The colored Tennessean., 1865-10-07
GOV. BRoWNL0V'S MESSAGE.
GENTLrMES OF THE SENATE v Ill III
AND HORSE az RFrRrsFxTATIyFs.

Legislative Department Of the State Cover
protect rrs 81 u . and VI
support and encourage the General Governmel
IL exercising Its large and legitimate powers
preserve the interests of the whole country
recently and fearfully endangered by the wicke
and nrotracted resistance to its authorit
IL Is truly proud epoch in our live
ton Of the rebellion, and the signal triumph of on
country's honor and independence. Seen in th
Light OF q gigantic struggle of four years sdura
a tering loyal citizons, stand transfgured befor
an. admiring world. and we realize at once th
grandeur M a the part they played and The vast
fTtotism must exert upon our future history
The wave Of war first rolled through Tennesse
Res. ana q as a Ss sssar asS; sS snS w S 5
state 20 State, trav6rSing Missouri and Ken
tncky, encirclng traitorous North Carolina an,
hs sapg hgh upon is sraae
eTn Ionfoderacr. Under the gallant Thomas
me stars and stripes We're thrown to the breeze
soon our banner oated 1es tSe
shattered ramparts of retreating foe emblem
atlc Of the fortunes Of routed army Of rebels
whose death -rattles were heard in every direc
tion as they fed South k tW G.s-t-
| never doubted the final success of the Govern
fnent inputting this most Infamous rebellion under
III feet, thought, withyou knew not how long VIZ
might be fated to suffer, bleed. fight, and die, Ell
ther on fields Of carnage Or in the loathsome pris
ons OF the South. The assurance was always
f.
Just, we must and should triumph For foul
dreadful years the Divine Face seemed hidden
IRON US or shrouded In impenetrable obscurity
ana our State. above all others, seemed furrowed
with graves yet Divine Providence, In whose
hitnds are tho issues of life and death, came out
from from among the clouds which had surrounded
our gratitude to the Father of MS all should be
boundless, we should hold in everlasting remern-
Drance the services Of our unconquerable ar
Illes M and navy, rejoicing and eNulting in their
1cflevements. -+A'-a
With profound gratitude let MS recognize the
ig evidence OF the devotion Of the people to Con-
stitutionA Liberty and National Unity, as well as
fresh proof Of the strength and stability Of the
De5t form OF government on earth. After four
years Of great domestic violence, we are now
cheered with the prospect of restoring public
tranquility, Of staying the effnsion Of fraternal
blood, and Of exhibiting to the admirers of free
institutions everywhere, as wen as to the monar-
ches and despotisms of the Old World, great
Republic rescued from destruction in an hour of
people, under the guidance of Divine Providence
In these events we have grounds for boundless
rejoicing and exultation. But our exultation
should be in no unhallOWed or nnmerciful spirit
Before the world we should rejoice with Joy un-
speakable-loying and rejoicing that the great
rebellion, with all its crimes and attendant evils,
rs at length ended, and the bow of peace again
spans the sky. cannot therefore, neglect to call
upon you, again and again to bow your heads in
adOrlhg thankfulness before Him who rides
upon the storm, and Gains the roaring seas" that
tie still rules the armies Of earth and heaven and
mat the American people are stll the people of
His especial care. From every house of PRAYER
in all the land, from every loyal church. and from
every devout heart should go up to GOD a con-
tinual prayer, asking that the fruits Of this pro-
ionged and sanguinary conflict may not be lost
upon our generation. and that we may cherish,
with our latest breath the memory of our mar
tyred thousands, who 50 nObly died that Consti-
tntonal Liberty might live. 1
on, gentlemen, are now called upon to legis-t
Late upon some subjects not agitated at your
session N ms spring and 70 meet demands that
10 your good sense and patriotism are these new
and delicate subjects confded, not doubling that
after mngllng with your constituents as you
nave, you are prepared to reflect their wishes
And allow me to say, the honest people are a1aoays
right, and therefore safe counsellors 1t should
not be your concern how many, but how few, new
laws you shall enact and meet the pressing de-
mands Of the hour; nor should you study to pro-
tract but to shorten your session, making its eX
penscs as Hghtas possible. H ,0S
m.F tr .,# THE FRANCHISE ACT. ..r-T ..5.t4
Under the workings Of most excellent and
lecessary law, passed at your spring session,
known as the Franchise Act,'' we have held |
congressional elections in the eight districts of
Ihe state and have elected eight Representatives
p the next Congress of the United states. AS |
general thing, the election passed off quietly |
7lth mere and there exceptions, and was charac- |
eflzeu by much better behavior than was antici- |
Oated. Most of the districts were thoroughly |
'anYassed, and large vote, considering ali the |
was polled. AS many as 10000 |
Iotes have been reported to the Secretary of /
'tateS ONCE, as cast, which, in view of the regis
ration required and the restrictions SO properly
hfoWn around the DallOt-bOx as well as the /
vas all that could have reasonably been expected
me clerks in some counties are reported to have
leglected their duty, and TO have granted certif-
ates oi registration to many who were disfran-
hlsed BY law. think that law can be improved
" amendments and additions but must be al |
eWed e say that am by 40 means an advocate
lts repeal Nor do the loyal people of this State
eslre Its repeal, if understand their sentiments
RESTORATION OF CIVIL LAW 4
The authority of the Constitution ana laws of
ne United States and of the State of Tennessee
as now extended over almost every county in i
1e State; the machinery of civil government is i
yorklng well, except in few instances, and IT 1
lords me great pleasure to say that our people 4
re rapidly recovering from the effects of fnsur- /
7ctl0n, Whlie prosperity is promised in every |
ection. Our people are farming SUCCESSFULLY. |
1d the indications are that in two or three more
ears, under present legislation, our State will
E herself again. r.
