Year: 1865

The National Bank System is believed
on many accounts to be Preferable
This would give US circulation current
all over the country, and subject our bank
ing to more correct principles of finance.
Other States are adopting the National
Banking system, and | recommend the
same to the Legislature of Tennessee
Such an institution could be used profita-
bly, as the fiscal agent of the State, and if
you can secure the means, one in each OF
the other grand divisions Of the State
would work to advantage.


ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.


The qualifications of voters, and other
limitations of the elective franchise have
been entrusted to you by the people =
This delicate responsibility will devolye
upon you a heavy task, aud merits your
whole.attention.s. That there should he
some a&litional limitations prescribed, I,
few will deny. Many persons in the
State, by every act of which they were
capable, have dislranchised themselves.
Probably hey neither expect nor desire
the privilege Of again voting, and would
not exercise it if granted them. Many
others have committed acts deserving dis.
franchisement, who nevertheless will re
sist it, and strive for every civil right they
enjoyed before the war, aud before trea-
sou had involved the State in so much
suffering. While ] would not recon-
mend you to give way te the impulse of
vengence any more than to the appeals of
sympathy and pity, | would urge vou to
guard the ballot-box faithfully and effect
ually against the approach of treason, no
matter in what character it may come
The loyal people Of the State, who sent
you here expect you to act deesively in
the matter. and to have no child's play in
determining the qualifications of voters.
This subject has been considered by sever
al Of our sister States, whose reform was
not any more loudly called than with us
1t is quite probable that this action and
its effects may assist you in deeiding
what to accept and what to avoid


+ * =


CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.


The duty devolves upon you at this
session, of electing two Senators to the
Congress of The United States, and of re-
districting the State, so as, without delay
to provide for the election of eight Rep
resentatives to the next Congress. 1t is
with profound regret that | have obser-
we'd several Republican journals aud some
leading politicians of ability and infu-
ence, are opposed to the admission of Sen
ators and Representatives from Tennes-
see. They take the ground that Che
State should be treated as a Tcrriio,y, and
continued under military government,
subject to the arbitrary orders of military
rule. If their dangerous and revolution
AIRY doctrine is adhered to by any con
siderable portions Of Senators aud Repre-
sentatives in Congress | shall for one,
dread the consequences. My confidence
in the wisdom and patriotism Of Senators
and Representatives, leads me to believe
i


they will discard, Indignantly, any such
proposition. The loyal people of Tennes-
see have resolued through the ballot-box
to rule themselves under the Federal
flag ; taking the ground that the State
has never been out of the Union, and
boldly denying that the unconstitutional
and reasonable acts of those in rebellion
ever carried them out of the Uuion.-
Besides, the Inauguration of the Vice
President from this State, and the with
drawal of Military Governor to give
| place to ciuil authority, fix the status OF
of Tennessee in the estimation of the
Federal authorities proper Aud to your
good sense and unyieIding frmness, l
submit this grave question, not doubling
that your action will be correct.


y
| CONCLUSION.


Having thus fully placed before you
the information requisite to epaale you
to judge of the condition of the state
the evils which environ us, and the meas
ures Of Legislation needed for avertIng
them, and ridding ourselves of them, it
remains for me but to invoke yoar atten.
tion to the consideration of those means
by which, above all others we may hope
to restore order and prosperity to to our
| ooudtrv And If ona ha tnora ,,rouinant