Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-20
THE GOVFRNOR'S MRsSAGE


The Gov confines his message mainly to a state
ment of the present and prospective Indebtedness
OF the State; to the subject of State Internal In
provements; Public Roads; Education: the Tax Oh
Merchants, Banks; the Penentiary; tie Judiciary;
Weights and Measures Amendments 10 the United
States Constitution; and the National Homestead
Law. ltwould be unreasonable TO expect that up
on all these subjects the Governors opinions should
meet with the approval of all Yet they are so
canddly and so plainly stated that we doubt not
they will receive the respectful consideration of the
Legislature. The style of the document is neat
AID unpretending and the entire absence of all al
fusion 10 national politics will permit our wing
friends to Judge it with candor
In most of the Governors sentiments we hearth
" concur. We especially refer TO his remarks on
the subject OF education and law reform as being
well timed and forcbly and struly urged, The re-
commentator en- the subject of the tax on mer-
chants ought to, and we trust WILL receive the sane
ton of the Legislature On the subject of internal
improvements, the Governor has earned the thanks
of the taxpayers of the State by clearly pointing
out its present and prospective Indebtedness, as
caution against the dangerous excuses to which
the Legislatures liable While all The other recon-
mendations Of the Governor may not meet with as
unanimous approval as we are sure those we have
named will, yet they are equally deserving of con-
sideraton, and viii no doubt receive it.
Through this document, as through every thing
which its author has ever written, there runs vein
popular rights and equality, which
ever endear Gov. JOHNSON to THE
a nay not always entirely agree with
TIE PEOPLE know him to be true,
,.--..u faithful to their rights and interests, he
Is, therefore, the hope and pride of THEPEoPLE.
"HAROLDE THE MERCHANT OF CALAIS"
This admirable play-the production of Mr.
NEAFIF, the Traseiian-will he presented at the
Adelphi this evening. Wherever "TIARoLDL" has
been performed it has elected the marked common
dauon Of the most discriminating critics We have
been kindly favored, by the author, with view of
d from the examination we have
i've it, we fully concur with our
elsewhere in the opinion that
literary and dramatic merit
4I,r ,...,, f.oels exceedingly ingenious and inter
estiug and the final denouement intensely exciting
and affecting. On the occasion of the presen-
tation OF this tragedy at Albany N. Y, it met
with the most fatteriDg success The press of that
city concuued in prononcing il zone of the most
powerful and interesting of modern productions"
and the author himself as zone of the most chaste
and truthful deleneators Of character on the Ameri-
can stage The members of the Legislature and
the lerat of the city also atested their apprecia-
lion Of Mr. NEAFIEs merits as an actor and author
hy presenting him on this occasion, with splendid
copy Of Shakespeare, with the appropriate inscrip-
ton: Presented TO j. A. J. NEAFE, Tragedian, asa
tr6ate Of respect to his hisrionc and literary ge-
MS, author OF the.trage ly of 'Harode the Mer-
chant OF Calais From his eIlow-citizens and mem
hais of the Legislature Of New York Albany. FRI
day evening March 10Th, 1852"
We might fill several columns with the highly
comInendatory notices which this play has elected
from the press Of other cities, but the press upon
snace this morning permits US only to copy the
following from the St Lonis Iqteqigencer. whose
theatrical criticisms are distinguished for lust ana
discriminating taste. The Hte7igncer thus sums
up the plot Of the tragedy:
HARoLDE.-We are glad to learn that this tragedy.
written by Mr. Neae is 10 be enacted at the Vare-
ties during the present engagement Of that gentle
aan. Harode Is one Of those few modern PLAYS in
which the interest never flags: but in which events
GLOW one another in quick succession and with
50 spFitedly, that the beholder has no inclination
yswn, nor does he long for the "atter piece"
The story Of the play Is briefly this Harode, a
ar;hant OF Calais, has left his wife Eleanor, and
10 foreign land, on business of the State In Ca
there Is former rival of bis in the suit for FL
nors hand, named Vamond now Harolde's pre-
lded friend. Alter aprotracted absence Harolde
5 sick, and report reaches bis wife that he IS
ID To confirm the report Ealmond adopts all
the means his intriguing heart can suggest; one of
which means Is the nteTcepting Of Harodes letters
10 iiS vile, while almond replies TO them as from
Eleanor, ielgning her hand writing Meanwhile.
under preterce{oi love for her but really 10 wreall
evcn9e, Falmond gains Eieanors consent to mar
rage Just rs they are about to sign the writing
which Is 10 make them one, Harolde whose arrival |
Il hQne has been till now unknown, appears in
heir presence.
Fooled IN his revenge in that way Valmond con-
rvcs plan Ike this: He hires on promise OF De-
uniary reward ruined gamester named lie Roux. q
Vhom he DISCUSSES with rich attire and instructs TO
ePresent hlmseiLO Eleanor, as having been friend
Hd companion Of her husband when abroad lie
iouX plays his part well, gains Eleanor confidence
nd finally succeeds in stealing her miniature, which '
le delivers to NalmOnd. NamOnd, meanwhile lie |
touX Is acting las degrading part acquai:.ts Har- I
lde Of the intimacy between lie Roux and Flea 1
or, suggests lnhdehty of the latter, and produces
,eauors miniature 10 alleged proof thus to poison
Iarolde's mind against his wife Ilarolde, on con-
rmed suSpici n, separates from his wife Valmond .
ow seeks Eleanor, under prete C 0 ympathizng il
18th and consoling her but really for iaboical pur-
oses He does not, however succeed t,
At length HaroldeS eyes are open to the plot is
nd he becomes satisfied of his we's iaithfulness O
al of tie villainv OF his enemies; but meanwhile h
!eanor has become insane. When next Harolde al
res his wife she is standing on the verge of high C,
ILL., about to cast herself thence; but he has no o.
over to rescue her. lie Roux has died by Val b.
onds hand. HaroIde kills Vamond; and then ei
msef dies from excess of anger and revenge, to
.Bgle with regret es
ASIDE from the play being decidedly effective as tn
tage representation, it is literary production, er
great merit The verse is graceful and flowing OF
ID in many parts the language is remarkably fine. II
Instance a few: ca
Eleanor, about to begin the marriage writing, lie
lngy says: W
any husband now forever m
bid farewell 10 thee: II thou ri in Heaven H.
iet Thy spirit look IN pity down
And smile forgiveness on my present act IN
Or Il thou Invest Day all the clements Ia
tire, earth air. waterfall combine once thu
To Lear tLee back TO me- yet the last | N,
And fatal conSumma,iOn OF The deed =.
Shall rend all ink between u.s. ui
Han oide, in communicating 10 his wife his know- WI
g Of her alleged maithlulness thus mournfullv rec
beautifully speaks: be