Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-02-13
THEN AND NOW.
Governor RrOWnlOW and the State Le-
giSiatUre-What they have done,

UlsuO4s pTo4aSc OEl &pOAOS1 VIC propose 10 give u
brief resume of what has been done during the last
two years by our Governor and Legislature to see
whether they have deserved the confidence of the
loyal, and why it is they are as veheneEtly de-
nounced BY the disloyal. We viii endeavor to set
forth the condition of our State when the present
Government came into power, our present condi-
ton. and what has been done in the meantime.
These all facts and matters of history We will
marshal these facts in solid phalanx, and call up
on the people Of Tennessee and of the Nation to
look upon them and pronounce Judgment. Have
our Governor and Legislature been equal to the
great undertaking? Have they made good their
pledges to the loyal of the State and coun-
try? Have they proven themselves worthy of the
confidence, honor and applause of the patriots Of
Tennessee and Of the friends Of liberty and progress
everywhere
when VIM. G. Brownlsw was chosen Governor
what was the condition of TENNESSEE Her treas
ury was empty, having been feloniously plnndered
by Harris and his traitorous associates; her debts
heavy and pressing, the interest on her bonds
having accumulated enormously during the war; her
financial credit was gone at home and abroad; and
her resources crippled and laid waste by four years
of terrible Rebellion whereof she was the perpetu-
al battle field, and wherein her wealth was squan-
dered or consumed; most of her leading men were
traitors in arms against her and their country;
thousands of her in bloody graves ard most Of
the survivors emtattled against each other IN hos
tile armies traitors or patriots. Her system of In
ternal Improvements which had hitherto been so
prosperous and on which she had prided herself so
much as the evidence Of present foresight and fu-
ture power shattered and in ruins her railroads
turnpikes, and bridges cut to pieces by hostile
mics and their destruction confirmed by time and
unavoidable neglect. The busy hum of her facto-
ries had long since ceased and their machinery
ted and rotten, or ruined by the earthquake Of Re-
bellion. The smoke Of her furnaces and mills no
longer assembled like cloud in the day and pillar
of fire in the night to guide her to higher CIV
ilizaton. Her academies colleges and universities
that had hitherto spread learning and refinement
throughout her borders deserted their students
scattered abroad like the Babel-bulders, and many
asleep in soldiers graves. And the Common School
Fund, dedicated forever to the education Of Ten
nessees little ones had been prostituted to the use
of rebellion, and was deemed lost beyond hope.
The State Institutions for the Blind and the Deaf
and Dumb, had been wholly overthrown and
brought to nought their buildings and grounds de-
stroyed or damaged almost beyond repair and their
inmates scattered far and wide, and rudely thrust
out upon the cold charity of the world. And even
her Churches, the very temples OF the Prince OF
Peace survived not amid the universal desclation,
but their affairs were desecrated BY the rude sons OF
battle or converted into hospitals for the sick, the
wounded and the dying. The laws of the land were
in their graves the temples of justice deserted and
| despoiled, the ministers of government had long
since laid aside their robes Of Office, the statute
books were covered with dust on their shelves, or
had been burned at the campfres; might was tho
| only right and self defense the only law. A race
hitherto enslayed now emancipated, stood in our
midst without rights and without privileges, except
| to die The laws and customs of seFvitude now
more than two centuries old were no longer appli-
cable, and the economy of slavery was unsulted TO
freedom and enfranchisement. The negro lately 3
/ chattsl was now man, and was soon to become a
citizen. 4 majority of the white inhabitants of the
State were still traitorous in heart and hope; and
anxious to thwart and defeat every effort to restore
law and order the basis of unconditional loyalty
while thousands of their brothers, fathers and sons
| Rebellion and had sworn in their hearts TO over
| throw the new Government and put its officers TO
the sword.
The State was considered by the National Gov
| eminent as still in rebellion. She was denied re-
admittance into the family of States composing the
nation and was kept out as stranger, an alien,
an enemy; and looked upon as unclean and afflicted
with political leprosy Thus was she not only
wounded and dishonored but Inundated and de-
spised.
But how is it to-day The treasury of the State
is FULL her accrued indebtedness paid to the last dol
| lar her financial credit good at home and abroad;
and her old resources renewed and now ones devel-
! oped Our system of Internal Improvements is
again in operation with vigor and success hitherto
unknown. Our railroads are all in good order with
suitable rolling stock, and encouraging profits and
new railroads are being constructed with energy
| and certainty OF speedy cOUplbbOug IcSoAf-
| ed an amount of State aid previously unexamped.
Our mills, factories AID foundries are all again in
full operation, with daily increasing success; those
destroyed during the war having been mostly re-
built and many new ones commenced or pro
jected.
/ Our academies colleges, and universities have
been reftted REBUILT and are now once more
| filed with the youth of the State, more studious
| THAI ever, and animated by the higher and holier
ambition Of new civilization, and brighter era.
| Even the Common School T. nd has been in part
recovered and re-dsdicated ~ the education of the
people forever. And the blind, the deaf and dumb,
scattered far and wide by the war; and rudely thrust
| out upon the cold charity Of the world, are being
recollected in their former homes and their hearts
sad at best being made happy under the foster
ing care and kind Offices of their mother State
+ And the footprints and fngeFmarks of war have
been efaced from our churches, and the affairs Of
God have been restored to their former places.
The grave wherein our Constitution and laws had
been buried, has been stricken by Freedom and sll
those statutes adapted to political testament
have come forth TO glorious resurrection leaving
behind them as dead beyond recall the laws anil
customs Of barbarian slavery. The Spiri. Of Liber-
ty alone came forth, bright snd beautiful as Truth;
but her half sister, the nag servitude st sleeps the
sleep of the grave and the only trumpet thas can
ever awaken her 70 life Is fast russing away IN the
cell of ignorance and prejudice.
The manhood and freedom Of the negro have been
recognized and laws have been made suitable TO
his new condition, and worthy Of the progress o.
the times. The coiored man has been gwen nl.
right in the Courts and new road to improvement
/ opened to him, Tho transition from slavery 20
| free dom, which many dreaded as difficult danger
Gus, and Of long delay, has been made easy SAFE
and spesdy both to the white snd the black
The aood of disloyalty, that at one time threat
enad To re-deluge our State, has been ensctually
stayed and the hat hm gone forth. THUS far shall
tho come and No fsr.her, and here shall thy proud
waves be STAYED. The traitor who sought 70 make
vet stronger the bonds Of slavery, and to build up
Ar empire on the shoulders Of the negro has been
stripDed Of his wicked and treaaonable power, aRd
in the eye OF the law stands on the same level as
bis former slave, political equsls, without vpte,
and without the right 10 hold Office or sit on Jury,
The poisonous fsngs Of the rebel have been broken
of and his venomous sting has been plncked out
80 that his copperhead hiss is all that is LEFT to
him.
And lastly, the State that had hitherto been re-
garded as subjngated territory, and the snd OF me
traitor, having made full atenemeat for ner slns
and made white her garments, has been resamlIeoe
to the society Of her loyal sisters snd DeeE restored
- an be frmar right snd privileges; while those
esst.s that seduced her from the patti OF loyalty
nd rectitude. are still outcasts and In dishonor
without rights and withont privileges aad criminals
in the eve Of the law.
- saeh L the past and present condition Of Ten
ncmes. Let pause here to ascertain who hss
been the chief actor IN this gigantic work Of social
political and financial prosperity Who was il that
saia g the aarkness eashroading US "Let there be
ngns Hnst one man more than any other hhs
have passed during the las. tive years. The heast
Of every loyal Tcnnssseesn responds quickly and !