Year: 1871




tive legislation and wise administration


have done much to restore confidence and


repair wrongs.


Much more vet remains 10 be done.


Among the most pressing and important OF


our duties to be discharged under circum-


stances of peculiar difficulty is TO preserve
the good faith of our State by placing her


credit upon permanent basis, and at the


same time relieve if possible the burdens


of taxation. If we can inaugIrate policy


by which these most desirable ends can be


attained, we will preserve the honor of the


State and confer upon the people a bless


ing that win secure to us their lasting graft


tude.


| believe il can be done. Wisdom in


counsel and boldness in action will accom-


plish it. Needless alike of the clamors of
creditors and the the willy opportunities of


spectators, let us keep steady in view the
integrity of the State ON the one hand, and
on the other the prosperity of our people,
thereby replacing Tennessee in her true po-
sitiOn on the roll Of States, and giving her
new impetus in career Of glory that
will attract hither capital and labor to de-
velop her many and varied resources.
Thus, in the early future, she may become,
as she ought to be, the great State of the
American sisterhood.


The new Constitution under which you
have been elected and organized with what
ever of good or evil II contains, was over
whelmingly adopted by the people. The
pernicious tendency of the times TO central
ize all power in the legislative department
induced the trainers of that instrument
among other things, to curtail and limit
many of the prerogratives heretofore con-
! Ceded to that branch Of our Government.
1t viii, therefore, be your province TO
| adapt our legislation to that organic law.
In the discharge of the duty imposed upon
me, shall endeavor TO aid you with such
| information as | can obtain, and by such
recommendations as my convictions Of the
public welfare may dictate. Of this, be as
sured: l shall by every means at my dis
posal execute your viii as declared in your
deliberate acts, without fear or favor.
The law must be respected, and crime
must and shall be detected and punished,
50 far as facilities are furnished by legisla-
ton. We have served our political bondage,
and while the experiences of the past are
bitter, yet the picture of the future is not
dark. The growing prosperity of the State
is subject of sincere congratulation.
The energies of every industrial branch
are quickened into new life. Diversified
sources of wealth are daily manifesting
themselves, and are being developed with
advancing enterprise and intelligence. The
bright face Of hope peers out from the
breaking clouds, and white-winged peace casts
her soft shadows upon the rude footprints
of war. With the recital of our wrongs let
us forget them and bury forever the acrimO-
nies they have engendered. Let us shape
our policy not so much to criticise or Justify
the past as to improve the present and Sc
cure the future. Although success has
Overwhelmingly crowned the united effort
of the people Of Tennessee in their first pO-
litical struggle after the restoration of the
ballot, yet the fruits of that victory may be /
lost if We are not harmonious in sentiment
and united in purpose.


The impatience of some and the disap- !
pOintments of others viii now and then dis |
tract our counsels and threaten our integri- |
ty. But let us stand firmly by principle, |
preserve our organization and await patient |
ly the great developments of the future, in |
the confident hope of speedy restoration |
of constitutional liberty to the American |
people.


And may the Supreme Ruler of all things |
direct our cOunsels to wise and harmonious J
results.


The address Of the new Governor was !
loudly applauded.


The oath of Office was then administered |
TO Gov. Brown by the Hon. Peter Turney.
one Of the Judges of the Supreme Court.


The band then played the "Hail Co
lumbia."


The Rev DIR. T. Summers offered up |
the following


PRAYER:


o Lord, God Almighty, without Thy in
tervention, Thy Providence and Thy grace |
nothing is wise, nothing is good, nothing is
strong. Look down kindly upon us on this
solemn occasion. Let Thy work appear
unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto
their children, and let the beauty Of the
Lord our God be upon us, and establish
Thou the work Of our hands, yea,
the work of our hands establish
Thou, Il. Set the seal of
thy sanction and approval upon what We
have done this day, may these solemn
transactions be recorded in Heaven and let
thy blessing rest upon US on the earth. We
beseech thee to bless thy servant who re-
tires from the responsibilities Of the high
Office which he has filled for the years that
have passed and grant to 60 with him into
the walks Of life and do Thou bless him in
that station in life into which it may please
God TO call him. Bless thy servant upon
whom the responsibility of govern
ing this State mas been solemnly deyolved
Help him to exercise his functions Alright.
Grant him the wisdom from on high which
is profitable to direct. o may he have
health of body, and vigor of mind, and
strength Of moral purpose to carry into ef-
feet the wise and equitable principles which
- :, I. 4k.a&H L., |
fully accomplish what he has undertaken, |
and fulfill the solemn vows this day as
sunled by him. And, o Lord God AL
mighty, grant tnat under his administration
our commonwealth may still flourish
and prosper. May the Legislature
assisting him and he assisting the Legisla-
ture in the great work of government, enact
such laws as shall tend to the development
of all our physical and our moral interests, |
so that under their government We may
continue to lead quiet and peaceable lives in
all GodlinesS and honesty. o. Lord, bless
this State and bless the rulers of this State
and bless all its interest. 'tMay our sons be
as plants grown up in their YOUTH that our
daughters may be as corner stones, polished
after the similitude of palace, that our
garners mar be full, affording all manner Of
store; that our sheep may bring fourth
thousands and the thousands in our streets;
that our oxen may be strong to labor; that
there be no breaking in nor going out; that
there be no complaining in our streets"
May We realize the happiness of that people
who are in such case-the people of whom
God is the Lord. We beseech Thee to grant
that the principles of righteousness and truth
and religion and virtue may extend over all
our country; and We beseech thee to grant
that the great confrsternity of States may
be blessed by thee. Bless our general gov
ernment; bless all who are in authority
over us; bless all the States and territories
of this Union, and grant o Lord that right
business and peace may extend over all this
land. We beseech thee to bless that city
which now lies in ruin and in desOla-
ton. Move the hearts of the people
all over the country promptly to
extend to the needy aid and assistance,
and while thy judgments are abroad in the
earth, may the inhabitants of the world
learn righteousness. Hasten the time when
the principles of civilization and religious
liberty which we enjoy shall extend their
range all over the earth and among all ma
tions and kindreds and people and dele
gates, so that oppression and despotism of
every sort shall come to an end, and peace
and hanDiDesS extend all oyer the