Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-10-13
Address to the People Of Tenncs-

Address to the People Of Tenncs
| sec. sa
The National Republicans of the State
of Tennessee assembled to take that part
in the public affairs of the State which be.
GENES the free citizens of free republic
to promote its prosperity and happiness, tc
maintain its free institutions, to make sure
| the blessings of practical freedom to ever,
| individual citizen, and especially, TO en-
courage and secure free thought, free
speech, and a free press-make and sub.
NIT this declaration and address to the
good people of the State of Tennessee.
1st The Constitution of the United
States of America, as made and amended
by our forefathers, and the amendments
known as the 18th, / 14th and 18th, recog-
nizing and securing freedom and equal
rights to all American citizens of every
race, their inalienable 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 Constitution to
the contrary, notwithstanding. And the
American people constitute nation with
one common National Government, with
one flag waving in peace and power over
all the States and Territories of the United
States, inspiring all patriotic hearts at
home, honored and respected among all the
powers and nations of the earth, feared and
hated only by despotisms aud their up
holders-the mildest, strongest and most
stable Government the sun shines down
upon because the freest. st- e-e-l
I'd. The State 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 solemnly recorded, in fa-
vor of adherence to the Union, the Dem
ocratic party, then dominant, forced her
into the gulf of rebellion by fraud, vio-
lence and usurpation of the power of the
people of the State She was restored and
rea United into 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 American citizens, and
are again under the holy keeping of the
..old flag" free and independent by the
grace of God and the American people.
Sd. We recognize the ability and neces-
sity of two political parties extending
throughout the whole United States, prop
erly organized and conducted with good
sense and good temper, respecting each
others rights. They are checks and guards
on each other against the abuse of politi-
cal power. They bring into discussion be-
fore the people both sides of all questions
which underlie their institutions and vel
fare. and preserve the spirit of liberty,
and we would not, if VIC had the power,
annihilate our adversary, tie Democratic
party, (as ITSELF but with the real Demo
cratic element let out) but would, and do
appeal to the free people of Tennessee
whose instincts and Institutions are always
right, and in which we have faith and con-
fdence that this party is unworthy the
confidence of the generous people Of Ten
nessee, in view of its betrayal of their ID
tcrests, its misdeeds and mad abuse of po-
litical power of which we furnish few eX-
amples:
First. The leaders of this party refused
to submit to the will of the American peo-
pie in the Presidential election of Novem-
ber, 1860. 1t had held power SO long,
that when the American people, in the ex-
ercise of Constitutional rights. and accord
ing to its Judgment, elected that plain and
honest man, Abraham Lincoln, to the Pres
idency, filled with pride and wrath and
disappointed ambition, the leaders raised
.impious war;" to pull down the govern
ment itself. Also, this Democratic party,
in the madness of their hearts, invoke the
aid of the british Lion" and the Eagles
of France to assist in pulling down the
american Temple Of Liberty. England
proud, naughty, insolvent England, was
invoked, and this party was willing to take
a ,1rotcctO7ttte under the English Lion or
the French Eagles, one or both.
Second. In Tennessee itself. the home
of the last patriotic President, Andrew
Jackson, who declared that ''the Federal
Union must and shall be preserved the
leaders of this party, in their pride and in
fatuation and blindness; in defiance OF the
will of the people of Tennessee, solemnly
expressed at free election in February,
1861. forced the State of Tennessee into
rebellion against its own National govern
ment. in the face of majority of "a 900,
! and the election of ninety out of one hun
dred delegates, and the rejection of the
Convention itself, as being the means OF
secession, covered up and veiled.
Third. Its creature, the Legislature, was
| called in April. 1861, and made to usurI
powers which were forbidden by our own
State Constitution-werc made to seize
upon the public Treasury-upon the bank
of the State of Tennessee, with its capital
| of S., 100000, to form league, (as 1T was
called,) with the so-called Confederacy
which league was bill of sale of the peO-
ple of Tennessee to an organized conspiro
| cy. Troops were raised; ffty-thousand
called for. Tennessee was the battle
field; all of her industries destroyed; hel
fields laid waste; her citizens, the plair
men and ingenious youth, were victimized
and their Blood to-day cries to Heaven
against the wrongs received at the hands
of this party, or their leaders, who bar
gained their blood and treasure for honor( !?
and office.
| Fourth. In 1865, when President Lin
coin called on the people of Tennessee t.
aid in restoring Tennessee to Republican
government, which had been overthrown
and a Legislature had assembled and wer'
engaged in restoring Tennessee the Gen
eral Assembly was denounced as illega
! and unconstitutional and all of its act
void, and scheme set on foot to break vi
it's proceedings. Its work was suspended
for want of quorum, until the peopl
filled up the seats of recusa'a and sedltlou
members and came to the support OF Law
and order.