Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-20
REMARKS
MES NJ. DAVIDSON

OF JAMES NJ. DAVIDSON,
Of Lincoln county, in the House of Representa-
tatises, ON the Resolution to grant the use Of the
HaH to the Ladies Of Nashville for an Anaetesr
Concert fo, charitable purposes.
Mr. SPEAKER A few moments ago, moved
that this House take up and consider Resolution
introduced by the Honorable member from WASH
ington, (Mr. Bayless,l and have been asked, to
what the Resolution refers, and why it should be
taken up ont of It's regular order By permission
of .the chair and with the indulgence of the House,
will offer brief explanation.
4 The Resolution contempiates the granting of the
use of this Hail. for might only to the Ladies
of Nashville; that they may give a concert for the
relief of the destitute poor of the city. Now,
whether we consider the proposition in relation to
those who ask this favor from representatives
of the people, or in reference to the object sought
to be accomplished it is entitled to support :
So far as / individually concerned would
not refuse the of this Hall to the ladies of this
city for any purpose-suhcient in their judgment
to warrant an application for it. The whole struc-
ture belongs to gallant people, and it can never
be graced by more appropriate ornaments than by
the wives and daughters oft owners. l am pleased
TO see them at all times within and about this Capt.
tol. They are welcome to its Halls-they well
come to the noble promenade that surround it. In
the name of the people l welcome beauty and in
teligence to the spot, where woman's rights
guarded by those deriving their highest energy from
the objects of their solicitude and care. welcome
them with the full assurance that neither the peo-
pie, the peoples representatives, nor the peoples
Halls of Legislation, can receive any injury-and
shall receive good from the presence and influence
of those, not less noted for their graces and
complishments than were their pioneer fathers and
mothers for their indomtable energy and courage.
| Still more do / favor this resolution since it is
| based on the foundation of Charity. 1t contem-
plates the relief of the suffering poor-at all times
entitled to the sympathy of kind hearts, but especial
| ly So when winter and financial arrangements have
| lessened their chances for comfort, and in some
| cases the probabilities of life. Do such exist in
this city? Need argue that, like all others, what
ever be the atfi1ence OF part of its citizens, and
| the reasonable competency of others, there
/ some, to whom winter brings its periodic suffering
| and want? Need state in this hall, introduce
| proof to show that there human beings in Nash
vile, unable to ward on cold or hunger--some who
/ know not at mornings dawn from what source their
/ evening meal may come? 1 need MOTTO argue the
existence of misery in city, doubt the in
telligence of those addressed since reading and OBJ
| servation must have satisfied all of thought
and experience, that city life presents in
| markabe degree, the extremes of human luxury
| and want. fae a-
Nashville has its poor--its suffering, miserable
| wretched poor; and to help these poor; to tighten
the load of misery; to ward off the rude blasts of
winter; to satisfy the cravings of hunger, and to
minister comfort to the sick, the ladies, in the full
ness of that benevoence which ought ever to keep
pace with their intelligence, propose to raise fund,
by means of Accomplishments derived from the cul-
| tivaton of poetry and song. When did poesy and
| music-when did intelligence and beauty, ever en-
list in hoer cause than when they seek by their
combined attractions to bring some human hearts
| to the relief of others in dstress2
In the instance before u.s. the cause gives sacred
sanction to It's friends; benevolence lends its holy
radiance to lovelness; and sweet voices attract to
themselves angel harmonies when woman employs
the entertainments of song on behalf of poverty and
want. Never, never does she appear more invest
ed and encircled by heavens bright radiance then
when in the hospital or the howell, she becomes an
angel of mercy to alleviate the mseres of her race
This Hall / shall therefore most cheerfully vote
to those ladies who have applied for it; and shall
do so without fear of offending those, whom have
| he honor to represent
1t has been said in cases of former application
for this Hail. that it cost much, that it belongs tot
the public, and that the people will hold their rep
| resentatyes to a strict account if they elbow the
use of it trivial occasions. admit the propriety
of guarding the public property, and l intend to
guard this structure from injury. l will not help
to apply it to individual benefit, allow 1t to be
| used on each and every unmportant occasion.
| But whilst this is so, l hold that the proposed
concert cannot be considered of small moment il
viewed in the light of its objects, its performers
| or the audience for whose entertainment they vii
appear. For one, l shall not fear the displeasure
| of my constituents account of my vote. Were
| they here to represent themselves, they would moi
refuse the of this hall, if cold, hunger, and
| sickness were 60 be removed or aevlated oy grant
| ing It Well assured am that there is not in Lin
coin, Marshall or Giles, boy, who will
quarrel with for voting for this resolution-they
are too gallant and too generous for that. My
belief is that similar sentiments pervade the mind:
! of the whole people, and that every gentleman or
this floor ought support the resolution, because
| the gallant and the good nil condensn
those scho aord to the beautiful the means Of min
istering to hsaistressed. d - a'-
Feeling confident that the concert will be il
keeping With the nobleness of the cause, the at
fractions OF the performers, and the spendor o
the hail. i long TO share in its entertainments, anC
to make up by the contemplation of " things o
beauty" which said to be "joys for ever" fol
| my inability to appreciate the modern niceties o.
song
/ wish every success to the concert that fail
| weather and fair afford and l trust
that when joy fits in bright beams the
| countenances of the wretched, reflection may
pass from them TO increase the happiness of those
who have taken such an interest in their cause.