The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-11-07
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

in the Senate on the 28th ult. Its recon.
mcndalions reflect, in an eminent degree.
The public sentiment of the State 10 con.
nectiOn with the various topics discussed.
The sentiments do credit to ms head and
heart:
Fcllo,y Citizens Of the Senate, Gnd
House Of Representatives.:
The message Of my predecessor at the
commencement OF the session has placed
before you, very fully. official Information
OF the state OF the government. Yet, IN
Difference to the usage OF the State, sub
m.: for your consideration such views rs !
entertain in respect to the important mat
ers Of legislation TO which the public good
would seem TO invite your attention.
You WELD the whole legislative power
OF one OF !hlrtV-one sovereign States, uni
ted in the most powerful republican cor
tederacv Ou the face of the earth. In dis
charging your duties Nc legislators your
action will necessarily have relation in some
degree 10 the Na,iuna as well as to the
State Government: Tor such is the structure
of our Institutions that Do'n the National
erelgnty within their respective spEeraS,
derive their powers from the same great
people, IN whom at least rests the real, the
Ultimate aud the supreme s0vere, gnty.
In such a Goyernmeut, and one whtch
has grown t. lie Of vast extent aud diverse
uie1esls--'he IN junction OF lhe constitution
OF the Safe "to encourage knowledge,
learning, and yi'iue,' and "a well regu'a-
ted system oi' !nternal 2roveuen's'--as
being essentla! TO the preservation ol re.
publican institutions" aud "cacuiated to
deveiope the resources OF the State, and
promote the happiness and prosperity OF
her citizens" cannot but be regarded as
wise and pat ioic. 1t is by all conceded
to be The obvious duty Of the legislature to
promote and encourage education. a
faithful observance Of the constitutional
pruviS!un, max ng the common schoU! fund
u "re1pcIuol iuud, the principal OF whlcA
shall never be diminished by Legislative ap-
pruprlalons.' may doubtless be- expected
at your hands ! would, however. invite
YOUR careful Examination into the best
mode o! tarryi ing out another portion Of the
same fundamental law, which requires that
"lhe interest thereof shall be inVIo.aU!y APP
piled to the support and encouragement .!
common schools throughout the STATE, and
for tue eIul benefit OF all the people there
Of" 1t Is deeply TO be regretted that The
fund is tot larger or more elective. IL IS
much to be desired that some plan could
DC desiscG b,s which its benefits could be
so distributed as TO secure an education 10
all who are really unable to procure one.
But, coming as you do fresh from the dlf-
fereu, counties, and fully enie hlened as TO
the sentiments OF your respective cons'l'u-
ences submit the question OF modlt-
cation Of the present school system to your
decision, merely begging to impress upon
you the proprIety of free interchange OF
opinion, and an attentive consideration OF
the whole subject.
No State has more 10 promise l'seIf from
"a well regulated system of internal Im'
pruvemehl" than Tennessee. Geogruph-
caIly placed IN vast interior, far distant
from ocean aud lakes, and the great marts
of commerce, the heavy products OF our
labor slowly wpnd their way 10 distant
markets, tur1ened with great costs, risks,
and delays OF transportation. while the Ia
brlcs of other countries reach US IN return,
taxed with the profits Of il hundred hands
,h rough which they must pass before they
touch our borders.
We possess in remarkable degree the
elements Of wealth; but being cut oil from
commercial intercourse. they remain com-
paratiyeIy undeyeloped. The SOIL teens
with superabundance Of agricultural pro-
ducts; emboweled in the earth lie lnes,lma-
BILE mineral treasures; the water power OF
The streams, the timber oil the forests, the
variety OF staples, and the excellence Oi the
climate, combine 10 give us capacity ioT
population and wealth, rarely TO be met
with elsewhere. But it is worthy OF re-
mark tina, other Sta'es less favored appear
to have outslriPed US, Why IS this so!-
The last censes returns show that our IN
crease of population within the last ten
years has been twenty one per cent. Wills,
the average increase for the United States
has been thirty five per cent. 1t would
seem that where Railroads have been built.
there has been rapid development OF po-
pula'ion and resources. Within the period
above referred 10, Georgia has increased IN
population thirty pr cen'j New forE
twenty. seven per cent, Indiana forly-iour
per nj, Illinois sixty eight per cent, and
some other Sta'es still more largely.
Rivers and Railroads beyond our borders
turn the currents of travel around and from
US. dlver,ing to other fields. masses OF cap-
ilal and skilled labor, in search OF employ.
men,. A Railroad from Louisville to
Nashville, nfordlnga passage IN SIX hours,
at a cos, OF from three TO five dollars, would
INTRODUCES thousands OF sturdy and sKIliul
laburers from the leemIng thoroughiares OF
the North west, who now. encounter
ing a stage passage OF lhrly-sIx hours, at
a cost OF fifteen dollars, turn aside tom
what they regard as an impene'raole inter
ior. And so il would be at the end oi each
OF the great thoroughiares FROM central vr.
ginia through East Tennessee 10 the MIS-
sssippi ,lver at Memphis; or one from the
sea board at Charleston and Savannah
tarough Middle and Yves, Tennessee TO
the Madrid Bend; or from Mobile or New
Orleans through West Tennessee TO the
Ohio river a D the Lakes
Our vast coal fields, which lie undIsturb.
ed. while our pig iron seeks soundI!es and
rolling mills erected upon the coal 1elds ot
Penns ylvania and other States, and while
our cotton and wool are transported TO stlii
more distant manufactures, IN would then be
hrown open TO the purposes ior whlch u
designed, and our mountains and val