Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-17

1
Upon the recent adjournment Of the Yir
ginia Legislature, the Senate was apprupri
ately addressed by the presiding officer
Lieut. Gov. CowPER. From his remarks as
published in the Richmond Wing we ex
tract the following:
And believe solemnly that. of all the citi.
zens of the United States. the people of the
| Southern States are decidedly the most thorough
sentiments Of The Chief Magis,ute Of tie notion
| nay, know it-and they are the sentiments o.
the best part Of his Cabinet, who are now. to-day
standing, supporting and encouraging the Lxeeu'
| tive IN the position he has taken.'
These are not .he words of what is called
"a rebel" They are the words of an origi.
nal and consistent Union man, who Opposed
secession from first to last; and who, for his
fidelity to the Union cause was elected by
the Unionists, under the Alexandra Con
stitution, to the high position he now fills
They are not the words of passion, but O
sobeness, in an hour of greatealanity. They
are the words Of a man who is tired Of strife
and longs for day Of rest and quietness
They are fireworks Of man who has soul anc
sense enough to look beyond the prejudicei
of the present to the greater interests which
all who are dear to him must have in the
future. They are the words of man who
weeps over the calamities of his people, and
would heal rather than iuAame the bleeding
wounds Of his country. How bad that per
son must be who can have any other feeling
or disposition at such a time.
In nearly all the other States of the South
men Of antecedents similar TO those of Gov
Cowper, have been placed in control of pub
lie affairs, and, invariably, they have borr
testimony in substance the same as his
With far less material advantages than Ten
nessee, they are more rapidly recovering
from the evils of the war, while an era o
good feeling reigns undisturbed. Why il
this? Are their people in any respect more
trustworthy than ours? Are they more
law-abiding, or have they any higher mora
status? Have they been more faithful t.
their pledges of returning loyalty? Every
honest Tennesseean will answer promptly
in the negative. There is but one answer
to it, and that will readily suggest itself tt
every candid mind, even of the humbles
capacity. The difference is in the character
of men who have been selected to administer
the public affairs of these respective States
In the one instance, Governors and Legislators
have had laudable ambition to relieve society
ofthe evils of the war; in the other they have
sought to augment and perpetuate them fol-
the meanest Of private ends. In the one
instance, some regard has been shown to the
opinions of mankind; in the other, they
have defied all the rules and influences that
ordinarily control men having particle Of
selfrespect. Sad as may be the thought
paralyzing as it may be to the spirit and en-
terprise of our people-we see no hope OF
relief until our Executive department and
Its adjuncts can be placed in the hands of a
different character of men.
Let this be kept continually in mind, and
acted upon, whenever an occasion presents,
as the paramount duty of every good citizen
who earnestly desires the restoration of our
State and people to their former relations OF
of peace and prosperity. In this way only
have we hope of the future.