Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-10-09
THE KNOXVILLE WHIG
Knoxville, Tenn. October 9, 1867.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
BY BRowNLow & HAws
Geatleo,ea Of the Senate

Gentlemen Of the Senate
and Of the House d Representatives.
Having assembled in this Capitol to perform the
grave and responsible duties of legissting for the
public welfare, it is proper that we should, with
united voice and heart invoke the blessing Of the
Great Source Of all good and knowledge, and ask
bis direction in all our deliberations. In commu-
nicsting with you by Message, required by the
Constitution the condition of the State and in re-
commanding such measures may be deemed ex-
pedient acknowledge, with feelings of profound
gratitude the blessings vouchsafed 10 lis BY the
Great Ruler Of the Universe in the auspiGioUs con-
dition Of our State and country, and the measure
q health and prosperity which has marked the
year, rapidly closing out.
No people have greater reason to be thankful 10
an overriding Providence for the blessings Of the
year drawing 10 a close than the people Of our own
State While pestilence hiss been abro%3 in the
land, we have enjoyed health in unusual degree;
the earth has yielded plentiful harvest; the signs
Of the deyastations Of the fast disappearing
before The renewed energy and enterpride of our
people, business is prospering, Of every kind; indi
cations Of Improvement and progress are to be seen
IN every section Of the State our Bonds sovsn-
ciHg in value credit is steadily Improving and
ci enterprise, skill and means are preparing 10
come 10 State, and cast their lots with us-en-
outraged to do so BY our having settbsd eur polit
cal strife. repeat the condition Of the State,
whole is very gratifying TO the friends of law and
order and it is hoped that the disturbances in few
localities viii cease at sn early day.
You have met under circumstances far more IA
v0rable than those that surrounded the meeting of
your predecessors. The that then ragged gave
wsv before the arms Of the nation. The August
Power that hss made himself known to man as the
arbiter Of battles interfered between the Govern
nent and its attempted overthrow. The desolEtion
that followed in the track Of hostile armies has been
in a good degree, repaired. An unuAuAl display of
industry among all classes Of the people attended
By commendable thrift and economy and rewarded
by two bountifu harvests has restored many Of the
comforts of life enjoyed before the rebellion And
above all, the general health that has prevailed
throughout the State especially during the past sea-
son, has crowned our blessings and given US cause
for gratitude 70 God for what we enjoy, and has
done much TO obliterate the memory OF what we
have suffered.
Our State Government, then in the first stage Of
Us restoration has become firmly established by the
three-fod influences of time Congressional reeog-
milton and popular ratification Time has been its
constant ally in demonstrating the falsehood and
the dishonesty, well the wicked designs, Of its
enemies Unrecognizod by Congress- 1t would have
lacked the sanction Of law, and been, at the most
Government in fact. The recognition, by Joint
Resolution Of Congress, approved the oath Of July,
1896, operated by relation, TO give 1t and its acts
legal validity from The beginning But far tho
most effective action in its behalf was the decision
bv tho people at the election in August last. Du-
ring the canvass which proceeded, it was subjected
10 the severest possible strain In addition to the
most searching criticism upon all its measures and
tho harEhest anluaQNefhtOu hti SouHeCbou VIII
either the Legislative Executive, or the Judiciary
DEPARTMENTS there YVES the same element of hostil-
ity which in 1861 broke out into fragrant rebellion
less open and pronounced, indeed, but none the
less bitter and determined. The same men-stung
10 madness bv the utter defeat OF their cause rein
forced bv Others who had moro recently, from time
20 time ioined them under the stimulus OF disap-
pointed or an awakened ambition moved by sym
pathy with rebel kindred and friends, or angry by
reason Of slaves .emancipated and enfranchised as
F,- or11nn rala vndt
efforts to effect the revolutionary subversion of the
Government 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 punishment but has permitted TO re
srro ifz -pechinafions cf treason. And L am cOm-
,as1 % add that this support was not limited 70 the
pres. % this State. The rebel snd the so.c2lled
Conservative papers, Rnd the entire DemocrGtp
press of the country, waged relentless war upon the
State Government. A large corps Of newspaper
correspondents traverssd the land and studiously
msrepresented every occurrence OF the canvass, hs
well As the general questions involved in the strug
rlp We lacked neither unscrupuious enemies &
concoct falsehoods candid friends 10 lend them
an easy credence and 10 deplore lack of discre
tion Yet against these adverse influences, after q
most thorough and exhaustive discussion before the
poople thew have sustained the Government By
maiorities approaching TO unRnlmity. recall
vour attention TO these facts mot for partisan pur
poses nor in a spirit Of eIutation, but as basil
for o,l4 future action in executing the popular viii
Your predecessors took the Government IS an ex
ueriment vou end il an establishment They adopt
ed measures TO set it in motion, your measures vii
look to a wise and benedoent administration.
