The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-17

The following address to the people of
Tennessee has just been issued by Coy.
ernor Brownlow, in response to the re.
cent speeches made by Judge Campbell
Emerson Etheridge and others, and sun
dry attempts on the part of such to over
turn the State government: 49,.
ADDRESS.
FELLOW CITIZENS: Called to the Chief
Magistracy of this State without my
own seeking, by the unanimous nomi-
nation of the State Convention, and al
most unanimous election by the loyal
people, and entering upon the discharge
of my duties nearly simultaneously with
the fall of the rebellion, fondly hoped
that the whole people, wearied with
war, desolation and anarchy, would sup.
port with alacrity the incoming civil
government and Inauguration of law
and order; that patriotic people would
leave me, like my predecessors in Other
days, with little to do but to witness and
to encourage the cultivation of social
pursuits, commerce and arts, and redress
grievances by courts but am compell-
ed to announce serious apprehensions
that a different order of things issoon to
be encountered. The harangues of as
piring politicians, denouncing the ex-
termination of slavery and the establish
ment of free State constitution, and
the very existence of the government
ever which I am called to preside, as un-
Constitutional, spurious and a usurpa-
ton; the co ii l.nct ofinumerous county
officers, giving evidentrrH OF their failure
to perform their duties; the ~ H"iaihg OF
numerous local elections in defianc, ~
law, and the instalment into office of
disfranchised rebels, proclaim too plain
~ to be misunderstood, that the spirit
OF rebellion and notification still exist
and must be-lnet and defeated. si4S
: fnofder that all who desire may I'M
derstand the basis and true foundation
or the present constitution and COVERT
ment Of Tennessee, / propose in few
plain Words to Show itsvalidity and con-
stftationality. The Constitution of the
United States declares that the United
States shallguarantee to every State in
this Union, q republican form of govern
ment The government of Tennessee
was usurped by the military despotism
resulting from anarchy and q reign of
terror. Our noble and glorious national
government determined, at the cost of
many thousands of lives, AMI many
millions of money, to perform its duty
BY guaranteeing to the United States
free government. Both military and civ
ic measures had to be brought into requi-
sition, The military performed theduty
in Blood on the field Of battle; but it ap-
pointed q civilian, the person of the pre-
sent honored Chief Magistrate of the
nation, to carry out such civil policy as
was found necessary to execute in good
faith the guarantees to the people, After
over three years of patient toll his labors
resulted In the establishing of the
government now in power, which is SO |
fiereely denounced. This workmanship /
was the fruit Of his mind, acting under 4
national authority. and was proudly |
proclaimed by him the supreme law of
the State of Tennessee; and from his 4
heart he congratulated the people on the 1
happy result. Does any one suppose he /
will not stand by it andmaintain it with
he force of the nation? Strange to say,
here are those.who, not understanding
he man or bis duty, declare that hewill
lot sustain it, but will set it aside and
lot allow its Legislature to meet again.
It may be some relief TO the friends of
llG lSM SONGIHuIGllt w ue tSSufGU tflaI
most of those who so claim to represent
lie President, are men sUhose honesty he
eeuer had any confidence i,,. The Pre-
sident will sustain his model scheme of
the government of the
rebellious states, and that with just,so
much force applied, just such manner as
may be necessary when the nation en-
tered upon its task for furnishing the
people of Tennessee with republican
form of government. 1t had a right to
present Just such particular form of
free government as was most adapted
to the condition of the people, and to
choose the means of setting it on foot
If it had chosen the constitution of
Kentucky or Maine 1t is difficult to see
could have been made on
grounds, but in Difference
to the tastes and habits of our people it
chose our own constitution, Invested
only of that feature which had caused
all our suffarings, and proceeded to pre-
sent us with our own abandoned ship of |
State, clothed in its ancient rigging. 1t |
Is not for us to say there were irregu-
larities in the mode, orthe time of set
ting the State governmental motion.
1t was for the national power, in perform
Ing its guarantees, to choose for itself
The manner and time of dfscharging its