REATMENT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN RE- |
Inc closing of the war and disbanding of the
pei armies returns thousands of men to civil
Ie ana distributes them among the various
'hntles o1 the State. How are these men to be
Gated Are they to make gosd citizens or dis
ntented subjects Are the wounds made bv
e war ever TO be healed These are weighty
lestOns, taking the place of those that en- gross
onr attention during the war. 1t is not our :
licy or interest to treat oppressively the thou-
nds who fought bravely in bad cause, proyi.
the ma >Ses-the young and deluded masses-I
40 blindly followed the standard of revolt let |
EN- have full and free pardon, if you will, on !
elr sincere return to loyalty: but as many of | !
EN- are guilty rebels. they should cheerfillly :
unit to five or ten years Of dlsfranchisement / !
as 20 give them time to wash the blood of loyai
traitors and leaders, who, through long years of
aaKing, Rriting and agitating got uD this re- |
llon l1 VINO, without, proyocation, or even the !
atense OF wrong 70 themselves traitorouslv SET | Z
rebel on on fool; bad men and men of talent / :,
70 pr ssed II forward with all the malignity of y
has ana the cruelty Of sayages; good South :,
men, Who through rapine arson periury >
4 butchery, have filled the land with mourn
they are entitled to neither mercy nor for !,
france Let rs not give new growth and re- Il
',tabllty TO TREASON in the Sonth, or in the | i
der states, by sending these llnwhipped NAL !,
ctprs forth with new schemes for Second re- -
lion. f.4 -5-s. .trtf-.a.Y.f -.tf'E--7 ~ II "a
rue, the national honor has been vindicataa oi
insult offered TO the country by rebellion has f.
llshed itself most bitterly Ia the ruin 1T has ~
ught upon rebel communities, and the sorrow see
mourning lt has carried to hearts that only 4 -,
ocated treason The Government OF the Uni ~ -,
states has demonstrated the hopeless nature y,
II future attempts at destroying the Union Of
no thanks I'd these original .c0nspirators for ~
this eNhlhttlon Of strength on the part Of the :"
'ernment 30 thanks to them, either, for
n failure in their grand pertinent at insur- |
ion. IL is onr duty to teach these leaders a W
on that they will never forget and one that w
profit generations yet to come; teach them to
7 lenlency, without q distinction between 10y de
and treason, is more certain to subyert the ar
ernment than is rebellion itself; teach them co
clemency at the sacrifice of. justice is the ar
linai apanuonlneht VI government; teach or,
u that treason Is crime against law and ati
rty, and that they who are guilty of it have to
cited All claims To protection and all rights Of thu
,enship. .+ -.-1~.l.i--..-F astr 4 ~ ra
THE PRoDIGAL SON. ..-F.,.. tit
le oppOsers Of the Franchise Act of this Gen I
Assembly are suddenly enamored of the yir- II, ''
o,ch "lm ~, ~ eVer Written ign
Prodiga Son. They never weary of quoting nn, 1,
parable Of enequaled beauty and pathos 1t the h
teresting to note the difference between the rnt t
iigal Son and these returning rebels. First AZ
Prodigal Son did not secede he went with ~
athers consent and the Scriptures indicate. ao ro
his blessing. Next, he aoest he did not stay 81
Vilify the old man In his own house; he asked sun
to start him in the world did not
pistol and demand the old mans green =,
II; ne received the portion bis father gave t;ci
he did not steal it, and receiving It he ne
ed out to 'seek his fortune He did not 90 ~ ~
q soaN side of the farm and join band OF Stgs S!g
ers who were plundering the old man, but la; Loti
II. 80.