Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-10

the meeting OF your predecessors. The war
that then ragged gave way before the arms
Of the nation, The August Power that has
made himself known to man as the arbiter
of battles, interferred between the govern
ment and It's attempted Overthrow. The
desolation that followed in the track of hos,
tile armies has been. in good degree, re-
paired. An unusual display of industry
among all classes Of people, attended by
commendabIe thrift aud economy and re-
warded by two bountiful harVests, has re-
stored many Of the comforts Of life enjoyed
before the rebellion. And above all, the
general health that has prevailed through
out the State, especially during the past
season, has crowned our blessings and given
US csuse for gratitude to God for what we
enjoy, and has done much to obliterate the
memory of what we have suffered. fH
Our State government then in the first
stage of its restoration, has become firmly
established r. the threshold influences of
time, Congressional recognition and popular
ratification. Time has been its constant
i ally in demonstrating the falsehood and the
dishonesty, as well as the wicked designs
of its enemies Unrecognized BY Congress,
it would have lacked the sanction of law,
and been, at the most, government in fact
The recognition by joint resolution of Con-
gress, approved the oath of July, 1866,
operated, by relation, to give it and its acts
legal validity from the beginning But far
the most effective action in its behalf was
the decision by the people at the election
in August last. During the canvass which
preceded, it was subject to the severest
possible strain. In addition TO the most
searching criticism upon all its measures,
and the harshest animadVertion upon all
connected with either the Legislative, Ex-
ecutive or the Judiciary departments, there
was the same element of hostility which,
in 1861, broke out into fragrant rebellion
less open and pronounced, indeed, but none
the less bitter and determined The same
men-stung to madness by the utter defeat
of their cause, reinforced by others who
had more recently, from time TO time, Joined
them under the stimnlous of disappointed
or an awakened ambition, moved by SYM
pathy with Rebel kindred and friends, or
angry by reason Of slaves emancipated and
enfranchised as citizens-have never for
moment relaxed their efforts to effect the
revolutionary subversion of the govern
ment. In this work of mischief they were
supported by the Rebel press, the same, for
the most part, and conducted by the same
counsels that, in 1861, precipitated the State
into civil war, and which the benignity of
the nation has not only shielded from pun
ishment, but has permitted to resume its
Vaccinations of treason. And / am com
PEELED to add that this support was not
limited to the press of this State. The
Rebel and the so-ealled Conservative pa
pers, and the entire Democratic press of
the country, waged relentless war upon the
State government A large corps of news
paper correspondents traversed the land
and studiously misrepresented every occur
renee of the canvass, as we'll as the general
| questions involved in the struggle. We
lacked neither interruptions enemies TO
concoct falsehoods, nor candid friends to
lend them credence and to deplore our lack |
| of discretion. Yet against these influences,
after most thorough and exhaustive dis
cussion before the people, they have sus-
tanned the government by majorities ap-
| proaehing to unanimity. | recall your at
| tention TO these Facts, NOT Tor partisan pur-
poses, nor IN spirit Of exuEtation, bat as
a basis for our future action in executing
the popular will.
| Your predecessors took the government
as an experiment, you find it an establish
ment. They adopted measures TO set in
motion, your measures will look TO a wise
and benihcent administration. 1t was theirs
TO build the machinery, it is yours to keep
it in good running order.
| FEDERAL RELATIONS.
Our external relations are mainly and for
| present inquiry entirely with the Federal
government, and am happy to inform you
that they continue most amicable and har- |
monious. From the beginning we have
| been sustained by the military authorities |
OF the nation in keeping the peace and exc
| cutting the laws in localities where the war,
after subsiding, had left elements of dis |
| tuTbance. Your predecessors thought |
| proper to provide small militia force, |
to be used in aid of the civil law and as |
| part of it, when the civil law, unaided, |
might prove incapable of dealing with its |
violators. Application was made to Con- |
gress for arms and equipments, which were |
cheerfully granted by that body. | take |
| pleasure in bearing testimony to the |
promptitude with which their action was
carried into effect by the then Secretary of |
War; Much anxiety was felt in anticipa-
tion OF disorders on the day of election. /
Major General George H. Thomas, in COM
mand Of the Department, co-operated with
General Joseph A. Cooper, in command of |
the militia, so effectually that, with few
msrked exceptions, the peace was pre-
| served and the best order maintained all
over the State. With these exceptions,
there has never been so quiet an election in
the State, or one that eVinced more for
bearance and self-control on the part of
our citizens.
ELECTION OF UNITED STATES SENATOR.
By the act of Congress of the 25th of
July, 1866, it is madeyour duty, on the
second Tuesday of your meeting and or
ganization, to elect a Senator of the
United States to succeed Mr.. Patterson,
whose term will expire on the Sd of
March, 1869.
Election or REPRESENTATIVES TO CONGRESS
Recent legislation by Congress seems to make
desirable change in the time of electing Re
presentatlves. The Official term of a member of
Congress begins on the 4th OF March and con
tinues two years, and no longer. If a success sor
has not been elected the seat is then vacant
Our practice in this State has been To elect on |
the first Thursday in August succeeding the
close of the preceding term, The consequence
has been that between the 4th of March and the
first Thursday in August we had no Representa-
tive. The constitution Of the United States re-
quires Congress TO assemble at least once every |
year, and such meeting shall be on the first !
Monday of December. unless they shall by law
appoint different day." So long as this pro-
vision remained unaltered, We experienced no |
incOny enience, for, except in the rare instance
Of an extraordinary session, Congress never as
sembled until the first Monday of December
succeeding our August election. BY a recent
act. the 22d of January, 1867. each Congress is
required to meet on the 4th of March, the first
day of its official existence. Under this law the
40th Congress assembled and organized ON the
4th of March last. and held two sessions prior
to our election in August. at which this State
was unrepresented. The importance of having
members present TO assist in the organization of
q legislative body and to take their appropriate
place upon the different committees, Is one that
you aIe not likely to over estimate.
In view, therefore, of this state of facts | re-
commend that You change the time of holding
the Congressional elections so as TO bring them
on before the close of the preceding term. Per
haps either the month of october or November
previous would be found the most convenient,
and would correspond with the usage Of most Of
the other States.
THE JUDICIARY.
Possibly no feature of the government was
more harshly criticised, during the late can
yass, than the tenure Of the Judiciary. The
schedule TO the amended constitution provides
that all civil officers who may
hereafter be appointed by the acting Governor
Of the State . shall continue TO
hold and exercise the functions of their re-
spective Offices until their successors shall be
elected or appointed and qualified" The sec
ton, taken as a whole embraces military as we'll