Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

urge that body to provide some other remedy against this great and growing evil. The State owes relief to her citizens, who have important civil suits in the courts of the country.

IMMIGRATION.

It was our fond hope that, upon the restoration of peace, the termination of slavery, and the establishment of civil government, a tide of immigration would set in to this State, from the Northern States and from Europe; that men of capital and enterprise, attracted by our mild and healthy climate, fertile soil, magnificent scenery, and pure and abundant water, would come among us, and aid in the rapid development of our vast resources. Our disappointment is attributable to the intolerant and proscriptive spirit of a large portion of those lately in rebellion. With them every Union man is an "abolitionist," and every "abolitionist" an enemy, to be proscribed, despised, and driven from the country. I attribute the violence of these pestilential disloyalists to the insane policy of the President, who constantly holds out to them. the prospect of being restored to power at an early day. The treatment of the few who have brought their families and means among us, has been such as to engender a feeling of insecurity of life and property, a sense of social isolation, and a consciousness that they are liable at any time, to be expelled from the country. Some good citizens, men of enterprise and capital, have actually returned to the Northern States, in consequence of ill-treatment.

It is to be hoped, however, that these passions and prejudices will wear away, and common sense resume its sway; that as the power and influence of the President, now so rapidly waning, shall cease to stimulate their vain and foolish hopes for supremacy in the country, they will see the great advantage of not only treating immigrants with common respect, but of encouraging them to settle among us. It is to be hoped that they will soon learn that their former contracted and sectional ideas, can never again prevail, and they will soon fall into the great Radical idea of equal rights to all men, in all sections of our great country. Hoping and believing that a better spirit will soon prevail, growing out of our recent elections, without going into details, I rec ommend that you extend every encouragement within your constitutional power, to immigration.

HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

I refer you to the Report of the Superintendent of the Tennessee Hospital for the Insane. Under the efficient management of its present able officers, this noble institution of charity proves to be an honor to the State, and a blessing to its unfortunate in

mates. It is proper that I should call your attention to the fact, that there have been at the institution a number of pay patients from the Southern States, whose bills have not been met for years. The accounts of the parties who placed these patients in the hospital, have been regularly made out and forwarded to them repeatedly. Some have replied that they were unable to meet them, while others have treated these calls with silent contempt. The outstanding debt due this institution, in items of this character, now amounts to nearly $40,000. Many of these patients were sent here through pride, and a desire to have them. far removed from their homes and families.

It is not just that our people should be taxed to support the unfortunate of other States, especially when the presumption is, that their relatives are able to defray their expenses. Such a course would be a departure from the rule, that our charities should begin at home. Consequently, a portion of these patients have been conveyed to their homes at the expense of the State, and turned over to their families and friends.

One of the many bad effects of the late rebellion, has been, and still is, to crowd this institution with patients, so that there is a demand for more rooms. I propose to meet this demand by the erection of a hospital, of respectable size, at a suitable point in East Tennessee. The cheapness of labor, of building materials, and the salubrity of the air, purity of the water, and grandeur of the scenery, all point to that section as suited for such an institution.

COMPENSATING LOYAL MEN FOR LOSSES.

After mature deliberation, I have determined to recommend to your favorable consideration, the remuneration of loyal citizens of this State, for losses sustained by the occupation of the country by the national armies. The passage of the so-called ordinance of secession, and the assumed transfer of the State to the so-called Southern Confederacy, placed Tennessee in the attitude of rebellion, and her people in the position of enemies to the National Government. The consequence was, that upon the occupation of the State by the National forces, our people were treated as enemies, with but little discrimination between the loyal and the disloyal. Their lands and houses were occupied, their property impressed or destroyed, and their provisions consumed. In East Tennessee this was done from necessity, by an unsupplied army, to an extent that reduced the people to absolute suffering. Thus far, the Federal Government, classing Tennessee with the rebel States, and unwilling to assume the losses incurred in the whole South, has not regarded the applications of our loyal people for remuneration. I understand that similar losses, by the

citizens of Indiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio, have been promptly assumed; and the nation knows, and the world knows, that a more loyal people than those in Tennessee, who remained steadfast to the National cause, through so long and terrible an ordeal, are not to be found in the Union. But I cannot and will not lose confidence in the justice and magnanimity of the American people. I believe they will yet cheerfully repay the loyal sufferers among our people, many of whom were deprived of their property by the National forces, while they were themselves absent fighting for the National cause. But you, gentlemen, can afford present relief, relying upon the General Government, hereafter to assume and pay these just and meritorious claims.

I recommend that proper officers be appointed to ascertain and audit those claims, and that the bonds of the State, of denominations from $50 to $100, be issued in payment. I am aware that this proposition will meet with fierce opposition from those who would give preference to the millions of debt contracted by the ursurped State Government, or by Rebel Quartermasters. I am also aware that objections will come from a better class, upon the ground of so considerable an increase of the State debt; but, if the American people, are just, they will assume the amount long before it falls due, and, upon principle, treat the suffering loyalists of Tennessee, as they have treated the loyalists of other States.

