Year: 1868

CITIZENS: After anxious deliberation and
consultation With many able and discreet
persons, the Democratic Executive Commit
tee of Tennessee have resolved upon an ac-
tive and vigorous prosecution Of the canvass
in the pending contest for the Presidency, 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 cOun-
try to the principles upon which it was
framed in l787-89, and administered by
Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Jack
son Our warfare is with a party that seeks
the overthrow of. these principles by a sub
version of the Constitution and a revolution
Of the gOvernment-erecting, instead of
nicely balanced representative Democracy,
q mObOcratic Capitalization of power in one
branch Of government


The events of the past three years show
that nearly one hundred propositions have
been offered in Congress to amend the Con-
stitution; that the Legislative Department
has transcribed 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 su-
preme will Of the nation; that under this
declaration it has assumed to remould and
dictate to the coordinate departments, and
concentrated all the essential powers of gov
ernment in its own hand that it has denied
to the states those essential rights to their
safety and happiness that were never before
questioned; that they have arbitrarily and
without cause or warrant placed ten States
of the Union under martial law and ruled
them by the sword, and finally dictated to
them terms upon which they should have a
voice IN public affairs.


The progress in this restoration of the
government has been as bold and rapid as it
has been reckless. It is against this change
in the organic structure of this government
that the Democratic party of the Union has
protested with a unanimity, an ardOr and
firmness, never before equalIed in the his
tory of contests at the ballOt-boX. They
have invited us to join them in the noble and
patriotic struggle, that we may share with
them the glory of n triumph which, they tell
us, is almost assured, and enjoy with them
the blessings of liberty and republican gov
ernment which will otherwise be lost to US
and our posterity forever.


Our response is, WE GOMEZ We enter
the lists and join hands with our fellow
! Democrats of the North, the East, the South
and the West, pledging ourselves to do all
! that may be done to put the revolutionists to
| fight and save to ourselves and the world
/ liberty and Justice flowing from a constitu-
/ tional republic.


In coming to this determination, the
| Executive Committee have not been unmind-
| ful of the difficulties and embarrassments
/ which we confront. We have realized the
magnitude of the prescriptions and Oppres-
! sions that have fettered us for three years,
! and the present autOcratic powers over the
! ballotbOx possessed by the Governor and
! his plant instruments.


But we feel it to be our duty as freemen,
the descendants of freemen and the inner
itOrs of liberty as a birth right, to make the
/ struggle


We therefore appeal to the people of the
! State en- DIaSSe to unite with US, and with
the powerful national Democracy in the
campaign and to organize without delay for
| the final day. The ticket for Electors foT
the State at large is complete in the second,
third, fourth, sixth and eighth Congressional
| districts Electors are yet to be chosen or
appointed in the three remaining districts


Let this be done Immediately A plan of
canvass viii be sent within a few days to the


various counties In the meantime let the
Democracy of each town, county and civil
district organize its Seymour and Blair


Clubs, enrolling the names of non-voters, as


well as voters, and 90 actively and vigorously


20 work to poll as many votes as possible. a


large class of our voting pOpu iatIOn has been


deceived, caioled, hired or frightened into


the support of the radical party. They are


being undeeelVed; let US now press on the


work until they shall be convinced of the


radical enormities of the times. The argu-


ments for the purpose are pressing and


strong By watchfulness and industry; by


prudence and substantial kindness, the


minds Of this class can be relieved Of false


hood and made to comprehend the truth,


and a large proportion brought to the sup


port of our ticket In this direction lies


much OF the efficient work of the canvass


and judging from the results in other States,


we believe that even here we can break the


power of the party that burdens and OPP


presses all for the benefit of the few


But seven weeks remain In which viii be
decided the issue Of the most important ma.
/ tional canvass the American people were


ever engaged in. Yet in that brief interval


splendid results may be achieved by wise
| prompt and vigorous action. With Us II
Tennessee the immediate business in hand
, is to add our ten electoral votes to the pop.
ular vote Of the Democratic States for Sey


mour and Blair. The bulk of the vote &C
, be influenced to the accomplishment Of tha
{ end is contained IN the enfranchised colOreC
! resident population Of the State That Oul


own salvation and theirs rests upon the with
, drawal of that vote from the perniciOus in
fuence of designing political adventureTi
= does not admit OF a moments doubt The


balance Of power which the native coloreC


voters of Tennessee hold IN their hands
must not be sure ndered up to these adven
3 turers without an earnest effort that it b'