Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-12

FRANKLIN, HASCoCK, ADAMS. HAMILTON,
JAY, WEBSTER, and so many other patriots
is no longer the land of the good and great,
or that their lessons of unseifish devotion to
country are forgotten; or when the storm Of
passion subsidies and its fury is expended
reason and and justice, tempered with mag
nanimity, and a generous regard Of every
section Of the Union viii again resume their
sway.
The true men of the country have noble
incentive to enter the work of reunion; in
the bonds of affection and mutual confidence
the hearts Of our countrymen are changed by
war; the generous policy and hberality Of
the President has deeply touched the tender
est chords of the Southern heart sentiments
of love and veneration for the government
of our fathers have been aroused by it-sen-
timents that had long slumbered. Kind
ness and mercy have been far more potent
in promulgating fidelity to the Union in a
few short months than could have been
effected by bayonets, confscation and the
gallows. He believes the great mass Of the
Northern people desire to treat us as bro
theirs, and it is his desire to show that efforts
are now being made by the Southern people
for peace and restoration.
He reviews the suffering, privations and
dangers endured by Southern people in be-
half Of a cause they considered Just and holy;
shows how sincerely the people have kept
faith with their renewed allegiance; has
been identified with Texas a quarter of a
century; has mingled with the people and
claims to be able to speak for them; peo-
pie who have won the respect and admira-
ton of the world, for their chivalry, high
NJ ha
doubted by generous and brave spirits.
When they assert their loyalty and policy,
will be disclaimed by exact pursuance to all
classes of rnen whose political faith, religious
creed, race and color, it is a duty we owe
alike to ourselves and humanity to enact
laws that reserve the freed people the full
protection Of all the rights of person and
property, guaranteed them by our amended
constitution. The time is not far distant, in
my judgment, when the black people will
be convinced that their best friends are those
with whom they have sported in youth, and
who have cared for them since infancy.
He takes broad grounds in favor of sus-
tanning the public credit and due obedience
to the constitution and laws of the General
Government, with firm and just maintain
ence of che State in expansion policy, pub
lie progress, &c. He briefly reviewed his
course anterior to secession discord. As l
was, and still am, to that Government which
the blood Of my ancestors had contributed
to rear for the protection of the rights of all,
and accustomed from my earliest boyhood
to lean upon the flag of the Union as the
proudest symbol of freedom. / turned with
horror from the bloody vision of civil war
that caOwded in my sight, but looked with
scarcely less dread on the entertained power
of coercion.
He followed the fortunes of the majority
of his fellow-citizens and shared their fate.
Those identified with him in opposition who
sustained the Government he accords the
credit of pure and patriotic motives. The
most sacred duty is now for all to labor for
the restoration of peace and harmony; that
our people desire these and are worthy of
restoration on just and liberal terms. He
appeals to the Legislature to cooperate with
him in the great work points them to the
cares of Texas, her patriotic heroes and
statesmen, and urges unselfsh devotion to
country, moderation and forbearance in an
enlarged character for those who differ with
us, appeals to reason and noble impulses and
not vituperation and abuse, which will pro-
duce the great end we disire, invoking the
aid of Providence and trusting that He will
incline the hearts of the American people
Alright, he enters upon his duties.