Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-08
STATE POLITICS
A Radical Address to the People of
Tennessee

A Radical Address to the People OF
Tennessee.
The National Republicans of the State
" Of Tennessee assembled 10 take that part
in the public affairs of the State which
becomes the free citizens of free repub-
lie, 10 promote its prosperity and happi-
ness. to maintain its free Institutions, to
make sure the blessings of practical free
dom to every individual citizen, aud es-
pecially to encourage and secure free
thought, free speech, and free press
make and submit this declaration and ad-
dress to the good people of the State of
Tennessee: MI
l. The Constitution of the United
States Of America, as made and amended
by our forefatherS, and the amendments
known as the thirteenth, fourteenth and
fifteenth, recognizing and securing free
dom aud equal rights to all American cit
liens of every race, their inalienab bic rights
under the laws of nature and natures God,
making the Declaration of Independence
living practical truth, is the supreme law
of the land, anything in the State Consti
tuition TO the contrary, Notwithstanding.
And tha American people constitute a
nation with one common National Gov
erlment, with one flag waving in peace
ald power over all the States and Terri
tories of the United States, inspiring all
patriotic hearts at home, honored and
respected among all the powers and
nations of the Garth, feared and hated
only by despotisms and their upholders-
the midcs', strongest and most stable
government the sun shines down upon,
because the freest.
2. The SAFE of Tennessee from its first
admission into the Union, under the ad-
ministration of Washington, was ever in
all the past, faithful in devotion to the
nation, when, in 1861, In an evil hour,
against the deliberate will and judgment
of her people, as s0.emDly recorded, in
favor Of adherence TO the Union, the
Democratic party, then dominant, forced
her INTO the gulf of rebellion by fraud,
violence and usurpation of the power of
the people Of the State She was re-
stored aud Tcadmitted to the Union with
all her original rights, upon perfect
equality with the other States, and we
congratulate the people of Tennessee that
they are restored to all the rights of
%lltl'tlNALL 'lllLILlNy dLlNl dLN again uuAlCl
the holy keeping of the cold flag free
and independent by the grace of God and
the American people.
3. We recognize the ability and neccs-
sity Of two political parties extending
throughout the whole United States, pro-
perly organic Il and conducted with good
sense and good temper, respecting each
otLcr'5 rights They are checks and guards
on each other against the abuse of pOlti-
cal power. They bring into discussion
before the people both sides Of all ques-
tons which undtrlie their institutions and
welfare, and preserve the spirit of liberty,
and we would not, if we had the power,
annihilate our adversary, the Democratic
party, (as itself, but with the real Demo
cratic element let Out) but would, and do
appeal 70 the free people of Tennessee
whose instincts and institutions are always
right, and in which we have faith and
confidence, that this party is unworthy
the confidence Of the generous people Of
Tennessee, in view of its betrayal Of their
interests, its misdeeds and mad abuse of
political power of which TO furnish few
examples.
First, The lea lers Of this party refused
to submit to the will of the American
people in the Presidential election Of
November, 1860. 1t had held power so
long, that when the American people, 10
the exercise of Constitutional rights, and
according to its judgment, elected that
plain and honest man, Abraham Lincoln,
to the Presidency, filed with pride, and
wrath, and disappointed ambition, the
leaders raised 'impious war; to pull
down the Government itself. Also, this
Democratic panty, in the madness of their
hearts, invoked the aid of the "British
Lion and the eagles Of France" to
assist in pulling down the American
Temple of Liberty. England-proud,
naughty, insolent England, was invoked,
and this party was willing to take pro-
tectora'c under the English Lion or the
French Eagles, one or both.
Second: In Tennessee itself, the home
of the last patriotic Democratic Presi-
dent Andrew Jackson, who declared that
''the Federal Union must and shall be
preserved, " the leaders of this party, in
their pride and infatuaiiOn and blindness ::
in defiance of the will Of the people of
Tennessee, sOlemnly expressed AZ a free
election in February, 1851, forced the
State of Tennessee into rebellion against
It's own National Government, in the face
of a majority Of g., 900, and the election
of ninety out Of one huTdred delegates
and the rejection of the Convention itself,
as being the means Of secession, covered
up and yelled.
Third: Its creature, the Legislature,
was Call in April, 1861, and made to
usurp powers which were fOrbidIel by
our own State Constituencies made
to Seige upon the public Trcasury-UpOn
the Bank Df the Safe Of Tennessee, with
its capitaLof s., 900, 900; to form a league,
(as it wa called, with the so-calIed Con
fedcraCy, which league was bill Of sale
of the p. pie Of Tennessee TO an organ
4 lied conspiracy. Troops were raised /;
So 600 allied for. Tennessee was the
BATTLEFIELD !; all of her industries destroyed;
her fields laid waste; her citizens, the
plain men and ingenious youth, were vic
timizcd, and their blood to. day cries to
heaven a linst the wrongs received at the
hands of His party. OF their leaders, who
bsrgained their blood and treasure for
hOnOrs @ and office.
Fourth: In $3.50, when President Lin
coin called on the people Of Tennessee TO
aid S9 rcsto ring Tennessee to Republi-
can govern mCnt, which had been over
thrown, and q Legislature had assembled
and we're engaged in restoring Tennessee;
the Gene raj Assembly was dcnDuuccd as
illegal snd unconstitutional and all of its
acts void and a scheme set on foot 70
break up its proceedings. It's work was
suspended for want of quorum, until
the propIc filed up the seats Of rccusut
and ssdli.us members and came to the
support of law and order.