Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-19
RET4LIATOBY MEASURES.
Debate in the House of Representatives
CArrpnAY dec Ii 1Sb6.
[ CONCLUDED. /

gentleman from w lllismsOn, AaaFy and Lewis, tMr.
Looney,) address such arguments to tins House as
he had That gentleman seemed to think We we're
treadng upon dangerous ground. He was surprised
to hear gentlemen cry peace, when the North was
making war rpou our institutions He was surprised
that there any opposition IN this Legislature TO
giving an expression of Indignation at the course
pursued bv the AboFtionists of the North in multi
tying and setting at defiance the laws OF Congress
They have violated the Compromise, and II We do
not maintain our rights, they will go on, step by
stey, until they abolish slavery in every State IN the
Union He hoped the time bad come when We
woull not longer submit the Ourages OF these Ia
natcs. lie thought the Legislature oil Tennessee
would make this expression OF Indignation Inc
Legislatures of other Southern States bad adopted
similar resolutions and notwithstanding the Oppo
sition of some members, he thought the majority
of this House was in favor of the expression con-
tanned in his resolutions. He no disuniOnist-
he was a compromise man, and was satisfied with
those measures-but if cannot have our rights,
lie was for the South resisting the encroachments
Of the North.
Mr. Meek regretted that the resolutions had been
introduced and especially that they had come up
for discussion at this time This element of dis
cord rife in the Congress OF the United States.
The House Of Representatives had spent two weeks
10 a fruitless effort to elect Speaker And what
vote for these resolutions. In looking the go
rious past Of Tennessee he could not depart so far
from the example of her most illustrous SONS in
their firm and loyal support of our Union-our
whole Union. The adoption of these resolutions
would place Tennessee in the same odious position
occup.d by those States that repudiate the laws of
the General Government and for himself and his
constituents, he unwilling to place the State in
that position. When notification in all its hdeOus
proportions, stalked over the soil of one of our
Southern States, made sacred by the best blood Of
the Revolution-when this monster menaced the
integrity Of the Union, Tennesseean was at the
helm Of the Ship of State, and what was his motto?
1.-THE Federal Union: it must be preserved"
Mr.. Nixon (interrupting) euquired if the gentle
man meant to nsinuate that any member Of this
House was guilty of entertaining disunion senti-
ments.
Mr. Meek replied that he did not believe any
such feeling was entertained by any member of
this Legislature. lie would DO the members the
Justice to say that he believed them as loyal in their
devotion to the Union as any set of men over whom
floated the stars and stripes of our country.
He hoped Tennessee would always remain loyal
to the Union II star after star in our glorious
constellation of States, must fail, he hoped Tennes.
see would be the last. He appealed to the members
of the Legislature and to the people Of Tennessee,
TO emulate the sentiments of their great Chieitain
by whuse iron will notification was npped IN the
bud and the Union preserved in its integrity, and
if this L uion fails they will then have discharged
their duty. And if the Union must be dissolved,
and our experiment of a republican form of govern
ment fail, his feryent prayer was that the bird of
liberty should find her last resting place upon The
tomb OF the immortal sage of the Hermitage.
He regarded the resolutions as ire-brand, and
they would be so considered at the North, and
their adoption would but fan the fame that was al
ready menacing the Union. He hoped no Southern
State would adopt and attempt to carry out the
principle of these resolutions.
Mr.. Harris Offered an amendment declaring that
these resolutions do not apply to those National
Democrats and Wings who have stood by the Con.
titution aud the South in our fercest struggles to
preserve the Union"
Mr. Cavitt said bis resolutions were not fires
oraud-they were intended as Uniou measure,
md he accepted the amendment. He regarded the
states that resisted the execution Of the Fugitive
,lave Law or any other law of Congress- as placing
themselves out Of the Union, and he was willing to
xtend to them the hand of fellowship when they
epealeG such laws thus nullifed the laws of the
General Government.
Mr. Brown, of Davidson, (Mr. SnOdgrass in the
hair, said Not knowing but that these resou-
ions might pass, like other gentlemen, he was con-
erned to leave on record some reason for his ac-
ion. He sympathised with any strong expression
Which might be made against the Massachusetts,
lw, or the law ofany State looking to notification.
10 gentleman hated notification more than HIM
elf He looked upon il as violation of good faith
"a species of fanaticism with which he could have
10 sympathy, North or South Massachusetts, vic
ited her constitutional rights and obligations when
he passed the law referred TO. He condemned it,
nd he presumed there was not a man in Tennessee
rho did not condemn it. And there was large
arty at the North, even in Massachusetts,, that
it.
He regretted the introduction Of these resolu.
IONS because be was of the opinion that they
Youd do more harm than good If he could think
hey would do any good, he would vote for them
most cordially. Here question OF expeden-
y more than principle. How stood the in
lassachusettse Less than two years ago her Leg.
Stature passed this act (the personal liberty bD by
large majority; and her Governor had the man-
mess and frmness to fix his veto upon il. 1t came
Jack aud was PISSED again, notwithstanding the We.
o. aud was now on their statute books. The whole
ouutry was shocked by it. But what had taken
lace since? Was there no hope OF reaction? He
firmed there was There was large party in
Massachusetts, who condemned it at the time of its
assage and this same Gov Gardiner elect
d by the people. There was, then, a reaction go.
ng on in Massachusetts. They were fighting their
way back to their allegiance to the Union. In the
Democratic party there were many public men, and
arge masses having no sympathy with this law.
And the same the Case with the party with
which he acted. We had then, here, common
ctiOn aud by THE action OF both the great par
les if let alone, the State would be brought back
o her allegiance. Aud who did not sympathise
With men trying to get right? He loved Nation
i man, though he might not agree with him in all
hings. Tie rcvereuced and admired such a man,
he cared not to what party he belonged He des.
,s..l l..
Nc, and hated ianaticism rs any other ridiculous
,iea. A man might be Democrat and a National
nan, If he would stand upon the constitution and
ace ianaticism, aud he could fellowship with him.
What did We zee IN the contest for the COmprO.
Mise OF 1880: To go no farther than Tennessee
We saw men that had been al daggers' points, meet
ng together and fighting shoulder to shoulder ia
hat contest for the Union He was for the Com
promise at the FIRST, and be for il still lie be-
ieved the South got, in the MAN, oil she deserved,
lnd he believed the whole county got she same
lie went TO Washington during the tendency of
hese measures, and the FIRST man he saw there was
George W. Joues, of this State. Mr.. Jones was the
irst Tennesseean he heard declare himself for this
MEASURE He mentioned this TO the credit of that
gentleman.
The time had come when to be national must
mean something. He would not be thrust of nor
would he repulse any national man. He would not
iote Tor any man that was not national man for
President or anything else. He would not vote for
my man seeking 10 promote faction. But be was
,ong too far from the point he intended TO Impress
lie intended simply to impress one view of the
uhject. lie meant only 20 look at the reaction
hat going on ia Massachusetts Had we not
better let well enough aoneg Better Withhold
harsh expressions OF sentiment in relation to parties
calculated to indame the passions of men. To
make Northern men mad, would be TO give Aboli.
ionists handle to go on. There was q party.
sometimes called Democrats aud sometimes Wings,
hat weTa now fighting tog, ther Should We nos
'tther encourage them than throw in a dstractiu-
ire brands lie cared not a straw whether his par
y got the benefit Of this reaction, so the country