Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-11-29
SENATE.
SATURDAY, Nov. %, 1857.

SATURDAY, Nov e, 1857.
Mr.. HEISKELL presented petition from Wiley
Saunders of Claiborne county, which was referred
Mr.. WELCKER. petition frOR the citizens OF
Knox, asking the establishment of the office OF
county judge in that county.
On motion Of Mr.. GO0DNER, the Senate took up
the bill to pay Morgan & Co, for carpeting the two
Halls of the Capitol.
Mr.. HARRIS wanted to know what had become OF
the old carpet
Mr.. GOODNER had intended to ascertain that,
but when the committee had the subject under con-
sheraton, the Secretary of State absent and he
was not informed what had become of it. He would
however say that the committee had examined the
different items of the bill, and found them correct.
The bill then passed the third and last reading.
IeaS.-Messrs. Bratcher, Brown, Bullen, Denton,
Gof Goodner, Good pasture, Harris. Heiskel, Hill,
Menees, Munday, McConnico, McDOuga Reid,
Roach, Ross, Travis, Welcker, Wright, and Mr..
Speaker Burch-2l.
Ndys.-0.
On motion by Mr.. HILL, the Senate took up the
bill TO change the time of holding the caancery
courts in the Western Division of the State, which
passed third reading.
On motion by Mr.. HEISKELL, the Senate took
up the Senate BILL adopted in lieu of House bill to
repeal the l4th section of Act, passed Feb 28th,
1856, to amend the revenue laws &C., which passed
the third reading.
Ysas.-Messrs. Bratcher, Brown, Bullen, Denton,
Golf, Goodner, GoodpastuIe, Harris, IHeiskel Hill,
Jones, Menees, Munday, McConnicO, McDOugal,
Reid, Roach, Ross, Travis, Walker, WelckeI, and
| Kright-22
Nays-Mr. Speaker Burch-1.
| MIR. WALKER, from the committee on Federal
Relations, returned the resolution nstructing the
Tennessee delegation in Congress to procure the pas
sage of q bill appropriating land or money to levee
the Eastern bank of the Mississippi river from Hick-
man to the mouth of Wolfe river majority of the
committee recommending its rejection.
Mir. MCCONNELL, on the part of the minority, de-
sired his dissent from the majority report to be en-
tered on the Journal
| Mr. WALKER, from the same committee returned
the resolution in relation to Federal Politics,
jOrity of the committee recommending its adoption
| Mr.. MCCONNELL, the part of the minority,
presented the following report:
The undersigned members of the Committee on
Federal Relations, to which committee referred
the preamble and resolutions requesting the Hon.
John Bell to resign his seat in the Senate of the
United States beg leave to submit the following
minority report
They have been unable to concur with the views of
the majority of the committee and feel that is due
to themselves, to present in brief form, the
! for their difference.
They are unable to perceive any necessity or pro-
priety, in asking Mr. Bell to resign his seat, when
the single question of the Kansas Nebraska Act up
on which he is sought to be arragned has long since
been settled and neither he his political friends
IN Tennessee seek intend disturb its provisions.
4udb ACT whether wise OF IL now law OF
the land, upon the subject of slavery in the new
States, and there LIT the agitating question rest for
ever, SO says Mr. Bell, and say
The point with Mr. Bell and those who voted with
him in the South in opposition to that act, involved
no question of constitutional power, sentiment
nimcal to the institution of slavery, but merely the
peace and harmony of the country, and how that
peace and harmony have been disturbed, and the two
great sections of the Union brought into antagOn-
ism, let the whole country bear witness The strife
has been fearful, and the agitation not only alarm
ing, but embarrassing to the administration of the
Government; such state Of things is deplorable
and that public man who anticipated it, and acted
upon his convictions, deserves praise rather than
censure at the hands Of his political opponents.
All that we now experience a nation, and all
that we deplOre of sectional discord, had its origin
in the introduction and passage of the Kansas-Ne-
braska Act. 1t rekndled the fires of opposing pas
siOns that had been alayed by former compromises,
and furnished new occasion for all the enemies of
the Union to precpitate themselves into the arena
of sectional conflict. Mr. Bell apprehended 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 the South?
