Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-29
WHAT BROWNLOW'S MESSAGE
MEANS

We suppose there is very little disaP-
PointInent at the character Of the message
Coy, Brownlow sept to the Legislature yes
terday. II is not possible for a man of his
bitter vindictiye feelings to make an APP
preach 10 anything like the dignity Of
statesmahshiP. Il would have been sur
prising, indeed, e he had treated the mat
tiers 10 which he directs the attention Of
the Legislature with the serious dignity
which their importance demands Ac-
cording 10 the Governor, we have arrived
At a period in our history when the peace
and quiet of the State is seriously threat
ened. lie asserts as fact Chat all through
Middle and West Tennessee armed bodies
of men are committing crimes against the
peace and dignity of the State, and that
the civil authorities are either afraid or 10
competent TO take the proper steps to pot
down these riotous proceedings. lie
called upon General Thomas for troops
10 do the work which his civil oficers,
Partisans Of his own political faith, had
thus failed to do, but the General
found very convenient excuse to re-
fuse to send the troops; and in a rather
quiet way reminded the Governor chat the
Legislature of Tennessee had clothed him
with ample power 20 meet just such an
emergency rs he had depicted a. prevail
ing in this State This was a severe rap
over The knuckles, and the Governor felt
aud squirmed under, as there is every
reason to believe. The Governor tells the
Legislature that deplorable state Of at.
fairs exists in portions of Middle and West
Tennessee, bat says nothing of loyal"
East Tennessee, where Gen. Thomas has
been compelled TO send troops Ito assistthe
United States officers in-collecting the rev
enue.' There must be some cause for this
terrible condition Of affairs, TO which the
Governor refers "a demanding Immediate
attention. Let IA look into this matter a |
little, la his message Of Oc1ober 8, 1865,
TO the Legislature, the Governor said
"Under The working Of most excellent |
and necessary Law, passed at your spring |
session, known as the franchise act we |
have held Congressional elections in the /
eight districts OF the State, and have elected /
eight Representatives the next Congress Of /
the United States. As "A general dining
the election psssed of quietly, with here
aRd there exceptions, and war characterized
by much better behavior than was anticf
pated. = The authority of the
Constitution aud laws OF the United Statas
and OF the State Of Tennessee has now ex-
tended over almost every county in the
State; the machinery of civil government
i VoTldng we'll, except in few Instances,
and il affords me great pleasure 20 say that !
Dur people are rapidly recovering from the
effects Of insurreCtion, while prosperity is
DrOmised in every session. = The
losing Of the war ahd disbandiBg OF the
Rebel armies reiNrnE thousands of men 10
'iyil life, and distributes them among the
Tarious cOU.ities OF tho STAT. How ara
hose mon 10 lie treated Are they 10
make good citizens 81 disContented sub
ecis Are the wounds made by the war
yer 10 IN healed? These are weighty !
InestiOns. taking the place Of those that
ngrussed our attention daring the war. IL
; not our policy OF Interest 20 treat OPP
ressiyely the thousands who fought
rayely IN bad cause, provided they vet
$ becOmes their circumstances. z .rfg# !
Hem We have the testimony Of the Gov
rnor ~ to the peaceful character and dis
osition Of the returned 4" Rebels." Quiet
signed throughout the Stale six months
ter The inauguration Of the present Stale
,vsrnmeni and the close az the war, even !
lder the operation Of the franchise Law
nich excluded so large proportion from
e ballot-box. How did these Rebels" :
ntinue To act, as became ihsar circum- I
nces2 In HE message Of NoNsmber 6 {