Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-12-01
TEgYEssEF LEeIsLATURE.

/ HAuHGA luNAf ~ ~ - VIZ - ~ N-NL
T. j. STEWART & CO,
Cotton Brokers, No. 40 Pearl near WsH Street.
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
NASHVILLE, Saturday, November IS, 1851.
Ssnate.-The regular order was suspended,
and the following bills passed the third time.
Directory TO the Comptroller, for the pay
ment Of money expendedfor esrpeting the Cap
itol.
To change the time Of holding the Chan
Gerry Courts in the Western division OF the
State.
To repeal the l4,h section Of the act of
Feb. IS, 1856, creating the Office Of tax as
SCISSOR.
Mr.. Walker, from the COMMITTEES on Federal
Relations, reported adverse to the adoption of
House resolutions asking Congress for an aP-
preparation of land to leVee the east bank Of
| the Mississippi river on the Tennessee border.
And the majority Of the same committee
reported verbally in favor Of the passage Of
the resolutions instTucting the Hon. John Bell
out of his seat in, the Ssnate.of the United
States.
The minority OF said committee submitted
the following report:
The undersigned members Of the committee
on FeieTsl Relations, to which committee were
referred the preamble and resolutions, request
ing the Hon. John Bell TO resign his seat IN the
Senate Of the United States, beg leave to sub
NIT the following minority report.
They have been unable to concur with the
views Of the majority Of the committee, and
feel that it is dus TO themselves to present in
brief form the reasons for their difference.
They are unable 70 perceive any necessity or
propriety, ia asking Mr.. Bell to resign his seat,
when the single question Of the Kansas and Ne
brsska act, upon which be is sought 70 be ar
Z ragged has long since been settled, and neither
be nor his political friends in Tennessee seek
or intend to disturb is provisions.
That act, whether wise or uuwise, is now the
law Of the land, upon the subject Of slavery in
the States, and there let the agitating question
rest forever. So says Mr.. Bell, and 50 say
we.
The point with Mr.. Bell, aud those who acted
with him, IN the South, in opposition to that
act, involved 10 question Of Constitutional
power, no sentiment inimica TO the Institution
Of slavery; but merely the peace and harmony
or the country. And how that peace and haT-
moBy have been disturbed, and the two great
sections Of the Union been brought into antsg-
onism, let the whole country bear witness.
The strife has been fearful, and the agitation
not only alarming, but embarrassing 20 the
Administration of the Government, such a
state Of things is deplorable and that public
man who anticipated it and acted upon bis
convictions, deserves praise rather than CEN
sure, AZ the hands OF his political opponents.
al Hat Vt nov - PtllElGE Is 4 LdLiuuf anu
all that we dsplore, Of sectional discord, had
its origin in the introduction and passage OF
the Kansas-NebTaska act. II re-kindied the
fires OF opposing passions, that had been al
lsyed by former compromises, and furnished a
new occasion for al the enemies Of the Union
to precipitate themselves into the arena Of sec
tional conflict.
Mr.. Bell apprehendsi and foretold, what We
have realized. He opposed the bill because OF
the very evils which an good men now lament.
and what has it accomplished for the South +?
Nothing but the assertion Of the abstract prin-
ciple OF nOn-interventiOn, to which none but
fanatics were ever opposed. Il has added no
new slave State to the Union, and no man in
bis sober senses, now believes it ever will.
But this act, which has been claimed by its
Southern friends as a great measure for slave
", has at the same time been claimed BY its
Northern supporters, as a measure # freedom.
This generous family rivalry-this honest diff
ference Of opinion. has not been difficult to
harmonic. We have seen these antipodes sup
porting the same men for Office, shouting in the
same host, and then in turn, receiving promis-
cuously, the showers Of public patronage. Is
it a measure for freedom Of slavery? Its sup
pOrters are divided in opinion and time alone
will decide
We respectfully urge, however, that those
who are 50 tolerant Of differences among them
selves, might esteem something Of the same
virtue towards their political opponents. But
there are provisions in that act, according to
the Interpretation of a portion of it's support
sTs, to which the undersigned can never assert.
