Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-03-27
COMMUNICATED.
wAsH1Eoroz, March Is, 1858.

importance that comes before Congress, has been
disposed Il. great many bunoombe aud a fsS0
sensible sueeches have been made. In the latter
class, 1 am gratiied to be able to place, among
the very best if not the very best, the speech of
the honorable Samuel A. Smith, the distinguished
representative from the third Congressional District
Of your State, delivered in the House, few days
subsequent to the date of my last letter 10 you
This speech added largely to the previous high rep
utation enjoyed by Mr.. Smith as sound, conserva-
tive aud able statesman. It vas listened to with
the most marked attention and interest by the whole
House, compliment by the way, seldom paid any
man; and never any, except one whose ability is
known, and whose opinions are valued,-and has
been more largely subscribed for and more widely
circulated by other members, than any speech de-
ivered in Congress for many years. As you win no
doubt take an early opportunity lay it before your
readers in full, I viii not do its distinguished au-
thor the injustice to attempt abstract Of his ar
! gument in so small space as is allowable in q
communication like this. To be appreciated, the
! speech must be read
You will have seen an account, before this reaches
you, Of the proceedings which occurred in the Sen
ate on Monday night It was a most extraordinary
scene, and one which presented in the strongest
light the fac,ious spirit that controls the opponents
Of the administration and the democracy in their
| opposition to the great measure now pending The
Kansas question, as you know, has been under dis
cussion almost every day. since the meeting Of Con-
| gress. The most ample opportunities having been
afforded by its friends, to the enemies Of the L.
compton Constitution, for expressing their views in
regard to it, and certainly one who is aware Of
the amount of speaking they have devoted to the
subject, say that the indulgence given has not
been enjoyed to the fullest extent) they mott;
| fed on Monday morning that a vote would be dc.
manded upon the BILL during the present week
Bent on agitation, and determined to prevent any
early disposition of the subject the anti-Lecomp-
tOntes refused either to come to a VOTE or to set
day upon which they would be willing to So After
resorting to all sorts of dilatory notions and vast
amount of Dragging and threatening, they caved
i'm about six o'clock on Tuesday morning, by agree
7 ing to come to final vote next Monday. During
the night struggle Mr.. Green of Missouri, and Mr.
Cameron Of Pennsylvania, got into personal con-
troversy in the course of which the former branded
the latter with the Gle direct" Mutual explana-
/ tions ensued, however, and the matter was ' ami
cably and bonOrably adjusted" on Tuesday morn
| ing.
Mr. Crittenden of Kentucky, delivereda long and
elaborate speech this evening in opposition to the
admission of Kansas, under the LecOmptOn Consti-
tuition Aside from the manner of its delivery which
was excellent there was nothing in his speech that
may not be found in any one of the Black Re-
publican harangues that have preceded it on the
same subject. Its only Importance as an argument
consists in the fact that it from southern man
the first and only one that has yet dared to throw
himself openly into the breach with Seward and his
followers, in opposition to the rights Of his own
section and 10 the good of the Union. had fire.
quently seen it stated in the correspondence of the
Black Republican paper from this city, that Mr.
Crittenden would finally take this course; but not
withstanding this and while was well aware that
his prejudices against the Democratic party we're
quite violent and would carry him quite far as
any other mans in opposition to its principles and
measures, confess that was by no means prepared
to believe they would lead him into thorough an
adoption of Black Republican sentiments on this
subject, as was indicated by his remarks to day.
did suppose that, with all his prejudces against any
and everything democratic, Mr.. Crittenden still
tanned sufficient regard for the opinions and inter-
ests of the gallant people whom he has the honor to
represent to say nothing of his own self respect,
| to induce him to stand with the South and by the
/ Union in the present controversy. I regret, how
! ever, to find that have been mistaken aud if
possible, that Mr. Crittenden is more thanever we'd
ded to his old and long cherished anti-democrstic
! prejudices Few Southern men, imagine, evenof
his own party can find it in their hearts to excuse
his course on this question; and certain am that
no true friend ofthe South honestly DO so, after
listening to his unjust reflections upon the pro sls
very party in Kansas and witnessing the hearty
satisfaction with which, they were received by his
/ Black Republican allies. There is but one other
Southern man in the Senate who sympathizes with
Mr.. Crttenden, and who will probably dare follow
him in his unpatriotic and anti southern course
That man is John Bell, of Tennessee. The political
conduct Of both these gentlemen has been most en-
phatically and Enthusiastically condemned by their
respective constituents and were it not well known
that they each aspire to the Presidency, their
present position and associations might be attributed
to chagrin and disappointment or to a desire to
crafty their old sntpathies against the Democratic
party by striking it another blow, feeble though it be-
before they depart forever from the political stage
As it is, however, the evolutions are very easy
ones. No one can fail to understand them. But Mr.
Crittendeu has settled them both for Mr. Bell he
has out heroded Herod. His speech to-day was a
splendid coup dctat which has taken the last breath
of wind out Of his rivals sails. Mr.. Bell has seen
the advantage his hardness has lost him, and that
another occupies the place in Black Republi-
candom which he had fondly trusted was in reserve
for himself lie, however, has made haste to retrieve
his error, and is engaged in delivering most
furious speech against the Lecompton Constitution
As he has signifed hisntention to review the Nebras-
ka Bill, it will probably be day or two before he
closes. Mr. Toombs of Georgia, made thismorning
Of the ablest and most manly speeches that has
yet been delivered in the Senate on the Kansas
question. Mr.. Green will probably be the only
other Southern Senator that will speak on the sub
jeot.
! But have already written more, much more,
! than intended when sat down. I will only add
that Mr. Crittenden's speech is supposed to be in
dioatve Of the final position of the Kentucky Know
NOthiRgs Messrs. Marshall and Underwood. Our
own men, Messrs Zollicofer, Ready, and May
nard, to their honor be it said, are standing and
will continue to stand firmly by the South the Con-
stitution and the Union. I still hope that Kansas
will be admitted, though the detection among the
KnoWNOthings has shaken my confidence greatly
If the bill for admission is rejected theirs will be
! the responsibility.
TENNESSEE.
TIE HoRsE SECRET Is oUT.-The English papers
are discussing the question of the secret by which
the Ohio horse tanner is able to sutdue the most
vicious and intractable of the horse species. The
London Punch says: "Rarey whispers in the ear of
the vicious animal, Now, be quiet, or III read YOU
an article out Of the Morning Star, and the horse
obsys, partly through terror of the punishment
threatened and partly to show that he hasn't the
taste of a donkey"
TENNESSEE AND ALABAMA RAILRoAD-The Hunts
vile A3poeats of the 18th says:
We are gratfed to learn the rapid progress making
in the construction of this road It is nearly all
graded from its intersection with the Memphis and
Charleston Road to Athens-the crossties contract
ed for and are being devered-the iron has arrived