The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-11-20
Extracts from Governor Brown
.. lows Message.

lows Message.
We extract SO much of Governor
Brownlow's Message to the General
Assembly as we deem of public iinpor-
tance: .
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
The six railroads in the hands Of Re-
ceivers are indebted to the State. on in
terest account, due July l, 1868, one
million one hundred and twenty thou
sand nine hundred and ninety-six dol
lars and eighty-six cents. The interest
State, require that they be sold, and the
proceeds thereof be applied to the re-
duction of the State debt.
would have seized the two other
roads for failure to pay the July inter-
est, and placed them in the hands of
Receivers, but that had learned by ex-
perience that to do so would only entail
increased burdens upon the State Trea-
sury.
recommend that no more appropria-
tons be made to railroads, except in
those cases where the State has large in
tercst in said roads, and would suffer
heavy loss on account of the lack of
such appropriations. or this class are
the roads running out, north and south
from Knoxville, and the one extending
south from Morristown: and, also, the
road of which Hon. Senator Parker is
President. These roads, in order to be-
come profitable and productive to the
State, will require enough additional
appropriations to enable them to COM
pcte their lines, so as to connect with
other roads now in process of construc-
ton. / propose, however. to meet
these demands in way not to increase
the liabilities of the State. The plan
is this:
Leading gentlemen connected with
important railroads largely indebted to
the State, are asking for authority to
issue second mortgage bonds, with a
view of exchanging them ior State
bonds thus purchasing State bonds by
the avails of these second mortgage
bonds, the debt now due by the State
would, in like amount, be transferred
to these railroad companies, and so the
State would be relieved of burden of
several million dollars of debt now rest
ing upon it.
regard this proposition with appro-
val, and advise its adoption by the As
semblv. The payment of large debts
now due from the roads alluded to, and
the sale of the roads already in the
hands of Receivers, would reduce the
State liabilities at least one-third.
This plan, it is seen, would enable
the General Assembly not only to re-
duce materially the States liabilities,
but also to render such necessary addi-
tional aid to the roads whose compile
ton is demanded by considerations of
public economy.
Several of the railroad companies
have unsettled accounts with the sink
ing fund, the State being indebted to
State. 1t is important that an early set
tsement of these accounts be had. ]
recommend, therefore, that the proper
action be had by your respective Houses
to procure the desired settlement with
the said roads.
Since the adjournment of your cx-
traordinary session. the Comptroller
has visited New York and made salts
factory arrangements for the payment
of the July interest. This fact, togcth-
er with the result of the late State and
Presidential elections, has induced an
appreciation Of our State bonds and a
material depreciation in the price OF
gold.
THE FRANCHISE.
Strenuous efforts were made at your
recent extraordinary session to induce
you to extend the franchise, and include
within it those who by the law and con-
stitution of the State are deprived there
of. Not unlikely the attempt will be
renewed and enforced during your pre-
sent meeting.
There should be discrimination ex-
ercised concerning those who were in
rebellion. They are not all alike cu1pa-
BILE for the past, nor untrustworthy for
the future. For those who were invol-
UNFAIRLY drawn into the service of re-
bellion, and who. since its utter failure,
have given evidence that they accept
the results in good faith that they are
good citizens, quiet and law-abiding
that they have strictly observed their
parole that they will not use political
power to prescribe and degrade those
whom the war has emancipated and in
vested with the rights of citizens for
disfranchised persons of this descrip-
ton the franchise might safely. and,
| lhtiCloic, "lsti. Dc CAlchucu. iic VA
tension should, however, be applied
with suitable guards and checks, that
advantage could not be taken of its lib
erality to the danger and harm of the
! State.
AS to the other class of rebels, who
entered into it voluntarily and contin-
ued it from choice until their arms
were wrcnchcd out of their hands, and
who, since the surrender, and in moral
violation of their parole, have contin-
ued to work for the lost cause; who
are restless agitators, who have foment-
ed violence and lawlessness, who have in
cited to public disquiet and restiveness,
the question of their restoration to full
civil rights, it is very different. If the
time should ever come when they
should be thus restored, l submit that ii
woulG probably be when the last dollar
Of the national debt incurred in sup
pressing the rebellion has been paid,
and when these unrepentant unrecon-
structed rebels had restored to the bal
lot-box the half million loyal voters
who now sleep in premature graves.
These suggestions are made in no
vindictive implacable hostility to these
persons as men. They spring from con-
| siderotions affactin0 the puhlic welfare