Let such a law be well guarded in every respect, and if Con- * gress does not at once assume the liability, and promptly meet the same, then we have elected eight able and loyal men to Congress, to look after our interests, to very, very little purpose.

THE COLORED POPULATION.

Our colored fellow-citizens have shown a greater aptitude for learning and the acquisition of knowledge, than was expected; and by their good conduct and steadfast loyalty, have rapidly won upon the good opinions and respect of the loyal portion of the white race; while their rebel opponents, under the encouragement afforded them by the pro-rebel policy of the President, have shown less disposition to return to true loyalty, than was fully expected. The exercise of the elective franchise by the colored race in this State, has shown them to be capable of exercising that right, and of selecting candidates to represent them.

Some legislation is necessary to protect the colored race in their rights as renters and laborers. In many instances they have been turned out of employ and otherwise proscribed, not to say defrauded, for opinion's sake. Coming here from every county in the State, you are familiar with the facts; and your sense of jus

tice will prompt you to apply the remedy for this great and growing evil.

The odious sixteenth Section of the Franchise Law is now claimed as a part of the Constitution, and it is for you to say whether it shall remain in force, or be obliterated by amending the Constitution in the only regular way.

CONDITION OF THE PENITENTIARY.

Your attention is called to the condition of affairs in the State Prison, full and specific details of which will be given in the report of the Commissioners in charge of that institution. I have every confidence that the Legislature will look into the wants of that institution, and do for it, what, in the judgment of members, may seem proper. Many complaints have been made to me, pro and con, with regard to its management, and complaints of a character which require a thorough investigating. As you are aware, one wing of the institution has been destroyed by fire. This has been re-built at a cost of several thousand dollars. This loss to the State, and the matter of these repairs, should be looked into with strict and impartial fidelity. Meanwhile, I again suggest the establishment of branches of the Penitentiary in the Western District, and in East Tennessee. The cost of building on a moderate scale, would be saved to the State, in fifteen or twenty years, in the item of a cash market in each end of the State, for provisions to sustain, and raw material to keep the convicts employed in manufacturing-such as lumber, marble, iron, coal, leather, etc. There would be a saving of thousands in the item of transporting prisoners. The erection of buildings would furnish employment and cash wages to a number of mechanics; and, as there are several salaried officers attached to such institutions, it would distribute the patronage of the State in her three natural divisions. If this be not done, an enlargement of the State Prison will be required. The demoralized condition of both our white and colored population, is causing scores to be sent to the Penitentiary, as our courts have gone into operation.

East of Knoxville, one mile and a half, the State owns one hundred acres of land, five or ten acres of which can be appropriated for a branch of the Penitentiary, and in a most suitable Íocality. Close to the railroad on the one side, and close to the river on the other side, I know of no more suitable locality in that end of the State. The State also owns property in Memphis, which, if not in a suitable locality, could be exchanged advantageously for other property.

THE STATE GUARDS.

The State Militia. which has been represented by a venal press, and by designing politicians, as swarming in every highway like

the locusts of Egyt, and every where overawing the quiet people, and committing innumerable acts of violence, numbered, all told, seventeen hundred men-half of whom were mustered into the service but a few weeks before the election. This force, represented by the enemies of the State Government to have cost millions of money, has only cost the State a little the rise of the tenth part of one million Clothing, rations, etc., were purchased on the most favorable terms, and strict economy was observed throughout. As soon as the election was over, and the country quieted, I directed Gen. Joseph A. Cooper, chief in command, and a prudent, firm and experienced officer, to pay off and muster out of the service, all but five companies. Most of these companies were ordered to the Western Division of the State, in several counties of which, the conduct of disloyal men is bad, and calls for correction. The small force now in service, is under the command of Major Robinson, a prudent, brave and reliable officer. I am anxious to rid the State of this item of expense, and will do so as soon as the rebellious portions of Middle and West Tennessee will permit me to disband these troops. I will not close my remarks upon the subject, without assuring your body, that the records of this, and all other branches of the service, are open to inspection, and free and full investigation is invited.

A GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

There are, in the County of Davidson, belonging to the State, three or four pieces of real estate, said to be worth not less than $200,000. This valuable and saleable property, is not only bringing the State no revenue, but is an expense. I propose to sell off this property at once, and, with the proceeds, to purchase and furnish a suitable and convenient mansion for the Governor of the State. The great State of Tennessee should, by all means, provide a Governor's residence. The present incumbent of the Executive office would derive no advantage from such a purchase, but asks that it be made for the honor of the State, and the accommodation of his successors in office. A poor man, with a family, and having to keep house, cannot afford to be Governor of Tennessee. The Executive of the State is, therefore, compelled to be absent from the Capitol frequently, when he should be here, or he must be separated from his family, and forced, by his inadequate salary, to look out a cheap boarding house, or fit up a room in this building for his individual accommodation.

THE SCHOOL BILL.

The late patriotic General Assembly enacted a wise and desirable School Law, and at a time when the want of such a system

« AnteriorContinuar »