Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-16

marks we're intersPersed with vague insinuations
and ungenerous illusions to the service Of Tennes
see troops; such as
I viii touch on your proves before get through;
and my opinion is that you viii not have much to
brag Of, hyouloOk at the circumstances imPartially
and properly.
And again-
1 do not consider volunteer militia, raw militia,
very effective under any eroums tances orany where
do not think they proved very effective in the
Mexican war; for think that one Of the regiments
from Tennessee, that Wanted State Of volunteers,
ran at the very FIRST fire ct the battle Of Cerro Gordo
That is my reading Of this history Of that battle
You cannot expect raw militia to stand FIRE like reg
ulars. Although they had somewhat the advantage
Of discipline before they went into that engagement
yet the very first FIRE from the Mexican batteries be
hind the intrenchments drove theTennessee regiment
from the field, commanded by Colonel Haskell, and
under the charge Of Gen. Pillow, Of Tennessee.
They left the field in disgust, if not in disgrace.
No man ft to be Senator should have displayed
the ignorance evinced by this allusion. No man
worthy to associate with Senators should have so
dishonored himself for the unworthy purpose Of
unjustly dishonoring others.
The facts Of this engagement familiar to every
one who has given the subject the least attention
The volunteer division, under command Of Major
Gneral Pillow, was ordered to attack the line Of
heavy works extending from the river to the National
road. The ID Tennessean and LIST Pennsylvanians
we're the attacking regiments. The ID Penusylva-
mans and LIST ennesseans were the supporting regi-
ments.
When the ID Tennesseans commenced the attack
the 1st Pennsylvanians had not reached their proper
position, and consequently failed 20 eRtr into the ght
l0ith The I'd TslHssSsans. The consequence was the
ID Tennessee Regiment commanded by Colonel
HASKELL, were terribly cut to pices and forced to
retreat. Great confusion followed with both the
Pennsylvania regiments. The lst Tennessee regi-
msnt moved with the utmost order to the point
where ordered and, in the absence of the attacking
regiments, would have made the attack, but for the
factthat just at this juncture they we're commanded
halt and wait for further orders which were soon
given for the whole division to retire a short dis
lance and reorgauize. These facts must have been
familiar to Mr. IvRRsoE if he had ever examined
the history of the transaction. If he had not by
what authority did he assai the character of gallant
soldiers.
Mr.. JOHNSON having expressed his regret at find
ing himself situated to feel it necessary to
make reply to the Senator from Georgia. in cOnse-
quence Of the unkind illusions made to his State
and having first disposed of some one or two argu-
ments Of the gentlemsn's spsech-prOceeded to say:
After having met these positions of the gentlmsn,
let me refer TO the Presidents message. Certainly
l if the President had any distinct description Of
troops in his mind when he penned his message, we
shall answer the purpose by placing volunteers at
his discretion to be used by him in suppressug the
rebellion that is existing that is anticipated in
Utah. Il most clearly meets his idea. Why, then,
/ this great resistance TO volunteer service? Why
| these sneers at volunteers? If l had time TO
gather up the many gallant incidents Of the brave
| volunteers Of the many wars we have had, and TO
present them in regular train before the gentleman,
l think he would be almost horror stricken with
regret ct what he said to-day in reference TO the
/ volunteer service Of the country In the war Of
1872, where is there battlefield in which vOuns
teer ability not displayed, and volunteer blood
/ shedI Go from Maine to Louisiana, so from the
Atlantic coast to the golden shores of California,
where is there battle field on which volunteer blood
/ has not been poured out as evidence of their
/ high appreciation Oftheir country? Are these men,
who have rallied to your oOuntry's standard in all
her perous conflicts and upon whose efforts victory
has uniformly perched, to be regarded occupying
inferior position to the regular sodeFy, compOs
ed out of this lower, "cheaper material" Of which
| you want your Army composed?