Nothing but the assertion of the abstract principle
of non-InterventOn TO which but fanatics we're
opposed. 1t has added no new slave State to
the Union, and no man in his sober senses, be-
Geves 1t will. But this act, which has been
claimed by its Southern friends a great measure
for slavery has at the time been claimed by its
Northern supporters, a measure for freedom.
This generous family rivary-this honest difference
of opinion, has not been difficult to harmonic.
We have seen these autipOdes supporting the same
men for Office shouting in the same host, and then
in turn receiving prOmIscuously the showers of pub
lie patronage. Is 1t measure for freedom or slave
Ty? Its supporters divided in opinion and time
alone will decide. We respectfully urge, however,
that those who tolerant of differences among
themselves might extend something of the same |
provisions in that act according the interpre-
tatOn Of portion of its supporters, to which the
undersigned can never assent Squatter Sovereign !
ty has been claimed under it, and boldly insisted
upon, doctrine utterly at with Southern in
eress and contrary the protested views Of South
ern men who voted for the law To admit such |
doctrine is to wall up all the territories against the
South. Alien suffrage, too, has found its place in
this act, and has attained baneful prominence
der its administration. American citizenship and
even permanent residence, have been treated with
No solid growth, stable institutions,
no permanent prosperity, be the offspring of
such radical levelling doctrines.
But the undersigned deny that the Kansas-Ne-
brask Act, has been approved by the people of
Tennessee, certainly not under the Interpretation
now put upon it. And the result likely to follow its
administration will add but little to the appreciation
already given to it. The elections that have trans
pired in the State since its enactment furnish no
conclusive test. That there is overwhelming ma
iority against its disturbance, far relates 10
the subject of slavery, is beyond all question That
sentiment is founded in adesire stop further
agitation than in any fixed views Of the law itself
Popular acquiescence has been mistaken for appro-
baton. The people never demanded its passage,
because they desired repose and they are aVerse
its repeal for the same patriotic reason. In all the
recent elections other questions have had more de
,ided prominence.
The fierce antagonism between the North and the
South, irrespective of the merits dement's Of the
ITSELF has VIGOROUSLY swayed thousands of our
voters. And the deepest feeling which now pervades
he minds Of the people of Tennessee, is one OF re-
greet at the distractions which pervade the national
public opinion.
The undersigned do not feel called upon to eulO-
yize 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
ion, his best testimonials; and his elevated po
,tiOn in the Senate, is the monument of his great
less. All these ought to have shielded him from the
,arping censures contained in this preamble and
His future in the body of which he is
member, has been circumscribed, and to permit
lin close, unmolested, the remainder of his term
would neither impair the ascendancy of the party in
power, or jeopardize any favorite policy. More
han all, the nation i'll spare the services of such
man upon other questions, foreign and domestic,
lbOut which there no party differences.
For these, and other reasons, dissent from the
news of the majority of the committee and respect
ully urge tnat the resolution De not passed.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
W. LAFAYETTE MCCONNICo ;
j. B. HEIsxELL.
On motion of Mr.. McCONNICO, the consideration c
# the whole subject made the special order for
Thursday next. {
Mr. WALKER presented petition from citizens
fFayette county asking the establishment of the Q
flee of county Judge for that county.
MrWALkER said that when the House to bill esta- I
ish the office in certain counties came up he would
move to amend by including the county of Fayette,
ut as he had not been convinced that majority of t
he citizens of said county desired it he would vote
gainst it.
Mr. MUNDAY introduced bill TO amend the char n
Pr of the Nashville and Louisville Railroad Ii
referred.
Senate Bill to prescribe the mode of selling land
)r taxes passed the second reading. s.
Ysas-Messrs Bratcher, Gof Goodner, Harris, R
eisken, Hill, Menees. Mccormick McDougal, II
.oach, Ross and Welcker-l2. v
Nays-Messrs Brown, Bullen, Goodpasture, Jones,
Iunday, Reid, Travis, Wright and Speaker Burch-9.
Mr. HARRIS and Mr. MENEES when their names d
called said thew voted for the bill on the second