Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-11
GOYERNOR,s MESSAGE

Brownlow was communicated to Ii
: Senate at noon yesterday. Five thou
sand copies were ordered printed, an
the several divisions of the documea
referred to proper committees for turtle
consideration
GeatIenen Of the Senate and House of Rep
Teseatdtiges:
1 congratulate you and the whole countr
upon the gratifying result of the late Presiden
tial election, which has terminated in the ele
yatiOn of General Grant and Hon. Sehuyle
Coltax to the highest official stations in the gift
of the American people.
The result is especially satisfactory in view o
\ the circumstances attending. and the principle!
| involved in the canvass now so happily closed
| The issues were clearly defined; they werC
| fairly and strongly brought before the American
| people, and they were pronounced upon with 8
degree of unanimity seldom. if ever before
| witnessed in our national history.
| 1t is unnecessary to report them IN this con
neetiOn further than to say that they show a
Just appreciation OF the invaluable services ren-
General now elected Chief Magistrate of the
Republic they also display confidence in his
integrity and ability, which l cannot for q
moment allow myself to believe misplaced.
They declare. moreover. most unmistakably,
| that the American people will sustain at the
| polls by the bRIlot-as they INDICATED, tri-
umphantly. in the ield-the principles of 10y
atty, and the men who adhere to them. In
other words, sthat only thoroughly loyal men
shall administer the government Ofthese United
States, and that in such ADMINISTRATION. as well
| as among those of unofficial station, loyal men,
white and black, North and south, East and
/ West, shall be protected.
| The late election is the most emphaticaIIy pro-
| nOunced judgment of the American people ever
| given, of the fundamental principles underly-
| ing our whole political fabric. and contained in
the immortal Declaration of l776. As such,
| also, 1t vindicates the policy of the State ad-
| ministration of Tennessee during the last four
/ years.
| Perhaps never before. in the entire existence
Of the National GOYernment-2Ow nearly one
| hundred years-has there been displayed an
| equal measure of vituperatiOn, inscriptions
falsehood, and reckless allegations as have been
| leveled against the successful candidates; a
most melancholy proof. this Of the utter de-
| generacy and corruption of that party which,
| after lnstigating rebellion and aiding and abet
ting 1t during its progress after its utter defeat
| gathered up its scattered fragments and ad-
herents and sought to invest itself with the full
sanctions and powers of the government il had
vainly sought to destroy. Fortunately for our
future as a people, and creditably for our re-
cord in history, the utter and overwhelming
| and dishonorable defeat and overthrow of that
party are accomplished by the intelligent en-
ergy, the incorruptible virtue, and the free un-
swayed, unpurchased suffrage of American cit
Zens.
Another special occasion for Generalization
| is found in the abundant fsvors with which a
benefcent Providence has crowned the year.
GOodly harvests have requited the husband
man. Sickness and wasting and mildew have
been turned aside. God has graciously ex-
empted Us from the pestilence that walketh in
darkness and the destruction that Wasteth at
MONDAY" Plentiful rewards have comDeR-
stated honest industry, and general thrift and
prosperity have attended our felloW-citizens.
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
The six railroads in the hands of Receivers
are indebted to the State on interest account,
A1a Tulv 12nR Tni1linD brn ~
twenty thousand nine hundred and ninety-siX
dollars and eighty-six cents. The interest of
these roads as well as that of the State requires
that they shall be sold, and the proceeds thereof
be applied to the reduction Of the State debt,
would have seized two other roads for fail
ure to pay the July interest, and placed them in
the hands of Receivers, but that had learned
by experience that to do so would only entail
increased burdens upon the State Treasury.
recommend that no more appropriations be
made to railroads, except in those cases where
the State has large interest in said roads and
would suffer heavy loss on account of the lack
Of such appropriations Of this class are the
roads running out, north and south, from Knox
vile, and the one extendingisouth from Morris
town: and, also, the read OF which Hon. Sena-
tor Parker is President, These roads, in order
to become profitable and productive to the
State, will require enough additional appro-
priations to enable them to complete their
lines, SO as to connect with other roads now in
process of construction. | propose, however
10 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 ask
ing for authority to issue second mortgage
bonds, with a view of exchanging them for
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 a burden Of
several million dollars of debt now resting
upon 1t.
lyisa ify Cd nv ha
ment of the large debts now due from the roads
alluded 10, and the sale of the roads already in
the hands Of Receivers. would reduce the States
liabilities at least one-thiTd.
