Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-15
APrtvate Letter made PubIic.

During the discussion of the proposition to
attach portion of Davidson county to Ruth
erford, Mr. TURNER of Sumner, took oeca-
sion to read some extracts from letter
written by DIR. RICHARDSON, the Represen-
tative from Rutherford to an old friend in the
Western District, in reference TO change
of certain county lines in that division OF the
State in which, after stating his main obJec-
ton to the proposed change, be referred to the
fact that its effect would be to place two 9th
er sham democratic members in the Legisla-
tnre, while there was already too many by
dozen. The following are the remarks of Mr..
r. in relation to that, delivered on Saturday:
Personal EXPLANATION.
Mr. RICHARDSON said The gentleman from
Sumner replied to the article in the Banner of
yesterday morning, charging him with reading
ian extract from private letter on brother
member" as follows:@"The political complex
ion of Haywood and Dyer may be and will be
permanently affected by this move. and they
will both be- as l understand, hopelcssly de-
mocratic. We shall then have, certainly, two
more democratic members continually in the
Legislature, and we have at least one dozen
too many now" believing that you have
neither changed your religion, nor politics.
do not feel at liberty to destroy the constitu-
tiOnal provisions, in order to advance the in
tercst of Johnsonian Democracy"
1t is perhaps due to myself Mr.. Richardson
remarked, and also to the members of the
House, that / should make statement in re-
ply TO the gentleman from sumner.
Several years ago the Legislature authorized
the formation of a new county in West Tenn
essee to be called the county of Crockett 1t
was ascertained that the county could not be
formed, as its creation would be unconstitutional.
Soon after the meeting of the present Cen
eral ASS mbiy, / received several letters from
my old acquaintance living in the section of
country i'll which the new county was desired,
requesting me to vote for and advocate the
passage of Mr.. Bradford's Bill, proposing to
cut of portions of Territory from Haywood,
Gibson and Dyer, and attach to Madison coun-
ty, in order, as | understood, at the next meet
ing Of the General Assembly to divide Madi-
son and thereby make a new county.
In answer to those letters. | stated gener-
ally my views on this subject in this language
as nearly as i can now remember. That | I'M
derstOod there was not sufficient territory be
tween the counties of Madison, Haywood
Gibson and Dyer to make nel0 county, with
out violating the constitution, and it seemed
TO be that this measure of cutting off portions
ofcountes and attaching them to another. for
the purpose finally of dividing the latter.
would be doing thing indirectly which we
could not do directly. And that although /
was anxious for the people To have a new
county, and would do all that could to effect
that object cOnstitutionally; yet with the
fights now before me, | did not see how
could support the bill without violating what
understood to be my constitutional duty to
The old counties. h4l
In answer 10 the letter Of an old and val
-ED Ill 10
on the subject. with whom l had been upon
terms Of more than ordinary friendship, after
making the Suggestions above stated | play
fully wrote the matter above quoted as an cX-
tract from my letter by the gentleman from
Sumner.
Now Mr.. Speaker. | care nothing about
this, and so far as the gentlcman's remarks
apply to the Banner / have nothing to say
But if the gentleman has a copy of the letter
from which he read the extract. ] viii be
obliged to him to LET me have it in order that
l may read it all to the TT0use.
OR. Turner remarked that he only had the
extract which he had ready
Mr.. Richardson continued by saving, that he
knew that the Democrats had the letter. or
the extract, and had known it for some time
that he received communication from a
friend in West Tennessee informing him that a
copy of his letter had been sent to Nashville
/ say il was true that | wrote such a letter
"A private letter as thought and considered,
tho it was not marked private, and | do not
complain at its reading here, for it does not
contain anything which am not willing to
announce to the House.
1t is true, Mr.. Speaker, that | said 70 my old
friend. what is read as an extract from my let
ter To him-cOncluding: .'we shall then have
two more democratic members continually in
the Legislature, and we have at least one doz-
en- too many now. Believing that you have
neither changed your religion nor politics, l
do not feel at liberty to destroy the constitu-
tion provisions, in order to advance the inter
ests of Johnsonian democracy" This | said
playfnliy and jocularly to my old friend, but
Mr.. Speaker. it contains my sentiments, and
most cordially endorse them.