Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-11

This will enable them To bring the message before
their readers less expense than the usual COST Oh
composition, and at earlier day. Such as may de-
sire to avail themselves of this offer, should write
Immediately
The HarPers Ferry Resell ssclut i.HIn :. The he
Truth OF History - The manner IN
Error
We have endeavored heretofore 20 give an impair
tial statement of the action of the Legislature on
the "Harper's Ferry Resolutions" and have ex-
pressed our regret that they were not unanimously
adopted by that body; preferring the moral effect
that would have resulted from such action, to any
mere party advantage enuring To us from a contra
nv policy. The Banner dsagrees with in our
conclusions, and attempts very naturally, to justify
the action of its party friends and in doing so,
does injustice to well to the facts of history
For the interest of the public, and the better in
formation of the Bonner, we propose brief review
OF this entire subject
The resolutions introduced by Mr.. BAYIEss soon
after the reasonable insurrectiOnary attempt at
Harper's Ferry were based upon preamble, set
ting forth the fact that dangerous epoch had arts
en- in the history of the country, growing out of the
fanatcal aglyressons the reserved rights of the
States; and that the instruction at Harpers Fer
~ was the legitimate fruit Of that reasonable ir
repressibe conflict doctrine promulgated by SEW
ARD, the recognized head of the Black Republican
party. The first resolution declared it " the imper
atIve duty Of national men Of all parties through
out the Union TO denounce the world their sense
of its infany, and to unite in crushing out its
thorsas traitors to their country and deadly en-
emIes to the public peace The second resolution
repealed with indignity, the slanderous declaration
of SEWARD, that any respectable portion Of the
Southern people, under the lead of such men as
n. II u Pr
with the Black Republicans prevent the extension
Of slavery, and viii finally rise up against slavery"
The third, and most important resolution, was as
follows:
ReSolcef, That it is the duty of our Representa-
tives in Congress TO recognize as enemies to the
UniOn and especially to the slave States. all who in
any way favor affiliate with this sectional Black
Republican party; ard that any action on their
part, which favors "A cooperation with the Black
Republicans in organizing the House. and thus
placing the offices and important committees of that
body under their control would be false to the sen
tment Of the people of Tennessee, insult to their
constituents, and disgraceful to themselves.
The fourth and fifth were immaterial.
These resolutions coming up for action Mr. BRAz-
ELTON an Opposition member. Offered in lieu series
Of resolutions entirely different in matter and tone,
simply condemnng this attempt to excite an insur-
rection expressing the wish that the parties to
the insane and reasonable plot may meet with
prompt and signal punishment; approving in com
Plimentary terms the prompt and energetic action
Of President BUCHlNAN and Gov WISE in suppress
ing the outbreak and pIedging Tennessee to uphold
and support the President and the State of Virginia
IN the position they have assumed. This was an |
avoidance Of all the points made in the original res
olutions.
The friends of the original resolutions expressed |
a willingness to accept them as an amendment but |
not in lieu ITO this their author Mr.. BEAzELToN dis
scented, expressing unwillingness to vote for the
original resolutions. Thareupon the resolutions of
MIR. BRAzELToy were voted to the table.
The next melton made by Mr. DAVIS, (Oppo-
ston,) to adopt the following, IN lieu of the third
original resolution. published above:
"Rosoloca, That this General Assembly have the
utmost confidence IN the patriotism and devotion of
our representative in Congress 50 the Union of the
States 10 Southern rights and institutions, and we
feel assured that in the organization of the House
of Representatives in the next Congress they will
do nothing TO weaken the bonds OF the UIion, det
rmental 10 the interests of the southern States or
their constituents.
Here was another effort to dodge the question and.
avoid any expression Of opinion hostile to fusion
of Southern representatives with this sectional
Black Republican party But the Democrats were
unwilling thar the public should be cheated in this
manner. and to test the sincerity and expose the mo-
tives Of the Opposition, Mr CAN'T, Democrat,) Of
fered an amendment TO Mr.. DAVIS resolution as
follows:
And that our confidence in them can only be
shaken when it shall become manifest that they
willing 10 cualy>cc with the sectional organization
known the hiac, Republican party in the
erection Of officers of the House of Representatives
and which If done BY Them would Toe outrage
upon the public sentiment Of the State Of Tcnncs
see
Mr.. WIsaNEH ,Opposiiion) moved amendment
in the third degree 10 Mr.. GANrGs amendment as
follows: After .hr word Black Republican party
insert the words: southern scctonaIism as man
ifested in the course Of the disunionsts and seces
sionsts in the South in the election of officers OF
the House Of Representatives DC.
The motion OF Mr.. WsENER let it be horne in mind
rot to amend the original resolution Of Mr.. BAY
LESS, but to amend the amendment of Mr.. CAN'T
The Banner has represented it a proposition to
amend the original proposition to amend the origi-
nal resolution and upon this error based argu-
ment in its issue of Friday. We trust our cotempo
rary viii make the necessary correction, upon a
better understanding of the subject.
We have thus briefly stated the facts, and the man
ner in which they occurred. We ask the impartial
public 10 pause and determine the legitimate con
illusions to which they lead. The question under
consideration was the attempted insurrection at
Harper's Ferry; the reasonable Black Republican
"irrepresshlc conflict" doctrine from which it
sprung. and the duty of Representatives in Con
grsss to avoid any steps which would aid in placing
the offices and important committees of Congress
under their control The attempt of the Opposition
was to do3yc that question, by their resolution in
lieu, offered by Mr.. DAVIS ana by the amendment to
Mr.. GANrr's amendment offered by Mr.. WrssNEH. {
3
Southern sectonaIsm. Moreover, whatever NAV
be said of individuals factions, there is no such
party the South in Congress As the sccessionists
and disunionsts" and We cannot believe that even
Mr. WIsENER, if pressed to the point would SO in L
Sst 1t evident therefore, that the sole purpose
Of these Opposition leaders TO avoId being ex
posed from coming to a direct vote upon the mode
rate but explicit resolution of Mr.. BAYLEss. 81
The next step in the history of this proceeding
was the motion OF Mr.. CAN'T, TO lay the table c
the amendment proposed by Mr. WIsENER, which
was carried by strict party The vote was ?,
then taken motion to lay the table the amend
ment offered by Mr.. CAN'T to the resolution OF Mr.
DAVIS and for So laying it the table every Oppo
Eition member voted. thus showing their unwilling
ness to say that a coalition upon the part of Ten !,
nessee members with the Black Republicans in or 81
IN them The motion 10 lay Mr.. GANrrs motion on p
the table having failed. it then moved and car
ried Uhe Democrats only voting in the Affirmative
to table the resolution oflIr DAVIS Thlrcupon Mr. 81
Ewing (oppssmon} offered series of resolutions 20
in lieu Of the original B,y.a~s resolutions which
have been twice published in full in our paper first N
as presented by himself and subsequently as pre M
,ented by Mr.. RcHiEnloN in the Senate-tbe sinh 90
Itance of which was, simply, that the attempt o. d,
BROWN and his followers was silly and wicked re- m
'utng from gross deluslon winch prevails at the &
Sorth-a delusion which it would be unyyisc ..t, o.,
confirm or strengthen by exageratng for party e.
ect for any other purpose. the danger to be an ii
1rehended from such outbreaks that of JONI
Brown and his foIwers = that while 1t is NANTES,
hat they received direct and and encourag ernen y,
rom many abolition leaders, nevertheless, d, Ri
lot believe the great body OF the Republican party g,