The national Republican., 1866-07-12
Address TO THE PEOPLE OF
TENNESSEE.


political condition Of the coun,ry prompts
rs, . portion Of your duly-elected Senstors
and Representatives 70 the Congress Of The
United States, to invise your special stten-
ton to the call that has been made for o
National Union Convention" to assemble
in the CITY Of Philadelphia on the l4th day
Of August next aRgt Z, -
Since the first Monday Of December last
we have watched with intense solicitude the
progress Of political events in Washington,
and have witnessed with profound regret the
opposition made by the majority in Congress
TO the wise and benefcent policy Of the
President Of the United States.
Believing, as we most sincerely do, that
under that policy the union Of the States
would be preserved, the integrity Of the
Constitution maintained, and the inestima-
BILE right Of the people Of each State to rep
resentation in Congress distinctly recog-
nized, we feel that the occasion demands
such Convention, having in view the consoli-
dation Of oil who are opposed TO extremists,
as well at the North rs at the South, and
who, ignoring all past political differences,
are willing to unite in opposition to the sec
tional action Of Congress, and in favor Of the
speedy restoration Of all the States to their
practical relations with the National Govern.
ment. '. .. '..-
Deeply impressed with the importance Of
this common object, and cordially approving
the political truths embodied in the call, we
earnestly appeal to you to take such meas
ures as will insure your representation in
the Convention. r ...- .r .Hn
In making your appointments we eahnot
too earnestly impress upon you the necessity
Of selecting your best representative men--
such as will reflect credit on your choice, and
who do in good faith loyaly accept the ma
tional situation cordially endorse the patri-
otic principles set forth in the call, and are
attached in true allegiance to the Constitu-
ton Of the United States, the union Of the
States under it, and the Government estab-
lished by it. Era,. .....
The people of the State Of Tennessee have
peculiar interest in the objects for which
the convention is called Seven months have
now elapsed since the assembling Of the
Thirty-Ninth Congress, and they are yet de-
MED the constitutional right Of representa-
ton. .. -,.., II. J,,,, q
The admission Of your Senators and Rep
representatives with no other conditions than
those prescribed by the Constitution and the
laws has been repeatedly, but vainly, urged
by The President, and protracted session
is about to terminate without even the priv
ilege Of being heard having been accorded to
your representatives duly elected and &C.
knowledged to possess the requisite legal
qualifications. ,, lrsj,. .. .,..-
In addition, you are now grsvely called
upon by the majority in Congress. and his
excellency the Governor, to sanction an
amendment to the Federal Constitution,
which. If ratified by the States, will deprive
you of your recognized political power, and
lessen the number Of your representatives
in the national Legislature, unless you shall
at their bidding clothe the negro with the
right Of suffrage. .,..., ..-.... .
This we are unwilling to do under any cir
We are well assured that you will not sus-
tain party which would thus attempt fur
ther to humiliate our noble State, and en-
deavor to throw o cloud over the patriotism
Of ANDREW JOHNSON; and that you will frown
upon men who would subvert the Consttu-
tiOn of our fathers for mere partisan pur-
poses; and that you will cheerfully cooperate
in movement whose only object is the
preservation of the rights, the dignity, the
equality, and the Union Of the States. -
Very respectfully,
DAVID 7. PATTERSON.
,...r EDMUND CooPER.
WM b. CAMPBELL.
... .r JONI W. LEFrwIcH.
N. g. TAYLOR.
r. DORSEY B. THOMAS.
July 4, 1855. .... ,.. of