Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-22


the most important interest Of the State. Now,
Sir whether these gentlemen unnecessarily alarm
ed not it Is not important in this connectiou to
inquire. 1t Is Sufficient, to know, that they feel
this way, and that BY multiplying this indebtedness,
you increase, this indisposton. The result may be
extremely Injurious, TO some OF the most vital in-
terests of Tennessee "a
L 4 wouldpot, Sir, be thought parsimonious. At
the same time, am not afraid of the opprobium,
that sometimes attaches to PrESHcs. in the outlay
OF public money. 10 the Affairs of the State, In
those in private life our desires and generous i'm
pulses, often restrained By the scantness Of our
means The parent, who places over the remaps
OF fsvorite child, costly and elegantly chiseled
slab, may DE prompted by the purest and loliest feel
ings, known 10 our nature. Yet, If the expense OF
placing il there depryes those that living, Of
the necessares Of life, he IS not deemed wise. The
cost of ibis additional statue, if incurred 10y us,
may drive SOME member upon this floor, from the
support Of measures Indispensable TO the pabHc
good. -
A gain Sir: If there IS propriety and necessity
of adding the name of James K. Polk to those of
Washington aud Jackson, there is the same pro
preiy and necessity, for the addition Of still others
mention only one-Hugh l.. White Both are
worthy-eminently worthy, of having statues pla.
ced in inches OF this Capitol, in honor OF tin cir
memory. The Que, no less than the OtAerl If the
one was Justly esteemed and honored for his rare
abilities and high moral worth, the other was no less
revered and beloved for all those lofty qualities of
both head and heart that render a man dear to
an enlightened and generous people. If the one
was elevated to The chief Magisracy Of the nation,
the people OF Tennessee, by an Overwhelming ma.
ority, declared their preference for the other for
that same high station. BefioesI these men, Sir,
can make insidiOus distinction. To do so, would
be to do Injustice to the memory of the one, or
the other.
In selecting Washington aud Jackson, out Of the
many great men, of our country and cur State, as
persons peculiarly deserving Of the honor proposed
10 be conferred upon them, the fri ends Of no other
man can find ground for offence or unpleasant
feeling. The one, being confessedly the idol of
the whole American URiOn-tle other the special
pride and iavorite of Tennessee. But when you
go beyond these, the number Of those, who are
equally deserving OF being remembered and bon
cred by US, is increased to such extent that to
place Statues in this building at present. to them
ln, is imp acticable. Alta proper time, and whei
~ can be done, without jeopardzing other impOr-
tant interests, Statues Of Polk and of White, OF
Sewer and OF Grundy and Others distinguished for
their abilities, aud eminent public services, will be
provided for.
My position, in reference to this bill is, now, |
hope understood. | would Mr.. Speaker, have
mnch preferred not to have had the necessity i'm
posed upon me, of voting against any part Of this
bill That necessity is, however upon me- ! feel
no disposition to shrink from the discharge of what
be iieve to be my duty, in the premises.