Squatter sovereignty has been claimed under it,
and boldly insisted upon a doctrine utterly at
war with Southern men who voted for the law.
To admit such a doctrine is to wall up all the
territories against the South.
Alien suffrage, toe, has found place In this
act, and has attained a banefui prominence I'M
der its administration. American citizenship
and even permanent residence have been treat
ed with contempt. No solid growth-no stable
iustitutiOns-nO permanent prosperity can be
the offspring Of such radical levelling doc.
trines.
But the undersigned deny that the Kansas
Nebraska act has ever been approved By the
people Of Ten essee. Certainly not under the
Interpretation now put upon il. And the result
likely to follow its administration, will add but
little to the appreciation already given It.
The elections that have TRANSFERRED in the
State since its enactment furnish no conclusive
test
That there is an overwhelming majority
its disturbance, 50 far as relates to the
Of slavery, is beyond all question. That
is founded more in a desire to stop
further agitation than In any fixed views Of the
itself. Popular acquieseence has been
for appreciation.
AAc HCoPAI eve NtlldlutA us passage. De- I
cause they desired issue, and they are sVerse I,
to lis repeal for the sans patriotic reason.
10 all the recent elections other questions
have bad a more decided prominence. The
fierce antsgonism between the North and South
irrespective Of the merits or dement's OF the
act itself, has notoTiogsly swayed thousands Of
our voters, and the deepest feeling which now
the minds Of the people Of Tennes-
Is one Of regret at the detTactions which }
the national public opinion.
The undersigned do not feel called upon to
Mr. Bell. He needs TO such tribute D.,
their hands His long services in behalf of :
he state, in different departments, and under I
me eye Of the nation, are his best testimonials: :
and bis elevated position ia the Senate, is the \
of his greatness. All these ought to /
have shielded him from the carping censure I,
in this preamble and resolution. /
his future in the body of which be is a mem :
Der, has been cireumscTi5ei, and to permit him r
20 close unm0iested, the remainder Of his term.
would neither impair the ascendency Of the .
party IN power, or jeopardize any f~avorite pol :
.ey. More than all, the nation can IN spare !
ne services Of such a man upon other questions :
foreign and domestic. about which there are no 4,
party differences. Fer these and other reasons :
Ee dissent from the views OF the majority Of :
ne committee, aud respectfully urge that the !
be not passed. Ali Of which is re- +,
sPectfully submitted. :
W. LAFAYETTE MCCONNELL. :
JAS. B.. HEISKELL. !
The calendar was taken up and Senate bills /
IN the second reading passed. =
Mr. Walker, BY leave, presented the memo 4.
iaL. OF citizens OF Fayette county, asking that !
he Office Of CoGuty Judge be retained in said
county.
Mr.. W. remarked, in presenting the memo {
ial that it was from a number Of the most Q
worthy and respectable citizens of the county. !
Ind entitled to the nest respectful eonsiders- v
ion by the Legislature for himself, be was a
lot satisfied that such was the desire Of a ma T
ority OF the people Of Fayette, and would, !
when the bill came up for consider
Ition Oh its third reading. move 10 include the
.ounty OF Fsyette, but would, himself, vote
Igainst it.
House bill to amend the criminal laws 10
to slaves was taken up. Pending its
discussion, !
The Senate adjourned till 10 O'Clock, Monday :
morning. -
House.-Mr. Williams, a resolution looking c
o the adjustment Of the oRics Of tax eollsc- c
and the discharge of their duties By the
Mr.. Aigee,a bill to permit John D. Dudley (
hawk and peddie without a license. a
MIR Stanton, a resolution to make negroes Of d
j ages subject to taxation by an amendment
Z the Constitution.