Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-06-28
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
t NASHVILLE, June le, 1861.
Gentlemen Of the Senate

/
Gentlemen Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives
Since your adjournment on the 9th of
the last month, the people Of Tennessee,
acting in their sovereign capacity, and in the
exercise of an inalienable right, have, in
the most solemn and deliberate manner,
dissolved their connection with the Gov
ernment of the United States, and by the
adoption of the Provisional Constitution
of the Confederate States of America,
have made Tennessee member of that
Government. sat
pause in the midst of the arduous du-
ties which devolve upon me, TO congratu.
late you and the country upon the near ap-
proach to unanimity, and the readiness
with which the brave and patriotic people
of our proud Commonwealth have severed
connection with a Government endeared
to them by so many recollections, and to
which they have been so long attached but
which had been subverted by gross usur-
pations, and converted into an engine of
oppression destructive of their rights, lib
critics and equality, and which, in the mere
wantonness Of its boasted power, demands
that these inalienable attributes of free
men shall be promptly, nay, basely sur
rendered, or maintained at the point of the
bayonet. --.
Those who have read and comprehend
ed the patriotic devotion of our people to
the eternal principles of justice, equality
and right; their native love of independ-
ence; and their chivatrous deeds in de-
fence of thest 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 it is to me q source of regretthat
entire uranimity was not attained at the
ballot-bo in the decision of the vitality
important and exciting questions referred
to, / have entire confidence that now, the
deliberate and impartial Judgment of the
overwhelming majority Of the people of
the State having been recorded, the whole
people, forgetting these differences yof
opinion, however earnestly and honestly
entertained, will stand together as one man
in maintaining the rights, honor and dig
nifty Of Tennessee, and in preserving the
domestic tranquility of the community
The time for elimination and recrimination
has passed. Threatened by a common en-
emy-imperilled by common danger
bound together by ties which cannot be
severed-we are identical in interest-we
must be SO in action.
The State of Tennessee, cooperating
with her sister States of the South, has
been compelled to take up arms in defence
of rights she cannot 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 es.
pouse the cause of the enemies of Tennes-
see, or be Indifferent spectators of the con
test
Impartial history will attest that no free
people, jealous of their rights, have bee
more obseryant of their constitutional du
ties, or more loyal to their Government
Exacting as peculiar privileges for them
selves, they have at all times been ready tc
acknowledge and maintain the rights O.
others In times of common peril, they
have stood firm, and contributed their full
proportion of talent, both to the Cabine
aud the field and now that we have ex.
hausted the last remedy-have made the
last appeal to the reason and justice o
those who would oppress us--and have
been driven to the necessity of taking oul
rights into our own hands, and defying tn,
power that assails them-there certainl,
cannot be any part of our people who will
not spurn the usurper and tyrant, and re-
sist him to the last extremity.
In the midst of the gloom aud priva
tions necessarily incidental to state o
war, let us console ourselves with the re
fiectiou that we occupy the same relation t
t posterity that our fathers Of the revolu
8 tion occupied to us.
t They enjoyed the glorious privilege O
d establishing the great principle which Sc
: cured to us civil and religious liberty an
r political equality.
5 While it is our privilege and solemn du
{ ty to maintain and transmit to posterit
s the same great principle unimpaired.
@ The spirit and determination manifesto
), by the people of the whole South to main
= tain this principle against the tyranny {
n usurpation, gives the highest and mos
a cheering assurance that America will sti
,, be the abiding place Of selfgovernner
= and free institutions, and proves the trut
Y, of the long disputed theory Of our father
d that brave and enlightened people, edr
Gated in the doctrine of Individual an
State equality, are capable, and of rigl
p ought to govern themselves. In the mid
l. of Federal revolution, perfect order HI
= been preserved in our State Government
n in the moment of dissolving our formC
N federal fabric, another, new, and of pc
l. feet and enduring proportions is reare
II leaving us at no time without the full bel
IT eft of Government, or the security
l. laws,
S, The new relations which we have a
T, sumed in becoming a part of the Provi
10 ional Government of the Confedera
States, imposes the necessity of some a,
d ditional legislation. therefore Cheerful
= ly submit TO your consideration all que
W tions pertaining to our federal relation
" for such legislation as may be necessary
a. ,a aa n mart of fha Gouarnmant