Year: 1866

of time the disfranehised class will become


good citizens by learning to respect loyalty,


YOU NAV fix limit to the operations Of the


law. by naming some day in the future when


its restriction shall wholly or partially cease:


At all events YOU should; before your final


adjournment. see, if possible, that the law IS


such as to need no further amendments.


THE THREATENED STATE REVOLUTION.


I have already alluded, with pleasure, to


the general disposition Of the masses OF our


people TO pursue their peaceful ayocauons


and but for the sad experience Of 1861, /
should feel no apprehensions that they could
be again BETRAYED into revolutionary NOV


ments. But, as what has happened once


NAV, from similar influences, occur again,
il is my duty 10 call your attention to the
fact that disloyal newspapers, together with
iNprincipled and designing stump speakers,
have been untiring in their efforts to set on
foot a scheme of State revolution. These
speakers and writers urge and predict the
overthrow of the State government and
some ofthem have fixed a limit, in days or
weeks, to its existence, declaring that the
work shall be done" Many ofthe delegates
returning from the great political conspira-
cy which assembled at Philadelphia, on the
I4th of August last, declaring publicly, and
at secret meetings Of their cliques, that they
had seen and conversed with the President,
and agreed with him upon programme for
the overthrow of the State Government. At
Knoxville these agitators were, for time,
and apparently determined.


At Nashville similar characters called
TO meet there for the avowed
purpose of initiating a revolution. Either
because the people of the State did not
with the movement, or because
they feared the displeasure Of the nation,
they postponed their meeting from time to
time, and finally gave it theappearance Of
common political gathering. 1t Is true that
these men are not the fighting men of the
late rebellion. They are, for most part,
those who, after encouraging the strife,
shirked out Of danger in order to look after
their pecuniary interests. And such would
doubtless be their course again if they could
succeed in involving the people in war. The
present cherished design Of these men is, by
force to prevent the enforcement of the ex-
sting franchise law, so as to secure for them
selves the control of the State government
1t the ensuing August elections. As they
declare that they are sustained in their de-
signs by the acting President Of the United
States, and as / have reason TO apprehend
that this latter declaration is true, l call up
On you to provide for any emergency that
may arise.


So far as my duties may be involved, l do
not intend TO tamely surrender to anilleglti-
innate State government, no matter by whose
it may be set on foot. But
as the arms of the State disappeared from
.he Capitol during the rebellion, and there
is no military organization anywhere in the
State, and no funds provided by express
for the defense of the lawful au-
horities, / call your attention TO this State
Of affairs, and to the present militia laws,
and invoke your prompt and fearless action.
recommend that you authorize the enlist
nent ola few regiments of loyal militia, to
be armed, and held as minute men, subject
70 the call of the Executive, to suppress in
or protect the ballot-box. If
provision be made, the Executive
pledges himself to see that the law is sus-
aimed, be the consequences what they may.


THE JUDICIARY.


At the risk Of being considered importu
late, | again call your attention TO the abb
olute necessity Of increasing the salaries of
,ur Judges. An enlightened and impartial
judiciary constitutes the bulwark of civil
liberty, and there never has been time in
he history Of the State when such judici-
Try was Of such vital importance. 1t is a
pleasing but shallow view Of the subject, to
ay that eminent lawyers should accept Judi
,ial positions and perform laborious and e1-
pensive duties for honor alone, or even from
patriotism. Those haleyon days, if they
ever existed, are past. II is true that in our
irst efforts to restore law and order, many
IF the best iurists in the State did tender
heir services and accept positions on the
bench. They were actuated by patriotic and
motives, and by the reason
lble hope that their salaries would be in
,reased, at least in proportion to their per-
ional expenses.


Disappointedin in this, and having done what
hev considered their share of the public
burden, many Of them have resigned, and
,thers have only been prevailed upon to
continue in office by the members of the bar
md their clients. In the exercise of the ap-
pointing power, have experienced the ut
most difficulty in finding suitable persons to
i'll vacancies as they have occurred nor will


say that | have always succeeded. Gen
lemen of the bar, while they admit that
hev owe something to the public service,
conceive that their families have a still high
n and stronger claim upon them. Nearly
III Of the Judges have long and fatiguing
ourneys and hard labor to perform, attend
d with heavy expenses and privations, and
or salary that is barely sufficient to detray
heir actual outlays, much less to compen-
ate them for losses of time and business.
As il is possible that most Of these Offices
will soon be filled by election, and as under
he Constitution, their salaries cannot be in
creased during the time for which they may
be elected, | once more, finally and earnest
Iv. invite your attention to this subject, in
yolving. as it does, the vital rights and in
lerests of every citizen Of the State.


THE HERMITAGE.


refer you to my former message and my
official report concerning that fine estate,
which is now the property of the State,
known as the Hermitage Farm" The
Legislature Of 1856, purchased this estate
out of respect to the memory of its former
illustrious owner, at the cost Of forty-eight
dollars, and incurred debt of that
amount by the issuance Of its bonds which
debt now amounts to about eighty thousand
dollars. Since the purchase, the interest Of
the State in the property has been wholly
neglected. The present occupants have en-
loved il without being called on for single
dollar. either for rents or repairs nor have
they volunteered to repair the dwelling,
fences, or even the tomb itself Il would
seem that the use of such magnificent es-
tate bv private individuals would compen-
safe them for keeping il, at least, in some
sort Of repair. But the entire property pre-
sents a dreary aspect Of dilapidation and
neglect As / do not understand it to have
been the object Of the purchase 70 establish
a State charity, | recommend the sale Of the
property as measure due TO the State, and
satisfactory TO the taxpayers and TO meet in
part the debt incurred in its purchase.


HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.


refer you to the report of the Superin-
tendent Of the Tennessee Hospital for the
insane. Under the efficient management Of
its present able officers. this noble institution
of charity proves 10 be an honor TO the State
and blessing 10 its unfortunate inmates. Ii
is proper that should call your attention to
the fact that there are at the institution a
number Of pay patients from the Southern
States, whose bills have not been met for four
or five years. The accounts Of the parties
who have placed these patients in the hospi-
tai, have been regularly made out and for
warded 10 them repeatedly. Some have re-
piled that they were unable 20 meet them,
while Others have treated these calls with
silent contempt The outstanding debt due
to this institution, in items Of this character,
now amounts to nearly $4,000. Many Of
IL.