Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-10-16
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
7ofhe General assembly Of Ute stats Of Ten
npaSsc. ~ .r N' sd


n. in the history OF This noble State, It
could, ut one time more than another, be
proper that those to whcsn its people have
delegnted the soiefnu dihiea and powers OF
Government, should prayeriully and With
OF the Universe ftn' the blessings of wisdom
and His guidance in their consultations.
surely the present usscinbly of your hon
ornble body affords such occasion.
a nation which lnaugurated Its existence
through long and trying war for indie
pendence, and subsequently, vindicated It's
haps, the foremost European power, had,
In II pprisJd not unusual even 10 human
life, risen In majesty until the flag under
which It's existence was won, 6oated AT
the nitsts of her war-ships or commercial
vessels over every ses---a peer to the proud
est. by land. empire was extended from
ocean to ocean. Before the enterprise OF
her population forests fell, and In their
stead waved rirh fields OF food. Fertile
prairies yielded thoir abundance, and
mountains 81 ofe gave mp their wealth 10
industry. With n soil tile most marvellous
In richness, climate the most favorable to
bodily healtn and mensal Development;
noble rivers and inland lakes, and long
lines OF railway abounded to transport, Tor
uses of cuuimerce and consumption, the
vastest aud most varied production ever
brought forth by the Industry Of any ma
ton. H -h
But. wonderful ms oven these sources of
as was the honor of The nation, its crown
Ing virtue can only be mentioned in It's
system OF government. a government
upon the will OF the people-its workings
We're all for tie good of The people. IL it's
powers might not be defied with impunity
by the highest, yet the humblest never
knew oppression under them. III Its hand
of power was ever revealed, 1t was only for
the protection of its every citizen I'm his
every right. Subordinate sovereign mem
them, fosterrd and encouraged the union
of their sisterhood under the supreme
Government, as the sheet-anchor Of their
surety, aud surest means of their. honor
and welfare. Under their care thriving
systems promised the benefits ofeducation
to all; that, by the general Intelligence
and enlightenment ofthe people the bless
ings of the present might be perpetuated
to the generations to come. Nor had all
this national greatness ana honor been
achieved by any special part of the people
who enioyed IL. For as Its dement's, 50 we're
common to all the sections and people II
blessed. In Its winterclime and In Its land
of sun and flowers: in Its east and in its
and descendants of those whose VISION
In council and valor on field had secured
Its foundation. And, while with other ma
70 power ana nmsrIs as
there were with us few, yet living, who
had witnessed the natal day of this glo-
rious republic, and stood sponsors for IL
upon the battlc-fields where IL had been
baptised in blood to independence and ma
tionality.
Such was the condition of tn Is great land
What wonder II is honS s Was high among among
the nations and people OF the earth J
What wonder that the Oppressed OF every
land turned their eyes to 4, with longing
hearts for Its blessings! What wonder II
its people reverted government only felt
hy Them i'm the gentleness of loving kind
ness and as they rctrospected its glorious
past. contemplated its present power,
reckoned Its glory and grandeur to come,
should feel with eXulting hearts, that If
here there was not title ofrnobility to any,
all enjoyed the fullest substantial benefits,
and wore the proudest badge of nobility
who We're mantled In the dignity OF free
American citizenship. N-.t
But mysterious are the dispensations OF
Providence; and as n human being, let me
speak it-strnnge the courses and caprices
OF the human heart. In midst of all these
political blessings which, II would seem,
were sufficient to unite the hearts of all in
prayer for their continuance, with the sud
denness of u tropical storm, devastating
war, from where IL could he least expected,
was prec plated upon the land and u peo-
pie Kindred in blood, and to whom were
earnest purpose, were launched into
bloody collision, involving in its shock the
life of "a government which, in all its past
had lavished but blessings alike upon
those who battled for and against its exis-
tence. In what may be necessary allusion
to the past, II IL my earnest trust not to
open single wound which time may have
kindly tended to heal. Mention of the
bitter trial to the national existence liz only
made that we may, from Its sad memory
derive that wisdom which, diamond-like
bright and pure aud hard is taught by eX-
perience. Unneeded here to consider
causes. 1t may be the Divine Providence
Christening whom ii loved, permitted In
the suffering of n nation, and the blood OF
devoted men. In he written the great truth
that popular government possessed powers
to preserve safety to itself, limitless Us
those n exercised in contributing advan-
tages To its citizens. Sure IL is, that tliis
glorious republican nation. having nov
certified that which OF ii was most doubt
ful, stands 10 day before the world exalted
and with its grandeur enhanced by the ter
ribie ordeal through which ii has victo-
riOusly passed.
But, while We may rejoice in the nation,
safety, il must he mourned that where he
| fore was but affectionate confidence amonl
| q people identified by participation In the
| benefits of great and generous govern
ment, years OF contest left suspicion, ms
| trust and bitterness and with her children
divided and arrnyed in conflict agains
| each other, her territory alternately ira
versed by the contending armies, and Otter
| containing both these miSfOrtuncS, alas
were nowhere moro sadly developed thar
within the noble state you are now assem-
BLEED to serve. Four years ragged blood,
conflict In the land; but now, for an eQua
/
| perities and animosities IL engendered
| The eqrf~ ton is suspicious to what IL ex
pected vt your hands by trusting constit
iency. To veil "tne wrinkled front o
war, and, in its stead, supply the smiling
countenancc Of peace, to substitute recon
Citation and concord for ranking discon
tent aud antm3sity 70 secure, with a.
out distinction, impartial equality hefor
the law and in political privileges TO al
the people OF Tennessee. That, with unite'
L.
forward in all the moral, mental and ma
terial developments which tend TO eleyat
the citizen ami advantage the state.
As these are holy objects, 80 they ma,
wisdom, moderation and justice hand
joiued with charity. These, gentlemen, II
my humble Judgment VIII be the most ccr
tain, ifnot the only means To assure tn
ends so much to be priced; ends, the nc
complishment of which, I'm the high cree
of patriotism, sooner or later, IL destined
because demanded by the honor OF IN
state and the interests of the people.
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
Ofthe particular subjects to which fee
IL my boundcn duty to direct your ntten
ton IL the fact that while the property {
all the people is alike taxed for support Q
the Government, very large proportion
of them are withouta voice in the s',lectio
of the officers who either make, admins
ter or execute the laws by which they al
controlled. Necessity for this unhapp
condition, even IL II has been, time has re
vealed to no longer exist.
Reason, Justice and the nagnanlmou
spirit OF our law, which, though IL lnn
adopt punishment as means, nowheT
gives IL the dignity of an end, demnn
that those who are In quiet submission I
the Government without other interest
save such rs are In common with more IA
vorcd citizens, aud hearing equally thei
portion OF it's burdens should, without re
gard To auteeedcnts, have full and equa
! rights as citizens ofthe Government. fol
as atom of foreign substance testers IN tn
natural body, until expelled or appropri
; nted 10y absorption, so, while u large POI
: ton of the states population occupy tn
anomalous relations to IL of being com
pelled to all the duties and obligation
and are yet denied the rights and vilegt
of citizens, viii they, in their disconien
and restlcssneSs, foster as foreign sui
: stances In the body polite, until expeile
, or absorbed Expulsion is impracticabl'
: aS also inconsistent with the genius of
Government, whose capacity "a bcstow II
blessings Is increased in the proportio
that willing recipients of them are multi
nltal Wisdom. StutpSlnunSnip lRnu N