. Although rebels and guerril-
as invested many portions of our State,
yet the vote of Tennessee, and especially
East Tennessee, is eminently gratifying
to the friends of the Union and freedom
The magnitude of the political struggle
through which we have just past can
scarcely be realized. Upon it hung the
destiny of this vast Republic; and in its
issue was involved the hopes ofthe lovers
Of liberty throughout the world
The welfare of the bustling millions
of the future was at stake. Mcclellan is
defeated Lincoln is reelected, and ''all
the fond hopes of the rebellion dashed to
the ground" The fiat has gone from the
ballot-box, that the national soil should
be maintained in all its integrity, and the
great shareholders insumection crushed
out by the powers and prowess of our ar
my and navy. The re election of Lin
coin decides that there will be no South
ern Confederacy-that the flag of the
Union shall protect and defend the States
and territories, from the silver lakes of
the North to the golden sands of the
Gulf of the South. This fixes the desti-
ny of Tennessee in He Laton, subject to
its laws and bound by its authority.
The man who now entertains doubt
as to the success Of the national cause, or
possesses one CLEAN of hope for the re-
bellion, would adorn the chambers of
mad house, rather than enlighten the
world IN the arena Of public debate
In view of the present condition Of
public affairs, what should be the policy
of the people? And by " the peopic" it
is not intended to convey the idea Of
few leaders, or would be leaders, assum-
ing, as in the past, to direct the people
what the will of the politicians is, but it
is meant that the period has arrived in
history as free Republic, when the great
mass" tic common people, as they are
called-shall arouse from the state of
vasalage in which they have been held
by the Stare Loy,ls, and their instru-
mcnts, the polticans, and assert the pol
itical equality of the white race This
is not war for negro equality, as we are
told by the Copperhead orators and press
1t is a war to yindicate the rights Of the
plebeian population. and make the poor
the equal Of the rich-to place all men
upon an equality, whether it be the peas
ant Of the fields or the slave lord of the
parlor, who counts his negroes by the
hundred
What then, should the soyoroigns of
the land DO in order to restore our State
and people the immense blessings of the
national Union? Our State Government
has been subverted. Weare without civ
il authority to administer to the wants of
the citizen. The great civil war that has
swept over the land for three years and
more, has worked many changes, as al
ready intimated, in our political and So
cial system. Indeed, they are so great
that many laws quite appropriate and nee
essary in the past, are now obsolete by
force of circumstances, and if enforced
would work incalculable hardships, and
in some cases even ruin. For instance
the Slave Code cannot be enforced. and
and it would be improper, not to say SUI
premely unjust, to attempt such
thing.
These evils and inconsistencies existin
the organic law of the State
The Constitution contains them, and as
wise, statesmanlike peolpe we should to
profit by experience, and prepare for our
present protection and future prosperity,
and greatness as State, by reorganizing
our State Government upon a basis more
consistent with the principles Of the
Union
To do this, the people who have stood
by the flag of their country should take
steps Immediately to elect a Constitution
al Convention, to reconstruct a loyal
State Government by amending their
Constitution, and removing the. inconsis-
tencics it contains.
Especially should slavery be wiped
from its pages, and forever prohibited.
The people have indicated their desire
to do this by their recent endorsement of
Mr.. Hneoln's administration.
Another question worthy of considera-
tion is, whether we will provide for the
election of Lieutenant Governor, in ad-
dition to the officers already provided for
in our Constitution Tennessee is one of
the few States without such an officer
He is the presiding officer of the Senate,
and the convenience and services of such
an official is potent to the minds of every
statesman kuOrJ,iWe HHj1