Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-01

| earth. But statesmen or not they have do,,o a.
1 work OF statesmen, and have done il exceediuglv
1 we'll 8 y
They took hold Of the government, ,yban !, ,-..
very weak and under the greatest diecoura getents
The State was heavily in debt her credit zone and
the sources OF her revenue dried up Her lines of
railroad, built principally her credit, and relied
upon largely 10 sustain IT, were worn ont b, tbo
war and IN The hands of the military authorities.
Justice had closed her tribunal aud tile law of the
strongest was the law of the land RELIGION ha5
He'd from her altars, and the churches had been
turned into hospitals and barracks OF burned bv the
soldiers for fuel. Education had left the seats of
learning and the children were growing up unlet-
tered and ignorant. Friends, were tmid and few
foes many and bold. Where they had a right to
look fo5 support they found only too often cold in
difference or bitter opposition. One who should
have been nursing father an implacabe enc
my. Even here where they bosstfully said, surely
our friends will give us welcome, thew were kent
long waiting and in suspense, exposed to the eers
and taunts OF their adversaries, very CALLING and
hard 10 bear.
1t matters little TO me whether it be said that
these earnest and unpretending men were deficient
In sagaety to perceive these obstacles or that per-
ee:ving them they could not appreciate their ap-
palling magnitude. They addressed themselves
vigorously and patiently to overcoming them The
rebel debt, including every charge upon the State
by rebel authority, they rejected All other obli-
cations, however burdensome, we're assumed The
.
OF the debt proper was funded. Current and ac-
cruing interest was provided for and punctually
paid. They appealed TO the war-stricken people for
money, and they did not appeal in vain. They
smote the rock of public confidence and streams of
revenue gushed out. The railroad system, relieved
at length from military control was at great cost
revived and set running The courts we're reopen
ed and pleas, civil and criminal, every where en-
tertained. The churches and school bouses we're
rebuilt. Industry and private enterprise revived
Trade yielded anew its accustomed profits; labor
went no longer unrewarded; the plowman was
once more afeld, secure of reaping where he had
sown, and of eating of what he had reaped Friends
grew hopeful and confident foes became cautious
and respectful. Opposition in high places was si-
lent and here at last, they obtained the nuch-de-
sired and all-essential recognition not rendered
twice grateful surely, by being given quickly. Re-
member beseech you the great diseourageme nts
under which their work was carried on. Constant
ly assaled and rarely defendedi oppressed much
with that sickness Of heart which comes of hope
deferred; vexed with meanness, and falsehood, and
dishonesty, for which they were held responsible
but which they could not prevent beset on the one
hand by enthusiasts with novel and untried theo-
res, on the other by aatterors aiming at unworthy
ends, their was anything but path of delight.
Another source OF constant annoyance from
which their reputation abroad suffers TO this day,
was the tribe of hostile news mongers, continually
in venting facts 70 their prejudice, which they had
candid friends enough TO believe and bewail
But OF all plaques, good Heaven, thy wrath send,
Save, save me from the candid friend"
These were the men, such the surroundings, and
80 great the work--toto nolis eratthRt establish
cd the restored government of Tennessee upon the
two Cognate principles in civil matters tho equal
ity of all men before the law and in matters polit
ical, universal suffrage for loyal men.