Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-20
GOVERNORS, MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
June IL, 1851.

| their sovereign capacity, and In the exercise
of an inalienable right, have, In the mos
solemn and deliberate manner, dissolved
their connection with the government OF the
United States, by the adoption OF tee FRO.
| visional Constitution OF the Conieoerate
States of America, have made Tennessee q
member of that Government
nause in the midst of the arduous duties
| which deyolve upon me, to congratulate
Won and the country upon the near approach
| 10 uuanimity and the readiness with which
the brave and patriotic people of our proud
| Commonwealth have severed their connec-
| ton with Government endeared to them
| by so many recollections, and to which they
had been so long attached, but which had
been long subverted by gross usurpations
and converted into an engine of oppression
destructive of their rights, liberties, and
| equality, and which, in the mere wantonness
of its boosted power, demands that these ina
| lienable' attributes of freemen shall be
promptly, nay, basely. surrendered or main
tanned at the point of the bayonet.
Those who have read and comprehended
| the patriotic devotion of our people to the
eternal principles of justice, equality and
| right (: their native love of independence
| and their chivalrous deeds in defense of their
| principles, as shown by the whole history OF
| the State; could not have doubted as to the
| position that Tennessee would occupy upon
| the presentation of such an ISSUE
While 1t is to me source of regret that en-
| tire unanimity was not attained at the ballot
| box, in the decision of the vitality important
and exciting questions referred to, / have en-
| tire confidence that now, the deliberate and
| impartial judgment of the overwhelming ma
jority of the people of the State having been
recorded, the whole people, forgetting these
| differences of opinion, however earnestly and
4 A L. mil nd fhar "a
| one man in maintaining the rights, homer and
dignity of Tennessee, and in preserving the
domestic tranquility of the community. The
| time for elimination and recrimination has
passed. Threatened by common enemy
| imperilled by common danger bound to-
gether by ties which cannot be severed-we
are Identical 10 interest-we must be 80 in
| action.
The State Of Tennessee, cooperating with
| her sister States of the South, has been cOm-
| PEELED to take up arms in defence OF rights
she could not surrender. To this war, thus
| forced upon US, there can be but two Sides
cannot believe that there is any portion of
our people who will espouse the cause of the
| enemies of Tennessee, or be Indifferent spec
| tatOrs to the contest.
Impartial history will attest that no free
people, jealous of their rights, have been
more observant of their constitutional duties,
| or more loyal to their Government. Exact
| ing no peculiar privileges for themselves,
they have at all times been ready to acknowl-
edge and maintain the rights of Others. In
times of common peril they have stood firm,
and contributed their full proportion of ia
lent, both to the Cabinet and the field; and
now that we have exhausted the last remedy
have made the last appeal to the reason
and Justice of those who would Cypress us
and have been driven to the necessity of ia
king our rights into our own hands. and de-
flying the power that assails them-there GER
tally cannot be any part of our people who
will not spurn the usurper and tyrant, and
resist him to the last extremity.
In the midst of the gloom and privations
necessarily incidental to state of war, let
Us console ourselves with the reflection that
we occupy the same relation to posterity
that our fOrefathers of the first revolution &C.
cupied to US.
They enjoyed the glorious privilege of es-
tablishing the great principle which secured
to US civil and religious liberty and political
equality.
While it is our privilege and solemn duty
TO maintain and transmit to posterity the
same great principle unimpaired.
The spirit aud determination manifested
by the people of the whole South to maintain
This principle against the tyranny of usurpa-
surance that America will still be the abid-
ing place of selfgovernment and free insti-
tutions. and proves the truth of the long dis
puted theory Of our fathers, that brave and
enlightened people, educated in the doctrine
of individual and State equality are capable,
and of right ought to govern themselves. IL
the midst of Federal revolution, perfect or
der has been preserved in our State govern
ments, in the moment of dissolving our for
mer federal fabric, another, new, and of per-
feet and enduring proportions Is reared, lesv-
ing Us at no time without the full benefit of
Government, or the security OF laws.
The new relations which we have assumed
in becoming part of the Provisional Gov
eminent of the Confederate States, imposes
the necessity of some additional legislation.
therefore cheerfully submit to your cons. d.
Grafton all questions pertaining to our feder-
al relations for such legislation as may be
necessary to US as a part of that Government
There has been for many years a statute in
the State defining the crime of treason, and
prescribing the punishment.
/ respectfully recommend that you amend
the law to the extent OF striking out the
words United States where they occur, and
insert in lieu of them Confederate States.
Under the provisions of the act of 1852, the
principle and interest of the internal improve
ment bonds of the State are made payable in
the city Of New York.
1t will be impossible to pay the interest
aceruing, at that point, during the continu-
ance of the war,
recommend that you so amend the law
referred to, as to require the payment at the
Bank of Tennessee at Nashville, or at Charles
ton or New Orleans, of all sums which may
become due from the State to the people of
all governments which are on terms of peace
aud friendship with us, who are and were
previous TO the commencement of the war
bona tide owners of our bonds, and that you
adopt such policy towards the owners and
boi,iers Of our bonds, who are citizens of
states a. war with US, as is recognized and
justified by the law of nations regulating their
intercourse as beii.Serents-
The ordeal through which the country is
now passing necessarily prostrates the trade
and commerce of the country, and deranges
the currency to greater or less extent
Such Legislation as will tend to secure a
uniform currency throughout the Confederate
States is of the highest Importance. there
| fore submit the question TO your considera-
| ZION for such action as, in your opinion, the
\ general welfare demands.
By the section of the act of the 9Th
May, 1861, il is made the duty of the Gov
ernor to issue bonds of the State for the pur-
pose OF raising fund with which to defray
The expenses Of the provisional army of the
Stale In view of the scarcity Of a circuls-
ling medium, and the probable difficulty of
converting any considerable amount of bonds
into money in times like the present, re-
specially recommend that you SO modify
that act as 10 authorize the issuance Of Treas
ury Notes to the extent of three-fifths of the
amount authorIz-d to be issued, in lieu of
that amount of said bonds; and that the same,
when issued, be made receivable by the State
In payment of all taxes or Government dues.
In obedience to your act oil 9th May, 1861,
/ have caused to be organized, armed and
equipped, tweuty-one regiments Of infantry
now in the field. ten artillery companies now
In progress of organisation, and a sufficient
number ofcavslry companies to compose one
regiment. The organization of Engineer
Corps nearly completed.