Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-03
Claytoa's Message.

One could scarcely cosceive Of q more
iOcOngruoUs collection Of what purports
TO be facts and figures than Clsyton's
late message. He SETS forth in tAst docu.
ment that assassination prevails through
out the State, snd bands Of desperate
men, seeing the unsettled condition Of
affairs, are coming in from Texas and
Louisiana and then ssseSts, almost in
the same breath, that the present is the
most fruitful year since the war, and Is
thankful to a kind PcOvidsGcs for q
OCuntiful harvest. He enumerates a long
and fIightful list OF victims Of the sssas-
SINS bullet, and refers to the very pros
porous condition OF our finances, and
and says that our State paper never stood
so high in the market as ECw. He al
tempts IN justify his course in proclaim
ing martial lsw in eleven counties, and
promises "sn the power at hjs COM
msnd," ard "sll his energy" 10 put
down the spirit of rsEeliicu,U snd
pirates about the success OF the free school
system considering The short time it has
been 10 operation, speaks eucOuragiDgly
Of the construction Of railroads, the in
fax OF immigration, and the develop
ment Cf cur vast resources. He invOkes
the blessings Of Almighty God on bis
efforts TO secure peace and p=rmsDebcy,
and recommends the Assembly TO pro-
cure arms for the militia at once for the
protection of :" the people," giving The
confident assurance that il will respond
TO = man. II must certainly seem very
strange 10 one not conversant with the
condition Of affairs IN our State tina. such
q bloody revolution should be going on,
men shot down like dogs by Hundreds,
armed expeditions sent out, and q quarter
OF the State actually under martial law,
while the arts OF peace are yielding 80
b UntifGlly, and our financial condition
and future promise are go eminenlly
gratifying. The whole affair is q weak
and silly attempt to awaken the worst
passions Of the aggressive party wjsh
view 60 make them unit tn support OF
executive violence, and 10 brOwbsat and
intimid8te those who may chance TO fear
" al the power at his (the G0veruor's)
command" and all the energy be
possesses. ="
Aside nom these features which will
be feuad to run through the entire dOeu-
ment, there is nothing TO commend it
either for ability or enlightened states
msnship. The funding Of the State debt,
amounting TO 81 993, SOB IA, is touched
upon, but The 5OssEaOr has been " too
much occupied to offer s2y practical
suggestions as to the most judicioGs naeEns
Of accomplishing that end. He recon-
mends the appointment Of q mmission-
er to confer with the bond-hOldeTs, and
wants the Assembly to do something
shout the matter generally. The reports
of the school commissioner, the internal
Improvement commissioner, the regency
OF the Blind Asylum, elc, are referred
to, and the Assembly is respectfully
recon mendsd" T" to adopt the suggestions
therein contained. IN word the scope
Of executive wisdom and tbs integrity OF
bis purposes, backed by fall tho energy
he possesses" culmiDRte in feryently
expressed desire for the improvement OF
our credit, and putting the militia on the
war path promptly. BE wants % 600
negroes armed TO protect 40 coo white
men end their families in order 20 pro-
mote future peace, quiet and perms-
uency.