was theirs to build the machinery it is yours Z
keep it in good running order
FKDERAL RELATIONS.
Our external relations are mainly and for pres
ent inquiry entirely with the Federal Government;
and am happy 70 inform you that they continu
most amcable and harmonious. From The begin
ming, We have been sustained by the military az
thortes of the nation in keeping the peace and e1
ecutng the laws in localities where the war sfte
sabsiding, had left elements Of disturbance. You
predecessors thought proper 10 provide small mi
htia force 20 be used in aid Of the civil law and a
part of it, when the civil law, unaided nigh
prove incapable Of dealing with It's violstors. Ap
plication was made TO Congress for arms and equip
ments, which were cheerfuliy granted by that body
And take pleasure in bearing testimony TO N
promptitude with which their action wss carrie.
INTO effect by The then Secretary Of War. Mucl
saxiety felt in anticipation Of disorders on tn
da5 of election. Major General George ii. Thom
as, IN command Of the Department, co-operateC
With General Joseph A. Cooper in command O
the militia so eGectually that, with few marked
exceptions, the peace was preserved and the best Q
order maintained al over the State. With thes
exceptions there has never been SO quiet sn cleo
ton in the State OF one that evinced more forbear
ance and sel-control on the part Of our citizens.
Election or UNITED STATES SENATOR.
by the act Of Congress Of the 25th Of July, ls6'
d is made your duty, on the second Tuesday OF you
meeting and organization, to elect Senator Of th
nited States TO succeed Mr.. Patterson whose teri
will expire on the Sd Of March, 1859
ELECTION OF REPREsESTATIvEs To ooNaR Ess.
Recent legislation by Congress seems Ia make dc
sirabe a change in the time Of eleotinO Rorrosents
tiyes The official term OF a member Of cono-es
begins on the Ith Of March and continues two ,ss-
and no longer. II 3 successor hss not been eIsc,s
the seat is then vacant Our practice in this So,
has been 10 elect on the first Thursday Of Aps,'
succeeding the close Of the preceding term IN
consequence has been that between the 4th of Marc
and the FIRST Thursday Of August we had no repr
sentative The Constitution Of the United Stat
requires Congress to assemble al least once eve
year, and such meeting shail be on the first Monds
OF December, unless they shell by law appoint d
ferent day. So long as this provision remain
unaltered we experienced no inconvenience, 4
exceut in the rare instance Of an extraordinary se
sion Congress never assembled until the lrst No
dav of December succeeding our August election
3y a recent act the I'D Of January 1867 ca
Congress is required 70 meet on tho 4th Of Marc
The first dav Of is official existence. Under q
law, the 40th Congress assembled and organized
She 4th Of March last and held two sessions prior
our election in August, AZ which this State Nss u
represented. The Importance of having membe
present 70 assist in the organization Of legisati
body and 10 take their appropriate place upon q
different committees, Is one that you are not like
70 oVef-eEtmate
IN view, therefore Of this state Of facts, recon
mend that yon change the time Of holding the Col