Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-04-25
The KNOXVILLE WHIG
KnosviIle, Tenn., April IS, 1886.
Message OF GOVerner BrOWnl0W.
TATE OF TENNESSEE,
EXECUTIVE DErARTnEST,
NlsHrIttI. April l4th. 1866

STATE OF TENNESSEE,
EzvcUTrvE DrrARTnExT,
NAsHvrILI, April 14th, 1856.
grulonsN nom 6sna0 md Hoslss Of Representa-
EVe,
,.rue vouf seats after the untoward events Of the
81 giy S.eeks make Il my duty in my opinion, 70
sed yc thls communication, giving you such infor-
nation Is have Of the state OF She Government.
rHE LATE ELEoTraes.
Tvo elections have occurred since your delibera-
,lons we're broken up by the action Of portion Of
he House-sbe one general election for coraty Of
6cer. on the Sd of March, the other special elec-
lion Of twunty- four Representative and two Sena-
t,rs IN different parts of the State The result OF
bsse slectieas carefully studied viii furnish You
mach instruction in the discharge OF your present
dsiies II viii appear that the public safety abso-
lutev requires q thorough revision Of the present
syfsage laws Whilst il is true that in many coun-
lies Of West Tennessee avery creditable, and, in
,oEas instances successful effort was made 70 exc
ouss the Act Of the 5fh Of June last in some eoun-
.is Of that section, and in the greater portion OF
Middle Tennessee, the law was totally disregarded
To the county Of Davidson for instance where there
IA, been SO much clarnor against the Law, charging
Ast threefourths Of the people were disfranchised
by 4 the aggregate vote exceeded by over thou
nd the average vote in county elections before the
passage OF the law Candidates. in many localities,
openly and publicly based their claims 70 election
4pon wounds received and losses incurred in the
,suse Of rebellion, and were often successful.
aoLIERs NEGLECTED.
In The special election nearly all of those who
ad, BY revolutionary conduct, broken up the Leg
fsture and paralyzed the Government we're can
dalss for reelection under pledges TO repeat their
psFformanceg unless the mAjoity win yield 10 them
he control of your proceedings. With two excep-
ions in West Tennessee one IN Middle Tennessee,
and two IN Fast Tennessee they have been returned
by large majorities. This result may well excite
,6s apprehensons OF tho friends Of civil govern
mont II shows that not only the revolving Reprs-
sentaivs but their constituents are ready 10 destroy
he State Government. The fear expressed in my
proclamation Of the Sd Of March that our people
"baye nyL sufficiently recovered from the demoraliz-
ing efeois Of The late rebellion TO appreciate the
blessings Of peace is thus painfully realized.
PROCLAMATION OF MARCH THIRD
a. the legality and propriety of my proclamation
Of tbe I'd Of March, in ordering some of the cleo
jong bare boon Questioned, and may come incden-
ally before yoa IN determining the qualifications Of
The new members, win present briefly the grounds
Of my seton.
Tho Constitution provides that "when vacancies
lappsa in either House the Governor for the time
being shall issue writs Of election 10 fll such Tacan-
cies7 No particular form of vacating seat is
prescribed II Is sufficient If the seat is not occu-
pied and legitimate excuse given for its
remaining 50. II a member willfnlly and persist
eny refsses 20 occupy his scat and 70 perform any
q the duties Of his place the seat is in fact and in
law vacant. ii may be the DUTY Of the House 10
notify the Executive when vacancy happens, but
when the House Is disorganized or not in session It
becomes his duty 10 know when 10 act. Upon this
construction Of the Constitution and this view of
my Official duty, issued wriis Of election 10 gil the
coats Of those who had absenhed themselves from
the House Tor tae declared purpose of disorganizing
y and who had publicly proclaimed that they had
vithdrawn from your deliberations. This much
deem proper 10 say in justification of my action
You are the exclusive judges Of the qualification and
election Of your members, and only announce my
own action and my reasons for e. and refrain from
any Recommendation as 10 the rights of the newly
elected members The extreme peril Of the crisis IN
which We end ourselves viii, however justify me in
calling your attention TO the fact that number of
member arc asking seats in your body under
pledge iudoed by their constituents to disorganze
The Legislature BY revolutionary conduct /, there
ior invite our serious attention TO the gravo ques-
ton il presents. srra Saa.'"