Let me ask the Senate, let ask the country, if
the disnies Of this Government we're at issue upon
/ single military contest, what service would you
most rely upon Would you not rely upon the vol
unteer who went his oountry's first call; who re-
] sponded 10 the first sound Of the tOcsin who
went to fight his countrys cause; who went to fight
/ for wife, for children, and for home? Would you
rely upon the that has interest in his cOun-
try that has somebody to for and somebody to
| care for him; the rabble soldier, that has no
home, that has country, whose highest ambition
is few si1penCes and q little grOg! These are the
men that are eulogized and eKtolled in comparison
| with the volunteers Of these United States God
| save the mark
But, not content with that invidiOus comparison
| between regular and volunteer troops, the State
| which l represent must be arraigned; she must be
attacked. II is true that am not her native son,
| but l an her adopted son. She took me by the
| hand, and that generous, that baye, that patriotic
/ people, have made me all that l am, be that much
or little. Having placed me here, intend TO stand
by her throdgh evil and through good report Come
| veal or come woe will be found standing by her
| interests, her honor-her sacred honor-let the
| consequences be what they may Yes, love her.
| The tenderest sympathies Of my soul are ent0ined
| with her. There is where l live there is where
hope to die and beneath the clOds Of some Of her
valleys hope my remains will be deposited. 1t IS
the home Of my children; it is the home Of all that
is sacred to me- There, upon her soil and beneath,
her sky, the infant vision Of those that bone Of
| my bone and flesh of my flesh, first saw the light
| and will stand up and defend her.
The gentleman being hard pressed, must needs
| lug in unknd slusiOn. will not be invidiOus to
the citizens of the different States will 20 to
| Georgia and arraign her prOWess. l feel that my
position is too elevated for that love Georgia
love her people, and admire many of her insJitu-
tions and if I should be hard pressed here or else
where in discussion, by way Of covering retreat,
even we're il in my power TO do so, | would make no
unknd allusion TO her as a State or to her people.
The proves, the valOr Of Tennessee is arraigned
aud it is said that l. speaking behalf of the vol
unteer State, have indicated predictions for
MormOnism. l ask those who heard me yesterday,
the first time attempted to make little effort in
this Chamber whether that inference can fairly be
drawn from what said. Perhaps spoke hurriedly
and crudely, and may have said something by
nadvertenCe; but take the tenor and scope of what
| said, and can the gentlemen, even with magnify
ing glasses discover the slightest hint word hat
favored the institution Of MOrmonism? lie says
| that if that is my theory and if my people
entertain the same views, they might when they got
TO Utah as volunteers unite with Young and desert
| the standard of their country. So far the hon
orabe Senator's allusOR is concerned, l am willing
TO compare theory with him on the subject of Nor
monism, and / would not care much to compare
/ practice. will take him in theory or in practice,
/ Just which ever dilemma suits him best. ! spurn
the imputation as being unfounded and untrue in
reference to my State or myself
! l remarked in the little speech l made yesterday,
that need not be squeamish, or have tender
sensibiites so extraordinarily shocked at the Nor
mons, when the honorable chairman Of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, land intended it as
no imputatiOn on him. had just reported resolu-
tion-doing what! Providing for receiving, enter
tanning and comforting extraordinary privileges
upon the representative Of the Grand Turk of Con
stantnople. History informs that polygamy
exists in Turkey TO very great extent, but because
alluded to it, did say ustifeiit? l alluded to it
as palhaGng circumstance, aud to show why we
should not be so eager, in hot pursuit of the Nor
MONS either in reference TO religion the institu-
tiOns which they may have among them.
/ intended to say then what l shall say now, that
we have a striking illustration of the doctrine of
cur fathers, in regard to religious freedom by the
provision which is migrated in every constitution Of
the States Of the Federal Union that all men have
natural and iDdefeasible right to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates Of their own CON
science. l act upon this great principle Of civil
liberty Charles v, the Emperor Of Germany. when
he became tired Of the Of State resigned his
vast possession to his son, and, to amuse the evening
of his life retired TO monastery, aud there under
took 10 regulate the movement of watches; but
finding il impossible to make any two Of hem keep
precisely the same time, he was led to reflect on the
crime, the folly the Wickedness he had committed in
attempting to make men think alike. l am willing