Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-11
MESSAGE.


Roa.sembling at the Capitol Of the State, after
v;s;tino your homes and mingling with the people
90 ss 70 learn their wishes, it is your duty, as the
legislative Department Of the State Government 10
repeal amend, and enact laws SO as TO protect the
rights of your constituents and 10 support and en-
courage the General Government in exercising Its
large and legitimate powers to preservethe interests
of the whole country so recently and fearfuly en-
dangered by the wicked and protracted resistance to
its authority It is truly proud epoch in our lives
TO have been privileged 10 witness the termination of
the rebellion, and the signal triumph OF our country
honor and independence Seen IN the light OF S-'
gantc struggle of four years duration, tennessee
and her heroic soldiers and unfaltering loyal citizens,
stand transfgured b"f1rean adniring world and we
realize at once the grandeur Of the part they played
and the vastness of ths influence which their cour-
| age and patriotism m-t exert upon our future his
tory. The wave Of first rolled through Tennes-
| see four and half years ago, and swept on from
West TO Middle and East Tennessee, and from State
to State, traversng Missouri and Kentucky, encir-
cling traitorous North Carolina and desolated Vir-
ginia bearing high upon its brazen crest the infa-
nous banner Of the so-caled Southern Confederacy.
Under the gallant Thomas the stars and stripes
thrown to the breeze the army of traitors was met
upon the plains, and soon our banner foated over
the backened and shattered ramparts of reTeating
foe; emblematiC of the fortunes of routed army of
rebels whose death-rattles were heard in every d.
rection they fed South
] never doubted the final success of the Govern
ment IN putting this most infamous rebellion under
its feet, though |, with you knew not how long we
might be iated to suffer bleed fight, and die, either
on fields Of carnage in the loathsome prisons Of
the South. The assurance was always with me that,
sooner or later as cause was just, we must and
should triumph. For four dreadful years the Divine
Face seemed hidden from us, or shrouded in impen-
etrable obscurity, and our State, above all Others
ii seemed furrowed with graves; yet Divine Provi-
dence in whose hands the issues of life and DEATH
came out from among the clouds which had sur
l aH or,I al To And
while our gratitude TO the Father of all should be
boundless we should hold in everlasting remem-
brance the services Of unconquersble armies and
navy, rejoicing and eXulting in their achievements.
With profound gratitude let recognize the
goodness of God in giving US this last overwhelm-
ing evidence Of the devotion of the people to Con-
| stitutonal Liberty and National Unity, as we'll as
fresh proof of the strength and stability of the best
form of government on earth After four years of
5 great domestic violence we are now cheered with
the prospect of restoring public tranquility, of stay
ing the eusion of raernal blood and of exhibiting
to the admirers of free institutions everywhere
we'll TO the monarchies and despotsm5 Of the Old
World, great Republic rescued from destruction
in an hour of imminent peril, by the united action
/ OF great people, under the guidance OF Divine
Providence. In these events we have grounds for
boundless rejoicing and exultstion But our e1ulta-
ton should be in no unhallowed or unmerciful
spirit. Before the world we should rejoice with Joy
speakable-joying and rejoicing that the great
4
length ended, and the bow of peace again span the
sky. cannot, therefore neglect to call upon you,
again and again, to bow your heads in adOriDg
thankfulness before Him who rides upon the storm
and Gains the roaring seas that He still rules the
armies Of earth and heaven, and that the American
people still the people of His special From
every house of prayer in all the land from every
loyal church, and from every devout heart should
, go up to God a continual prayer, asking that the
fruits of this prolonged and ganguinary conflict may
of no Lost Ol1rry bat
cherish, with our latest BREATH the memory Of our
martyred thousands, who nobly died that Consti-
tutional Liberty mig ht live.
. You, gentlemen, are called upon 10 legslate
upon subjects not sgitated at your session in
the spring, and to meet demands that were not then
developed rs fully as they are now. To your good
sense and patriotism these and delicate sub
I jects confded; not doubling that, after minglng
with your constituents you have you are prepar-
e. ed TO reflect their wishes And allow me TO saw the
honest people arc aLlcays right and therefore safe
] counsellors. It should not be your concern how
! many, but how few, new laws you shall enact and
I meet the pressing demands of the hour; nor should
YOU study to protract but TO shorten your session
C making its expenses as light as possible.
+ THE FRANCHISE ACT
Under the workings of a most excellent and he
o cesssry law, passed at your spring session, known
: as the Franchise Act, we have held Congressional
elections in the eight districts Of the State and have
Il elected eight Representatives to the next Congress
u of the United States. As general thing the cleo
ton passed of quietly, with here and there excep
{ tons, and characterized by much better beha
y vior than was anticipated Most Of the districts
! were thoroughly canyassed, and large vote, con.
sideTing all the circumstances, pOlled. As many
5 $4,000 votes have been reported to the Secretary
Of States Office cast, which, in view of the regis
g trati0n required and the restrictions so properly
:. thrown around the ballo-bo1, well as tho short
time allowed to prepare for the election, was al
that could have reasonably been expected The
clerks in some counties are reported to have neglect
ed their duty and to have granted certificates Of reg
istration 20 many who were disfranchised by law
l. l think that law can be improved by amendment!
Is and additions but must be allowed to say that
: am by no means an advocate Of its repeal Nor Dc
h the loyal people Of this State desire it repeal if
a understand their sentiments
RESTORATION OF CIVIL LAW
The authority of the Constitution and laws Of tht
United States and of the State of Tennessee has now
extended almost every county in the State the
q machinery Of civil government is working we'll ex
> cept in few instances and it affords me great pleas
10 say that people are rapidly recovering
from the effects Of Instruction, while prosperity
e. promised in every section Our people farming
successfully and the indications that in two OF
g three more years, under present legislation oul
/ State will be herself again.
TREATMENT or THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN RE
BELLIOE.
The closing o. the war and disbanding Of the rgbe
armies returns thousands of men 10 civil life anG
distributes them among the various counties OF tht
State. How are these men to be treated Are they
to make good citizens, disconnected subjects Are
: the wounds made by the ever to be healed p
# These are weighty questions, taking the place Of
r those that engrOSsed attention during the war
1t Is not our policy or Interest TO treat OppresSivey
t the thousands who fought bravcly in a bad cause
: provided they act becomes their circumstances
+ As for the masses-the young and deluded masses
o who blindly followed the standard OF revolt LET
them have full and free pardon, if you WILL on their
sincere return to loyalty but as many of them are
guilty rebels, they should cheertuy submit 10 five
ten years OF disranchisement, So as TO give them
I time to wash the blood of loyal men from their
hands. As for the original conspirators and leaders
= who, through long years Of speaking writing and
f agitating got up this rebellion who, without prov
ocaton, the pretense of wrong to themselves
D raitorousy set the rebellion foot; bad and
men of talent who pressed it forward with all the
D malignty Of fend5 and the cruelty Of savages
good Southern men, who, through rapine, arson,
I perjury and butchery, have filed the land with
mourning; they are entitled TO neither mercy nor
forbearance. Let Us not give 8 new growth and re-
spectabiity TO TREASON in the South in the Dor
der States by sending these unwhipped maletactors
forth with new scheme for a second rebellion.
True, the national honor has been yindicated. The
insult offered to the country by rebellion has pun
shed itself most bitterly in the ruin it has brought
upon rebel communities, and the sorrow and mourn
ing has carried TO hearts that only advocated trea-
. son. The Government of the United States has
demonstrated the hopeless nature of sll future at
tempts at destroying the Union. But thanks to
these original conpratOrs for ali this exhibition of
strength on the part Of the Government. No thanks