THE FRANCHISE BILL.
Tho objections 10 a stringent suffrage law are
plausible aDd made under the guise Of equal rights
and repubhcan liberty; but experience win show
mat taose who but few months ago were engaged
n The work OF destroying all government, and who
ald Destroy our State Government and only failed
% Destroy The National Government by being over
powered by force OF arms not yet safe deposito-
aes Of the elective franchise Il Is not q question
N 70 who shall be dsfranehised. but as 70 who shall
y s1ft5nehised- Those who committed treason dis
i's!ss se3 tssmselves To restore them M once 10
.ao rst of sunfSge Is simply 20 hand o'er TO them
nat gcNuynfnent which WIS organized in spite of
1ea, apet she rnins Of tie one they had DESTROYED
This Is wknt they now demand. The red-handed
naHuS1r who has inflicted the most frightfnl
so1nd upon the body polite demands that he ef All
@hers is the proper physician TO heal them. They
lain the aght 10 destroy and build Up-to kin and
restore 70 lie. You alone, gentlemen, can dis
P Of ihis question. In crisis like this We should
1aoole no tiEaid course Let US boldly perform our
Pr, ard lsave the result 10 God. | Invoke vour
PumpE atssaton 70 this vital subject We can have
= hcpe that capital OF loyal Immigrants will come
sh'n our borders until they are assured of prOtee-
~ oh against rebel rule am assured that the tide
7. immigration now flowing into Missouri is owing
ne ample protection given them in that State by
s5er. VI "a" anu
i-lEF or THE rENiTKNuARY AND rNsANE HOS
rITAL
assc baen compelled. by d sense of humanity.
t-a
\ i aslry for considerable sum, without any acl
u ,ss pration, 70 supply tho eonviets In the pen
"a gsTs Sith the necessares Of life. / am informed
80 again IN danger of suffering. The keeper
81 ks,11hg supplies on credit relying upon you
< 49,. As payment The hospital for the insane
I sU. Iseeessitious circumstances and the salaries
y. ~. ''fs Of both institutions are unpaid, and
se- Aesion in relief Of both is an absolute ne
q. tIa
,d,aheb9 th.l -, ;.;,,,t ,,.;.;,, -. -. -.
s . moet the Juiy interest on tho State
"a and upon the bonds loaned 10 such rail-
&C fail 10 pay their cupons then fall ng
u lp1mend lhe temporary appropriation o.
~ asized BY the safe Of tbe specie captured
4 Bs,p.. lsnGins Of the Bank Of Tennessee for that
IL - ssi ih.So1i permanently Withdrawing /, from
zoo ilna
1agsEEaTIoS on Loyal crTIzESs.
,,csS. Assars deli berAtion, have determined Z
he1a 80 % your favorable consideration the ~
sas,sass y loyal citizens Of this State for lossc
IA.eao ~, :, Se occupation OF the country by the
esAlos q -, The passage OF the so-eaied ordi'
T1t . tls - ead the sssumeu l,AnAsef o. t tn'
tenneisee i ,aAsd Southern CoEifedcracy place.
PIE In tle fss.' atsude of rebellion, and her Pso
Hnment o. enemies 70 the Nationsi Gov
espaney OF g. aaqoence was, that upon the &c
PIE were t.ss ois,e by tho Federal forces our peo
lhstion be;.sss a. ehemies With bat little discrani
Aha ho1ses -. -ae loyal and disloyAl. Their isnd
y Destroyed occupied, their property impFcsse'
Last Tsnns...s sla their provisions consumed II
1hsuppiied - ihis was done from necessity by Al
PIE b absoi,, = ah ezteat that reduced the poo
Eminent - sun.ring go far. the Federal Gov
and IN winis. hg tennessee With she FHbei States
whole Sog,t % assume the Iosses incurred Ia III
our loynl 49, no& regarded the sppcataons o
hat iimfs, - Ior fefaeaeruiion. understand
Ohio sbd AZ 4. iiosses By siazsns Of Pennsylvania
-1a'apa hsysbesn promptly assumed, an