Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-12
The RUTHERFORD Gerrymander.

The democracy of the present Tennessee
legislature are attempting to gerrymander
,ome portions of this State on an exceedingly
mall scale Having talked themselves hoarse
abusing what they have termed the 81 infa-
nous Henrymander,n they are now seeking to
accomplish what they accused the old Wing
party with on microscopic plan. 1t is well
6nown that the last contest for Representative
IN Rutherford county, resulted in favor of the
American candidate by the mere compliment
Of a " bakers Dozen" And in order to change
the complexion of that county, project was
set on foot in the Senate some days since to
attach part of Coffee, a strongly democratic
county, to Rutherford. This measure coming
ND in the House on Thursday, Z" to make assu-
rance double sure" Mr. TURNER, of Sumner,
proposed to amend it by taking off also a
part of Davidson to add to Rutherford. DR..
RICHARDSON, the very able and faithful repre-
sentative of Rutherford, opposed the scheme,
and stated that the district now sought to be
attached to Rutherford was detached from
that county in l848 and added to Davidson at
the instance and petition of the citizens of
that district. But Mr.. TURNER met this objec
ton by exhibiting petition from the citizens
of this same district, alleging that they had
been placed in Davidson county without their
consent. and wished that the present Legisla-
ture should restore them to Rutherford Mr..
Turner, strongly intimating that the change
was originally 3 political trick. Mr.. RICHARD
SON denied that there was any trickery in his
knowledge, and insisted that these people
themselves suggested and applied for the
change. He further exposed the fact that the
present application was gotten up in Muir
Ifreesborough, as he was informed and believed,
and did not originate with the petitioners
He was unable to find the original petitions;
but in the afternoon of Thursday, he arose to
personal explanation and made the follow
ing remarks:
"Mr. Speaker: 1t will be remembered that
/ was somewhat excited during part of the
debate this morning on the proposition to
change the line between the counties of Ruth
erford and Davidson; and / stated a. a fact
that the citizens of the district in question
h had sent up petition, with upwards of sixty
|, signatures, asking the change that was then
made, l was then a member of the Senate,
and Mr.. Burress was the Representative in this
HOUSE nave 1OunQ IN tne Journals OF the
Session of 1878, where Mr.. BUrress present
ed the petition (NO 205,) the one in question,
with "a signatures to it. / have have also
found that on the LIST Feb. 1S4S, in the Senate.
the bill to change the line between the coun-
ties of Greene and Cooke coming up, Mr.
Meigs moved to amend by changing the line
between Law dson and Rutherford, the change
now under discussion) and the amendment
was adopted by vote of IL to 6. (Mr. Il.
here read the Journals showing the facts) |
further find that, of the ii democrats then in
the Senate, five of them voted for the amend
ment. give these facts to show the correct
ness of my statements this morning-that the
change was originally made at the instance
of the people concerned, and that there was
no political trick in it."
This is very small business at best, but
it shows Enthusiastically how low the sham de
mocracy can stoop, Gf indeed, it is not on
their ordinary leveD to gain a mere party
point.