Year: 1868

NOuuftttec.


CITIzENs-After anxious delibera-
tion and consultation with many able
and discreet persons, the Democratic
Executive Committee of Tennessee
have resolved upon an active and
vigorous prosecution of the canvass
in the pending contest for the Presi-
dency, in behalf of Seymour and
Blair, the nominees of the Democracy
of the Union. In this contest we
lock shields and march shoulder to
shoulder, and hip to hip, with the
party who struggle for the restoration
of the country to the principles upon
which IL was framed in 17S7JS9, and
administered by Washington, JefFer-
son, Madison and Jackson. Our war;
fare is with party that seeks the
overthrow of these principles by a
subversion of the Constitution and a
revolution of the Government--erec
ing, instead of nicely balanced Rep
resentative Democracy, mobocratic
Capitalization of power in one branch
of government.


The events of the past three years
show that nearly one hundred prop
ositions have been offered in Congress
to amend the Constitution; that the
Legislative Department has trans
cended its powers by usurping those
of the judicial, and taking away those
of the Executive that it has declared
that it Is the only representative of
the supreme will of the nation; that
under this declaration it has assumed
to remould and dictate to the co-ordi-
nate departments, and concentrated
all the essential powers of Govern
ment in its own hand that it has
denied to the States those essential
rights to their safety and happiness
that We're never before questioned |;
that they have arbitrarily and with
out cause or warrant placed ten States
of the Union urtier martial law and
ruled them by the sword, and finally
dictated to them terms upon which
they should have voice in public
affairs.


The progress i'm this restoration of
the Government has been as bold and
rapid as it has been reckless. 1t is
against this change in the organic
structure of this Government that the
Democratic party of the Union has
protested with q unanimity, an ardor
and firmness never before equaled in
the history of contests at the ballot
box. They have invited us to join
them in the noble and patriotic strug-
gle, that we may share with them
the glory of triumph which, they
tell us, Is almost assured, and enjoy
with them the blessings of liberty and
republican government, which will
otherwise be lost to us and our poster
ity forever.


Our responseis, 1--WE CoMEw We
enter the lists and join hands with
our fellow Democrats of the North,
the East, the South and the West,
plcdging ourselves to do all that may
be done to put the revolutionists to
flight and save to ourselves and the
world liberty and justice flowing from
a constitutional republic.


In coming to this determination,
the Executive Committee have not
been unmindful of the difficulties and
we RRve fe6nzed'thi9S' mhagnftude Tdi
the prescriptions and expressions that
have fettered us for three years, and
the present autOcratic powers over the
ballot box, possessed by the Governor
and his plant instruments.


But we feel it to be our duty as free
men, the descendants of freemen, and
the inheritors of liberty rs BIRTH
right, to make the struggle.


We, therefore, appeal to the people
of the State en- ntdsse to unite with
us and with powerful national De-
mocracy i'm the campaign, and to or
ganize without delay for the final day.
The ticket for electors for the State ut
large is complete In the I'd, Sd, 4th,
5th, 9th and Sth Congressional Dis
tricts. Electors are yet to he chosen
or appointed in the two remaining
districts. Let this be done immedi-
ately. A plan of canvass will be sent
within few days to the various coun-
ties. In the meantime let the De
mocracy of each town, county and
civil district organize its Seymourand
Blair Clubs, enrolling the names OF
non-voters as well as voters, and go
actively and vigorously to work TO
poll as many votes as possible. a
large class of our voting population
has been deceived, cajoled, hired on
frightened into the support of the
Radical party. They are being unde-
ceived; let us now press on the work
until they shall be convinced of the
Radical enormities of the times The
arguments for the purpose are press.
ing and strong. BY watchfulness and
industry; by prudence and substan-
tial kindness, the minds of this class
can be relieved of falsohood and made
to comprehend the truth, and n large
proportion brought TO the support ol
our ticket. In this direction lies much
of the efficient work of the canvass
and Judging from the results i'm Other
States, we believe that even here we
can break the power of the party that
burdens and opprcssess all for the bon
eft of n few.


But seven weeks remain in which
will be decided the issue of the most
important national canvass the Amer
lean people We're ever engaged in
Yet in that brief interval splendid re
suits may be achieved by wise
prompt and vigorous action. With
us in Tennessee the immediate bust
ness i'm hand Is to add our ten electo-
raj votes to the popular vote of th'


Democratic States for Seymour anC


Blair. The bulk of the vote to be in


fiuenced to the accomplishment U


that end IL contained in the enfran


chised colored resident population o


the State. That our own salvation
and theirs rests upon the Withdrawal
; of that vote from the pernicious In
fluence Of designing political adven


turgs does not admit Of a momentl


doubt. The balance of power which
the native colored voters OF Tennes


see hold in their hands must not b


surrendered'up TO these adventurer
without am earnest offort that ID b,