Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-19
INAUGURATION OF PARsON
DROWNLOW.
HIS PATRIOTIC ADDRESS,

AMI the sword lie said
Gentlemen. your amended Constitution wipes out the
i1Sttt Of slavery and denies 20 the Legislature IN
a., time come, the ght TO recognize property IN man
In this sweeping act OF emancipation, you have, in due
tine 40 ied Nuisance, which for years past has OBJ
st.. ted al. the avenues TO agricultural mechanical
manufacturing AMI commercial development. In this
emergency the duty of prompt action becomes lmpera
tive. sad even the advocates of gradual emancipation
which means the gradual putting down OF the Rebel
Eon-fOuad themselves pOwerless in the claims OF
hgie- eva aud state necessity, which demand the
prompt abatement OF the evil. Tho wicked authors o.
this Rebellion told that in the Union, and under the
Constitution their slave property safe, and that It
could b. safe anywhere else Not year elapsed
ate the war commenced before the institution Of slave
Y N al the border states became utterly demoralized
the owner lost all control over MS slave ana the save
ha got ont OF the Union and from under the Cousti
t7col has either been aeraey at Will! or lying around
lOO-e
The history Of the past shows 90 every candid mind
tlt slavery has conferred benefits upon Tennessee.
IL has been stumbling block in the way OF her ad-
valcement Her people have felt the effect OF its de-
g-aiag influence. and her growth and prosperity have
5 retarded by the exclusion from her borders OF both
capita and educated labor.
Oae the signs OF the time, Is, that the natural iea-
lures OF the southern States everywhere eXpa-
IL ted upon, order that enterprsng emgrant' may be
sd 70 come among U.s. and add 10 our capital and en-
tarpr,e Tennessee hold, out inducements TO wealthy
ald ni ,triOus emgrants. that other border state
ofs- The soil from Johnston to Shelby, possesses
extraordinary fertility it ab0unds IN clear and delight
II Gushing streams lis mineral wealth OF coal, IRON,
Lead copper ami oi,- valuable products i mex
ha 8tibe.
IT, climate IA mild and salubrious avoiding the ex.
tenes Of both North and south and afordng remunera'
tive markets fer everything grown upon our prolific
SOL. Land j. cheap and by no means dihcut 10 clear
No Sta:e IS admirably adapted for the growth OF
cereals, fruits grapes, cattle sheep, hogs horses and
mules The winters short, and generally so mild
tdAs stock may out without particular care. The
summers free from the intense heat OF the Gulf
States aud the entire State abounds with valuable
m. al springs many of which are handsomely i'm.
p-ovd aad before the Rebellion places OF popular
TeSor-.
t., syas Of The times indicate very clearly that the
about drawing 10 a close that the Rebels
hig,5ed that heir COmmssariat has no food and their
Gr4'urI 10 money that their army melting away by
d., ols aud deaths on the battlefield and that there
. materials left with which 20 I'LL up their depleted
rA1a In short there Is everything TO encourage the
treI Is OF the Union as they enter upon the summer
Campaign bu. there i, also everything TO admOn sh
tn mus. grid ourselves for our best efforts The
I1-ie5t work nly. tie bl0odes work of the war; is in
ell probability ahead Of Us, in Kidding country Of
gge- IS robbers and professional thieves passing for
Cona l,rate soldiers.
Be- gentlemen this great conflict has had lis useful
Lessons We understand the full meaning of that
ahon abe doctrine o. state Sovereignty" The Southern
Interpretation oil which las n7olyOd in all our trubles.
For thirty year, past the inquitous phrase of State
Severe ,sty' has worked its way into public documents
political speeches and platOms-nto every reasonable
dlv ali weekly journal OF the country and finally into
te common language Of the honest people. until it was
understood 60 mean that there other sovereign
t. 10 America but State SOyere gntythat the greatest
amour. of this lodged in the cotton States and ths
70 perform Even in the pulptS Of the south the
changes were rUng upon the mschievou, doctrine of
state Sovereignty backed up by the uAD0unded nuu-
pl-a OF the worst class that have made rlc is
9ovSoutte-n soi-secession preachers. And thus the
reasonable doctrine of state Sovereignty has gradually
Seel undermining the Union to- more than thirty years
saI N my humble way have opposed it that long.
When app led simply to the authority Of state over
he- own domestic affairs and her local institutions the
doctrine sound though even then the word sovereign
signifies too much. How ridiculous the idea is, OF a
severe n MEMBER OF Federal Union existing without
authority 70 declare conclude treaty OF peace
IN contract alliances 70 levy duties and imports or even
10 coin money This is sovereignty with vengeance,
ani degree of sovereignty that is not likely to hold the
nations of the earth in while these several power
less soyeregns Confederate TO overthrow truly soyer
eirn power, and achieve their boosted independence
hold that under the Constitution of the United States
there can be but Sovereign authority, and to that
all State Soyeregntles are subordinate Renee am not
.-one OF those men who alarmed at the powers
suned by the Federal Government at this time regard
ING them as departure from former precedents sta e
OF war forced upon the country, by set OF bad men in
rebellion calls for the exercise OF the whole power
of the National Government So far from finding fault
with the National Administration for the exercise OF
these alleged startling powers, have iet inclined to
grumbe that have not had more of the same sort
he real people have not made any factous complaints
as TO the liberties OF the country being endangered BY
these encroachments the part of the General Govern
men bnt have sustained the Administration with great
unanimity.
rpuelaton of a FEDERALsr-a name given TO the fri nds
OF the Constitution Of the United States at its formation
anc adoption atd to the political party that favored
the Administration of President Washington-ths most
pure and patriotic psrty that eveEeXsted in America.
hone may be allowed Eto repeat without subjectng
myse 20 the charge Of egotism, that have all my lite
long been Federal Wing, of the Washington and Ham.
Ito1 school, am the advocate Of a concentrated
Federal Government or if acceptable to the fas.
tidiOus of a strong Central Government alb to main.
tain It's dignity to assert its authority, and to crush out
any rebellion that may be insugurated. Such Gov
ercment is what want and what we must have with
ample powers to sustain itself having due regard Tor the
tftutin rio a
defined and sufficiently guarded have never been a
sectional but at all times national man supporting
men for the Presidency and Vice Presidency without
anv regard TO which side Of Mason and Dxons Line
they were born resided at the time OF their nomina
H)1.
feel prepared TO dowing 10 live and die for America
"a se i and has been but America without the Fedora
Union and blight ruin and decay come upon US and w