The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1869-02-26
Let US have Peace. Gen y. s,GnASr
Tennessee Legislature.

VIVA. - ..
This body will probably terminate its la
kors on Monday next. This is its last re-
Kular session, and all its acts have glidsd in
to the history Of the State. Being the chosen
Custo1iaus of the public interests, the peo-
pie and the press have right to critically
review the course Of It's members, and being
their creatures and servants, TO PAsS judg-
mont upon them.
We do not assert, that every measure that
las ran the gauntlet Of the "thrss readings
has been attended With sslutary and promo
tire results, for these legislators do not enjoy
an immunity from human fallibiliies and
lh~ortsiRhtedEess To expect such a thing
would not DO unlike the extreme Absurdity Of
insisting that q phenomenon is not a defsc-
tion from the established laws Of nature.
But the history of this Legislature readers
gu. assertion irrefatablS, that no represents
tive assembly, not even 10 the days when
the standard Of political probity and virtue
was determined by the highest moral sense,
ever convened, setus,sd BY aims higher, mo-
tiTsS purer, ambitions nobler, aud a zeal more
diSinterested and unselfsh. Acting under the
profOundest Impressions of responsibility
and obligation, they have made the popular
wants and disadvantages q study, and TO sup
ply and remove these, 9 deliberate Judgment
And sound discretion have been invoked to
their aid. LsgislAting for a million Of people
under the sacred soltmnity aud sanction OF
an oath, duty and principle have been their
teacher and guide. Difficulties lowered on
every side aud frowned Ssvagsly upon them.
There we're dangerous foes to the State gov
ernmsns withia and without ComnsreS bad
'just began to revive from the dsath-wouud
Of war, the treasury was unrsplsuiShsd, our
credit a bye.word IN the monetary world, a
large portion Of our fruitful sol. f%cnes!sSs and
without a tiller, our seats Of learning still
dreary in thei, deJertion and unbroken %silencI,
gloom, dipsatisrActiOn aud uncertainty per-
vadinE every community, and to add 10 this
concurrence Of miJfortunss, the civil power
was unable to arrest the progress Of crime,
riotihg upon life and property. These smer-
Esneies had been partially met, it ia true, by
the previous LrgislSture, but the fallen Struc-
ture had, BY no means, been rebuilt. Ten
neBses, Ihoagh restored 10 the UIiOn, was
aot reconstructed. The work was still in
complete. To enlist suecor from abroad, to
provide Internal safety, and especially to qusll
the fell spirit Of rebellion, vshting sasv
It's Virulenre, demanded judieiOus states
maush!P sud courageous legislation. These
pat:iOis transformed the Capitol into a eitA-
del. aud rebels, uaddsnsd BY defeat aHd their
exclusion from power, with all their vsunted
influence, intelligence and wealth, could not
force a single bulWark. Amid the gathering
storm, these true men stood like 60 many
forest oaks, bidding defiance to itS fury. A
loyal press supported them with its BriArssn
urmL. Every freeman in the STATE owes his
hbsrtisi and safety to these fAithful repre-
IsniAlivss. Ths recent Developments Ia re-
gard 70 the School Fund EmbeIElsmsnt have
been made an occasion foi foul and maliE-
haui asPsrSiOns uPon the whols body. Such
attacks are unjust and uugeuerous. They
viii rseoil. History aud time will vindieAts
The hoaesiy, patriotism and efficiency OF the
PrsSsnt Legislature, and with that they
should be eosisnt.