Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-07-11
Message OF the Governor.
State OF TENNESSEE,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
N..nvrrIx. Tam. July s, 1856


EXECUTIVE DEFARrNENT,
| NASHVILLE, Tenn, July s, 1856. }
,r..,,,.,a Of the Senate aud House of Representa-
| 49,. Having convened you in extraordinary ses-
sion it made my duty by the Constitution TO state
10 you the purposes for which you have been con-
veRed The main purpose and that which consti-
tutes the present extraordinary occasion, is
briefly, but directly, stated in my proclamation OF
the 18th Of June, calling you together. To that
paper / respectfully refer you
Under the fifth article of the Constitution OF the
United States, Congress has proposed as an amend
mont TO that instrument fourteenth article winch
| has been duly certified and communicated to this
Department BY the Secretary of State OF the nlteo
States. Copies of said proposed amendment WIN
the authentcating certificate and letter OF lnclosre
of the Secretary Of State herewith transmitted
| for your consideration and invoke your action as
promptly as is consistent with the gravity and lm-
portance of the subject.
| b.o Won 10 bear in mind, in your deliberations,
that while the most of you have been at all times,
personally and individually, loyal to the United
Ststes as a whole you represent State the most OF
| whose people went into the rebellion, raised one
| hundred and fifty-four regiments, and sent them
into the field to fight against the National Govern
| ment; levied war against the United States Tor
| four years and were finally conquered and reduced
to the condition of inhabitants of subugated prov
/ ince wholly at the mercy of the conquerors. BY
the laws of nations and the laws of war, the Cen
eral Government has an undoubted right to pre-
scribe terms of settlement to the State OF tennessee
These terms have been prescribed, and are no" pre-
sente1 for your acceptance or rejection. l nave
every assurance that when they are accepted your
1 Senators and Representatives will be admitted TO
their seats in Congress and the State at once recao
with her long lost rights Are these terms reason
able? For my own part they seem to be but the
decree of political justice and equity made necessary
| by the result of the rebellion.
By the first section equal protection In the enjoy
ment of life, liberty, and property, is guaranteed to
all citizens Practically this affects mainly the
gro; who having been emancpated by the rebellion
and having lost that protection which the interest
of the master gave him. became by the very laws of
nature entitled to the civil rights of the citizens and
to the means Of enforcing those rights.
To deny this to him would be to place his life,
property and labor in the power of every unfrendly
local authority, evil disposed person. and would
| be en- instance Of barbarism unworthy of the age.
1t will also prevent njust discrimination by one
| State against the citizens of other States.
By the second section, classes who are disfran-
chised without crime, not to be counted in as
certaining the basis of Federal representation. This
too may be regarded of the results of the
bellion; change made necessary by our changed
condition We Lave now among us a class of freed
men to whom we deny the ballot and all other po-
itical rights. Have right to count them against
the enfranchised citizens of other States If so,
then will three of citizens rebels though they
be- equal in The political balance to four citizens of
1
citizen of South Carolina or Miss ssippi will balance
two citizens Union soldiers who may reside north
of the Ohio Certainly the South is not in a condi-
ton to claim SO great political advantage in the
national adjustment now proposed, unless, indeed,
there be merit in rebellion.
The third section is intended to prevent that class
of rebel leaders from holding Office, who by viola
ting their official oaths added great ofense to
another. 1t is meant safeguard against another
rebellion, by keeping out of power those who brought
on and are mainly responsible for that through
| which we have Just passed. These men in law and
justice forfeited their lives aid property but be-
nign and mercful Government nhicts no other pun
ishment or disability upon them than such
sary to prevent them from repeating their crime
No loyal citizen will object to this section.
The fourth section declares the validity of our
onal debt and that debts incurred losses sustain
ed in aid of rebellion are void This is simply a
declaration of the honorable intentions of the
ton and will be endorsed by every American citi-
zen who is worthy of the title 1t also refuses COM
peRsaton for slaves lost emancipated by the war
As slaves lost by the rebellious conduct of
our own people we should not expect to tax the ma
ton to pay for them.
This brief analysis OF the proposed amendment
| exhibits magma nimty on the part of the Amer-
| can people through their Representatives in Con-
| gress which challenges our admiration Viewed as
terms of final adjustment between the conqueror and
| conquered their mdness and freedom from all pen
atty is without parallel in the history of nations
l congratulate you on your good fortune in nav
| ing the opportunity in being the honored agents in
restoring the ship of state to her ancient moorngs
again TO set sail upon her voyage of prosperity
and glory. But little over year ago you assembled
in the capitol and took charge of the State. She
was PROSTATE bleeding and helpless The courts
were no where held with safety and Justice was ad-
ministered only within few fortified posts County
governments were broken up and peace officers made
efforts to perform their duties and anarchy with
all its horrors reigned supreme. Without treasury
laws the credit of the State was destroy
ed and our grand system of railroads in ruins;
while guerrllas prowled without restraint over the
State. You have placed great State upon its
feet Under your iudicous legislation the treasury
| has been able to meet the heaviest demands The
credit of the State is rapidly rising to its maximum
height Your railroads nearly all in running
order, paying the interest upon their loans while
all your courts open, and justice is administered
in every part of the State It is now your proud
privilege to restore the noble Old Commonwealth to
her ancient position in the Union of fathers
As you have performed your duty heretofore in de-
hance Of the abuse and denuncation of traitors,
am confident you will do so in the future, needless
of threats or dictatOns from any source.
| l regret that duty requires me to bring to your
notice any other sub ect than the mighty question
have already submitted. But constrained to
call your attention to the necessity of amending
act passed at your last session, entitled act to
establish Metropolitan Police District and to pro-
vide for the government thereof" Having appoint
ed Commissioners for the cities of Memphis and
Chattanooga, the force in each case promptly
organized and the prospect for relief to the peace
able citizens quite promising. But the law in
its practical workings is found to be quite defective
Chief among these defects may be mentioned the
want of an adequate remedy in case of the refusal
of the County Courts to levy and collect the neces
sary TO defray the expenses Of the police,
and the power of evil disposed persons in combina
ton, to arrest the operations of the Commissioners
by injunction and wanton litigation. Other defects
will present themselves, and it is believed will be
easily corrected A thorough perfection of the law
| is recommended.