Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-09
slaIea lor lLa p..l I0ur years laa 0een

| ~ AlteI u uhO-hS"NiSN N"NN"'''i ~
Of the very few iime-honored custom
feverenced days, our unrivale
Governor communicated an annual mes
sage to his Legislature yesterday. Tn
yeritable document is before us; a
rather late hour, TO be sure, bu
this we can account for on tn
ground that "our frie6ds" in the Leg
islature forgot to forward Us advance
sheets or avail themselves of the
wires in our behalf Their habit
ual wire pulling Of late renders the latte
less excusable. But never mind, we car
forgive all, for we have the message
the veritable w. G.'s latest and best
Aud what is the sum and substance o.
this bit of Radical literature ? We car
only treat of it in brief. All precursorJ
remarks we pass over. The first thing
that peculiarly strikes us is an allusion
to the rebel element in the State cleo
ton in these words;
In the work Of mischief they were sup
ported by the rebel press, the same, for
the most part, and conducted by the
same counsels that, in 1861, precipi-
tated the State into civil war, and which
the benignity of the nation has not only
shielded from punishment, but has per
mitted to resume its Vaccinations of
treason. And / am compelled to add
that this support was not limited to the
press of this State The rebel and the
so called Conservative papers, and the
entire Democratic press Of the country,
waged relentless war upon the State
government A large corps Of newspa..
per correspondents trayersed the land
and studiouSly misrepresented every
occurrence of the canvass, as well as the
general questions involved in the
struggle. We lacked neither unscrupu-
lous enemies to concoct falsehoods, nor
candid friends to lend them an easy
credence and to deplore our lack OF
discretion. Yet against these adverse
influences, after a most thorough and
exhaustive discussion before the people,
they have sustained the Government by
msjorities approaching to ananimity
A congratulatory allusion to our Fed
eral relations follows this.
A change of time in the election of
members of Congress is recommended
Referring to the Judiciary and the
matter of appointment and election as
exercised by himself, be says;
Most of the officers have been elected,
except the Judges Of the Supreme and
Chancery Courts, and most of the Judges
of the Circuit Courts, the Attorney Gen
eral and Reporter, and most Of the Cir
cult Attorneys General. These have
been appointed and commissioned for
their respective official terms. This a0-
ton was brought prominently in view
before the people by the press and upon
the stump, and they have passed upon it.
Sustained by their approval, | shall con-
tinue the same course and as vacancies
occur from time to time, / shall order
elections when in my opinion it is adj
visable-otherwise al them by appoint
ment
He recommends satisfactory settle
ment on the part of the State with the
railroads, and discourages any further
increase of the State debt in their behalf.
He recommends general act prohib-
itory of the sale Of liquor near any in
stitution of learning, and makes this the
pretext for saying some very fine things
about temperance.
Upon the subject of the school fund.
he attributes its loss to the act of the
Assembly making the Treasurer its Gus
todisn, and goes on to say;
As every other order Of the Legislature
had been obeyed, that was also obeyed.
The fund was counted by the Controller,
placed in the hands of the Treasurer,
and his receipt taken therefor, and the
Governor and his associates at once
ceased TO be responsible for it; and no
one was more startled than they were to
discover, six months after, that the .und
was on deposit in the Tennessee
National Bank OF Memphis, upon a sim
ple certificate Of deposit When this
discovery was made the Governor
promptly called attention to it, and the
Legislature as promptly took action in
the matter. a comwittee Of yigilant
and experienced men we're sent by the
Governor to Memphis, who succeeded in
recovering about one half. have APP
pointed Thomas B. McElwee Special
Agent to look after the remainder, and
being a sensible, prudent business man,
he may be able 10 secure portion of
the funds 10 the custody Of that faithless
institution.
The appoiniAent Of Criminal Judge
for every ehancery district is recon-
mended.
Indemnity Of loyal Tennesseeans for
losses during the war 10 alluded TO in
the following language
After mature elaboration, / have de.
termined TO recommend 10 your fayOra-
/ bic consideration the remuneration oil
loyal citizens Of this State for losses sus-
tanned By the occupation Of the country
/ BY the national armies. The passage OF
the o-called ordinance Of secession, and
the assumed transfer Of the State TO the
90. called Southern Csnfederacy, placed
Tennessee in the attitude Of rebellion,
and her peopls in the position Of enc
mics to the National Government The
consequence was that upon the occu-
panay Of the State by the national forces
cur people we're treated as enemies, with
but little discrimination between the
loyal aud the disloysl. Their lands and
houses we're occupied, their property i'm.
pressed OF destroyed, aud their provisions
consumed. In East Tennessee this wAi
done from necessity, BY an unsnppliod
army, 10 an extent that reduced the peo
ME 10 ahsoluLa auler.ng. Tim. lar. tLl