Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-10-11
INAUGURATION DAY.
Retiring Speech Of Ex-Governor
senttr---!nauguraI of Gov
ernOr BrOWH.
Special to the APPEAL l

srnOr BrOWH.
Special to the APPEAL
NASHVILLE, October l0.-At II 80 thu
Senate entered and took their seats il
front Of the Speakers rostrum. soor
after the Governor entered, conducted BY
the Speakers of both Houses, the band
playing Hail to the Chief" After pray.
or by Rev. Mr.. Hoyt, Mr.. senter said:
Gentlemen Of the Convention: am mere
to day TO return to you, and through ycu "a
the people of Tennessee that trust which
two years ago they confided to my hands;
You, gentlemen Of the convention, are
here to receive that trust, for yourselves
and for your people, and to bestoW it upon
one who stands worthy and well ep-
proved by the oeople as my successor
John c. Brown, of the county OF Giles, fan
plause. might enter into a review OF the
past-might propose to render to you an
account of my stewardship during the
time which that trust has been in NV
hands, bat for this l shall refer you to
your very efficient officers to whom the
most of labor and the most of good
II any has grown from my administration,
belongs, to your very efficienticomptroller'
secretary of state and otner officers having
| chsrge of the affairs of the State. / might
| review this, but shall not. will say at
once, and frankly, that have not bsen
the originator of any great scheme to for
ward your financial interests. Your finsn-
cial burden has been reduced nearly one
half have not been the originator OF
any great party scheme that NAV have
been set on foot, or forwarded any party
or set of principles; but viii say, and It
is the proudest thought Of nay life, thst no
~ ts-fr afr,a y
bosom in Tennessee. CApplsuse.1 Nv
whole effort has been, and shall continue
to be in the private walks of life, to bring
peace to the borders Of my native State, to
heal the past, and to have but one thought.
and that is to look forward to the future.
[Applsuse.
now assembled at the capital OF the State
to take in hand the interests of the people
of the Ssste Much rests with you.
shall be brief, and only ssy that hope
thstSustice may preside over, wisdom die
tate and moderation mark your counsels.
l shall retire to private life, and, as when
your executive, my effort shall be to see
the laws Of Tennessee maintained, and to
hold up the hands Of y0SE executive in
discharge each and every one OF his du-
ties. This duty is the high, grsst duty
Of every man who is g lover of free insti-
tutions and a republican government
But enough. You, sir turning to Coy
ernor Brownl who are about to enter
upon this high duty-one that will in
vOlve many troubles, cares and trials. As
well as honors OF that mantle with which
the people are about to clothe you-you
shall have my well wishes as q citizen.
and hope that your administration will |
be marked as peaceful and prosperous and |
hsppy as the people vino elected you de- |
serve. [Cheers
IRE bard then played "Hsil, Column
bis." Governor Brown said:
sFeLl0a0- Cttize1S of the Senate and House |
of RepT eSentGtiUes: The proud Common
wealth whose affairs have been called to |
administer by the voice of unrestricted |
suffrage, boasts in her history the names |
OF executive officers 50 eminent and Illus |
trious that l can promise only to initiate |
their virtues and emulate their fidelity. |
Did not see around me so many Of the /
co-ordinats branch of government whose /
sntecedents, and whose intelligence give
ample assurance OF hearty cooperation /
in all measures calculated to sdvsnce the
prosperity OF the State, should despair
of being equal to the emergency. (Ap-
plause.) The responsibility 1 am about
assuming is much enhanced by financial
Of the State. The impoY-
erished condition of her people.
{ A eessssion of hostilities
found the civil government of Tennessee
in the hands Of q mesgre minority. Tbs
ballot was denied to freemen, and suffrage
was extended as merely vensl consider
alton In exchange for partisan feslty.
without regard to the sntecedents OF the
voter. The military power, at an enor-
nous cost, psrpetusted this outrage upon
liberty, and hnshed the pof=sar voice.
The public debt, in the short period of
four years sWelled from sixteen to forty
two millions of dollars. Violent partizsns,
aided by q swarm Of nomadic adVentur.
ers, squandered the revenues unjustly
extorted from captive people, rrostrated
our credit in the money markets Of the
world, and inaugurGted a carnival of
crime unheard of in the annals of the
State, for which thsy, not We, are respon-
sible. The sceptre at leagth passed from
their hsnds, and peace again reigned
over q blight d country.
Two years of conservative legislation
and wise. administration hsve done much
10 restore confidence and repair wrongs.
Much more yet remains to be done
Among the most pressing and important
Of our duties to be discharged, under cir
Of peculiar difficulty, Is TO
preserve the grand faith Of our state, by
placing her credit upon permanent Ia
sis, and at the same time relieve, if posi-
bic, the burdens of taxation. II we can
policy by which these most
ends can be obtained, we will
preserve the honor Of the State and con-
Ter upon the people blessings thss |
will secure their lasting gratitude.
believe this can be done. Wis
dom will accomplish 1t. lApplsuss ] |
Needless alike Of the clSmors OF
creditors or the willy opportunities Ofspec-
alstors, let us keep steadily in view the
Of the State on one hand, and on
.he other the prosperitysof our people,
w DaT,r ~ loa in hsar Errn | !
position on the roll Of States, giving her 3
new impetus In her career of glory, that
vii! attract hi5her the capital and labor |
.has will develop her many aud varied
resources. Thus, IN the early future, she
may become what she ought TO be, great
state of American sisterhood. The new
under which you have been
elected and organized with whatever COCO
Or evil 1t may contain, was oyerwhelm-
ngly adopted by the people. A pernicious
OF the times is to centralizs all
power IN the legislative department in
iuced the trainers of that instrument,
among other things, to curtail many
prerogatives heretofore conceded 70 that
branch Of our government. 1t VIII there
fore be your province 70 sdspt our Iegls-
lstion to that organic law. In the dis
charge of the duty imposed upon me, l
shall endesvor to aid you with such r.
formation ss / can obtain, and by such
recommendations as my convictions of
The public welfare may dictate. zap
plsuse1 OF this be assured, ] shall use
svery means st my disposal to execute
your will Is declared In your deliberate
acts, without fear or favor. The law must
be respected. Crime must and shall pe
detected and punished, so far as my fs-
cilities are furnished by legislation. Ap-
olause.l We have served our political
and while the experiences OF the
past are bitter, yet the pictures otothe
future are not dark. The growing pros |
,ongrstulation, and the energies of every
branch are quickened into new
life, and the diversified sources Of wealth
are daily manifesting themselves, and are
being developed with advancing enter
prise and intelligence. The bright face OF
hope peers out from the breaking clouds
and white peace casts her soft shadows
upon our footprints Of wsr. With the re-
,itsl of our wrongs let US forget them, and
bury forever the accFimonies they have
Let US shape our policy not
70 much to censure or to Justify the past
IS to improve the present, and secure the
luture. Although success has overwhelm-
ngly crowned the united efforts OF the
people of Tennessee in the first political
struggle, after the restoration of the
ballot, and yet the fruits Of that
victory that may lose II we are not
harmonious. Sentiment, united In pur-
pose, impatisnce of some, disssPpoint-
nent of others, will now and then dis
.ract our counsels, and threaten our
integrity, but let us stand firmly by prin-
,iple, preserve our organization and await
patiently great developments in the fu-
lure, with confident hope OF the speedy
of constitutional liberty TO
American people; and may the Supreme
Ruler Of all things direct our counsels
10 wise ana harmonious results" ZAP
plause.1
Judge Turney administered the oath of
cffices After prayer by the Rev. DR.. Sum-
mara the convention adfOuruad A lergo