Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-30
LEGISLATURE OF TENNESSEE.
sen late.

ing oiiS were passed the third and last time.
Directing the Comptroller to issue his warrant
for the payment Of money expended for carpeting
fer the Capitol
70 change the time of holding the Chaucery
Courts in the Western Division of the State.
To repeal the l4th section of the act of Feb. %,
1885, creating the Office of tax assessor.
Mr.. Walker, from the committee on Federal R.
istions, reported adverse to the passage OF House
resolutions asking Congress for appropriation of
land to levy the bank Of the Mississippi along
the Tennessee border.
And the majority oftbe same committee report
cd verbally in favor Of the passage of the resolu
ton instructng the Hon. John Bell to resign his
seat in the Senate Of the United States.
The minority of said committee submitted re-
port follows:
The undersigne1 N mbers of the Committee
Federal Relations, to which committee were ref r.
ed the preamble and resolutions. requesting the
Hon. John Bell to resign his seat in the Senate of
tie United States, beg leave to submit the following
minority port:
They have been unable to concur with the views
Of hemajorty of the Comm ttee, and feel that it is
due tothemselves to present. in brief FORM the rea
sons for their difference
They unable to perceive any necessity or
propriety, in asking Mr.. Bill TO resign his seat,
when the single question OF the Kansas and Ne0ras-
ka act, upon which he is sought to be arraigned
has long since been settled and neither be nor his
political friends in Tennessee, seekor intend to dis
turb its provisions.
That act whether wise or unwise, is now the law
Of the land, upon the subject OF slavery In the new
States, and there let the agtang question rest for
ever. So says Mr.. Bell, aud so say we.
The point with Mr. Bell, and those who acted
with him, in the South in opposition TO that act,
involved no question of constitutional power, no
sentiment inlmical to the institution OF slavery out
merely the peace aud harmony OF the country.
And how that peace and harmony have been dis
turbed, and the two great sections OF the Union
been brought into anita gonism, let the whole cOun-
try bear witness. The strife has been fearful, and
the agitation not only alarming, but embarrassing
to the administration Of the governg ent. Such
state Of things is deporable; and that public man
who anticipated it and acted upon his convictions,
deserves praise rather than censure, at the hands
Of his political opponents.
al that ven experience as a nation, and all that
we depore of sectional discord had itsimain orr IN
in the introduction and passage of the Kansas-Ne-
hraska act It re-kinded the fires of opposing pas
sions, that had been allayed by former cOmproml-
ses, and furnished new occasion for all the ene-
mie- Of the Union to precipitate themselves into
the arena of sectional conflict
Mr.. Bell apprehende4 and foretold what we have
realized He opposed the bill because of the very
evils which all good men now lament. And what
has it accomplished for the South? Nothing but the
serton OF the abstract principe of non-interven-
ton, to which none but fanatics opposed.
T. has added slave State to the Union, and
in his sober senses, now believes it ever
will.
But this act, which has been claimed hy it's
Southern friends a great measure for slavery,
has at the same time been claimed by its North
supporters, a measure for freedom. This
generous family rivaIry--this honest difference of
| opinon-has not been difficult TO harmonic. We
have these antipodes supporting the same
men for office, shouting in the same host, and then
in turn, receiving promiscuouslv, the showers OF
public patronage. Is it a measure for freedom or
slavery? It's supporters divided in opinion, and
time alone will decide.
We respectfully urge, however. that those who
are tolerant of differences among themselves,
might extend something OF the same virtue towards
their political opponents. Butthere provisions
in that act, according to the Interpretation of a
portion of its supporters to which the undersigned
can never assent. ,Squatter sovereignty has been
claimed under it, and boldly insisted upOn-a doc
trne utterly at with Southern interests, and
contrary to the professed views of Southern men
who voted for the law. To admit such doc.
trne is TO wall up all the territories against the
South.
Alien suffrage, too has found its place in this act,
and has attained a bsneful prominence under its
administration. American citizenship, and even
permanent residence, have been treated with con-
tempt. No solid growth-no stable Institutions
no permanent prosperity-can be the offspring Of
such radical dwelling doctrines
But the undersigned deny that the Kansas-Ne.
braska act has ever been approved by the people
of Tennessee. Certainly not under the interpreta-
ton now put upon il. And the result likely to fol
low its administration, win add but little to the ap
probation already given to it.
The elections that have transpred in the State
since its enactment furnish no conclusive test,
That there is an overwhelming majority against
its disturbance, far relates TO the subject OF
slavery is beyond all question. That sentiment is
founded more In desire TO stop further agitation
than in any fixed views of the law itself Popular
scouiescence has been mistaken for appreciation.
The people never demanded its passage, because
they desired ISSUE and they TO its repeal
for the same patriotic reason.
In all the recent elections other questions have
had a a more decided prominence, The fierce an
tagonism between the North and South irrespective
Of the merits or dement's of the act ITSELF has no.
toriously sWayed thousands of voters, and the
deepest feeling which now occupies the minds of
the people OF Tennessee, is one of regret at the
distractions which pervade the national public
Opniop.
The undersigned do not feel called upon TO enlo-
gize Mr. Bell. He needs no such tribute at their
hands His long services in behalf of the State, in
different departments, and under the eye of the
ton are his best testimonials; and his elevated pc
| sition in the Senate, is the monument of his great
| ness. All these ought to have shielded him from
tire carpng censure contained in this preamble aud
/ resolution.
His future in the body of which he is a member,
hss been circumscrihed and to permit him to close
unmolested, the remainder of his term, would
! er, or jeOpardize any favorite policy. More than
| all the nation can III spare the services of such a
| man upon other questions, foreign and domestic,
| about which there no party differences. For
| hose and other reasons dissent from the views
Of the majority of the committee and respectfully
urge that the Resolution he not passed. All OF
/ which is respectfully submitted.
| W. LAFAYETTE MCCONNELL.
JAMES b. HEISKELL.
! The Senate then took up the calendar and passed
| several hills on second reading.
Mr. Walker presented 6 memorial from sundry
citizens Of the county of Fayette asking that Fay
| cite county be permitted to have County Judge
| Mr. W. remarked, in presenting the petition
| that Il was from a number Of the most worthy and
respectable citizens OF the county, and entitled e
| the most respectful consideration by the Legsla
! ture; for himself he not satisfied. that such
was the desire of a minority Of the people of Fay
! ette and would therefore, when the bill came %
for consideration les third reading, moved 70 In
clude the county OF Fayete, bat you'd himself vote
| against il.
! House bill to amend the criminal laws in regard
/ 70 slaves was taken up. Pending les discussion,
The Senate adjourned gill 10 o'clock on Monday
mornng.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SATURDAY, Nov. %. 1857.
Mr. Speaker Donelson (Mr Davidson ia the chair