This plan. il il seen, would enable the Cen
eral Assembly not only to reduce materially the
States liabilities, but also 10 render necessary
additional aid to the roads whose completion is
demanded BY considerations Of public economy.
Several Of the railroad companies have I'M
settled accounts with the Sinking Fund. the
State being indebted to them and they being
indebted to the State. 1t is important that an
early settlement 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 railroads.
Since the adjournment Of your extraordinary
session, the Comptroller has visited New York
and made satisfactory arrangements for the pay
ment of the July interest. This fact, together
with the result of the late State and Presiden.
tial elections. has induced an appreciation of
our State bonds and material depreciation in
the price of gold.
The occasion serves to allude to the gratifying
fact that, financially and otherwise, Tennessee
occupies q far more desirable condition than
any of the States recently in rebellion. Thus
the policy of reconstruction maintained by the
Union Republican party of Tennessee finds
ample and triumphant YIndicatiOn by its
achievements among US; and thus, also. the
path of our future growing prosperity is traced
for US by the history of the last four years. We
have only to follow up with steady nerve and
untstering step the policy thus far successful to
assure to this great Commonwealth that degree
of thrift, wealth and power to which cur natu-
raj position, our bOundleSs resources and our
euterprising population so eminently entitle US.
THE BANK OF TENNESSEE.
This institution has been in the hands of
officers appointed by the authority of the Gen.
eral Assembly for three years past, with view
to having its affairs wound up and its effects
made available to the resources of the State. l
am unable to state the condition of its affairs or
what progress has been made in the direction
proposed. have seen from time to time, as
you also have, the report Of its President l
have no other complaints to make against its
officers, than to express my regrets at the slow
ness of its movements towards the conclusion
desired; and recommend that measures be
adopted to wind it up forthwith.
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 Constitution of the State, are
deprived thereof. Not unlikely, the attempt
will be renewed, and enforced, during your
There should be a discrimination exercised
concerning those who were in rebellion. They
are not all alike culpable for the past, nor I'M
trustworthy for the future. For those who were
involuntarily drawn into the service OfTebelhon,
and who, since its utter failure. have given evil
dence that they accept the result 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 invested with the rights
nf oitignpg-fOr 1igfranphIeod of This de-
scriptiOn. the franchise might safely, and there
fore wisely, be extended. The extension should,
however, be applied with suitable guards and
checks. that advantage could not be taken of its
liberality, to the danger and harm of the State
As to the other class of Rebels who entered
into it voluntarily, and continued in it from
choice until their arms were wrenched 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 tomented violence Fnd
lawessness; who have melted to public disquiet
and restiveues5 the question of their restOra-
tioD to full civil rights, is very different If the
time should ever come when they should be
thus restored, 1 submit that it would probably
be when the last dollar of the national debt in
cured in suppreSsing the rebellion has been
paid, and when these unrepentant, unrecOn-
structed Rebels had restored to the ballOt-box
the half million loyal voters who now sleep in
premature graves.
These suggestions ara made in no Yindictive,
implacable hostility to these persons as men.
They spring from considerations affecting the
public welfare-the peace, stability and honor
of the State and Nation. Withholding the
franchise from persons who have proved by
four years of bloody resistance against the Gov
eminent. and by four years of uncured hate
against it and its defenders, is to be regarded,
not so much as "a punishment, as 1t Is wise
and necessary preeaution for the safety and
welfare of our civil institutions.
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
The noble public charity known as tho Hospi-
tai for the Insane, located in this vicinity, has
done much for the relief of the unfortunate
1t has deservedly received large assistance from
the State.