Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-10-12
An Address to the People Of Tennessee.

The National hepuDllcanS OF the state OF
Tennessee assembled to take that part i'm
the public affairs of the state which be-
comes the free citizens of u free republic,
TO promote its prosperity and happiness, to
maintain its free institutions, to make sure
the blessings of practical freedom to every
Individual citizen, and especially, TO en-
courage and secure free thought, free
speech, and free press-make and sub
NIT this declaration and address to the
good people of the State of Tennessee
LIST. The Constitution of the United
States of America, as made and amended
by our fOrefathers, and the amendments
known as the the 18TH 14th and 18th, re-
cogniZing 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 Il living,
practical truth, is the supreme law of the
Lord, 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
ut home, honored and respected among all
the powers and nations of the earth, feared
and hated only by despOtisms and their
uphulders-the mildest, strongest and most
stable Government the sun shines down
upon, because the freeSt.
I'd, The State of Tennessee from its first
admission into the Union, under the adj
ADMINISTRATION of Washington, was ever in
all the past, faithful in devotion TO the
nation. when, in 1851, in an evil hour,
against the deliberate will and judgment
of her people, as solemnly recorded, i'll fla
Vor of adherence to the Union, the Demo-
cratic party, then dominant, forced her in
to the gulf of rebellion by fraud, violence
and usurpation of the power of the people
of the State. She was restored and read
omitted into the Union with all her original
rights, upon perfect equality with with the
0ther States and we congratulate the peo-
Ole of Tennessee that they arc restored to
all the rights of American citizens, and
arc 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 cheeks and guards
,on each other against the abuse of political
power They bring into discussion before
the people both sides of all questions which
underlie their institutions and welfare
and preserve the spirit of liberty, and We
would not, if we had the power, annhilat'
orr adversary the Democratic party ,taS it.
III.
let OUT but would, and do appeal to the
free people of Tennessee whose instincts
and institutions are always right, and il
which we have faith and confidence, tina
this party is unworthy the confidence o
4he generous people of Tennessee, in view
of its betrayal of their interest, it, misdeed
and mad abuse of political power of which
furnish Il few examples:
First. The leaders of this party refused
to submit to the will of the American peO
> -ple in the Presidential election of Novenl
Der, 1860. 1t had held power so long, tina
when the American people, in the eXercis
of Constitutional rights, and according t
its judgement, elected that plain and hon
est man, Abraham Lincoln, To the Presi
dency, filled with pride and wrath an
disappointed ambition, the leaders raise
4'impious war; TO pull down the govern
mcnt itself. Also, this Democratic party
in the madness of their hearts, invoked tn
aid of the British Lion" and the Eagle
of France to assist in pulling down til
American TGmpie Of Libcry. England
proud, naughty, insolvent England, Wa
invoked, and this party was willing To tax
n jlrOtcctOrdte under the English Lion {
the French Eagles one or both.
Second: In Tennessee itself, the hon
,of the last IdtFiOtic, Democratic Presiden
Andrew jackson, who declared that I'll
Federal Union must and shall be pr
served the leaders of this party, in the
/ pride and intatuation and blindness in d.
lance of the will of the people of Tenne
see, solemnly expressed at II free electiO
in February 1861, forced the State of Tel
nessee into rebellion against its own \
tOnal government, in the face of IL maiol
ty of "a, 900, and the election of ninety OF
of one hundred delegates, and the rcje
ton of the Convention itself, as being Il
means of secession, covered up and vcile
Ihird: Its creature, the Legislature, W
called in April, 1861 and made to usurp POI
ers which were tor6iddcn by our own Sta
Constitution-were made to seige upon Il
public Treasury-upon the bank of &
State of Tennessee, with its capital of s
900, 600, to form Il league (as il was callet
with the so-called Confederacy, whi'
league was bill of sale of the people
Tennessee to an organized cOnspUdt
Troops were raised fifty-tive thOusal
called for Tennessee was the battle tiel
all of her industries destroyed; her 1lel
laid waste; her citizens, the plain m
and ingenious youth, We're yictimized, Il
their blood to-day cries to Heaven agail
the wrongs received at the hands of 4
party, or their leaders, who bargained tn
blood and treasure for honors GU II
Office.
FOUrth: In 1865, when President l.
coin called on the people of Tennessee
aid ia lcstOriAg Tennessee to Republic
government, which had been overthrow
and a Legislature had assembled and W
engaged i'm restoring Tennessee the Ge