Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-06-29
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE go, 1859.
Col. NetherIand; His ReckIeSsness and
- ~ mIsrePresentatIOns.


"a ~ misrepresentation. a
From the very commencement Of this canvass,
Col NETHEBLASD has manifested disregard for
the accuracy Of his statements "which Ony be
accounted for on the well established principle" Of
his party leaders, that they may iunocently commit
"a a acts as politicians, (Which, as individuals they
would blush TO justify"
While we cannot perceive that deception in politics
is In any degree excusable than it would be in
the private relations Of lfe willing thst Col
% EETHERLAxD Should avail himself Of any justifca-
tioR for his conduct which the practices of his party
may afford him.
When, in his speech in this city, on the 9th Of
April he defended the ubiquitous apportionmen act
Of 1872, by which he virtually disfrauchised
large portion of the citizens of Tennessee on the
Jesuitical plea ''thst he doing Gods service in
beating the Democracy" he frankly announced the
principle on which he doubtless acted in supporting
that most infamous measure, and the principle on
which he seems to have been acting throughout this
canvass This defeat of the Democratic pary-his
own success is the end he is seeking to accomplish,
and he does not hesitate TO avail himself of any
means which may contribute to that end.
Finding that he had gone too far in stating so ex-
picity the motive by which he was actusted in the
dstrioting Of the State. Col NETHERLAND has
since resorted to justification less honorable, than
He is in the habit of asserting on every stump in
the face Of Intelligent audiences who too well
informed to perceive the Misrepresentation, and
too honest not to condemnit that the appOrtOnment
act Of 1872 gave the Democracy q larger repre-
sentaiion in the General Assembly than they had
under the old apportiOnment. Now Col NEITHER
LAND was 9 member of the Committee which framed
this appOrtiOnment bill, and he must know the
true state of the facts. Why, then, does he mis-
represent themI Even according to his own theory
that she is doing Gods service in beating the De-
mocracy," his policy in this matter is bad The
Misrepresentation is easily exposed By reference to
the records, and popular condemnation, IN such
cases, always follows exposure.
z. In the General Assembly Of 1852, which pass
ed that apportiOnment bill the Opposition had a
majority of ten on joint ballot, while Gov. CAMP
BELL carried the State by about 1900. Ia the first
Legislature elected under Col NLTHERLAND's appor
tIonment the Opposition had majority of II on
jOirt ballot while the State gave Democratic msjor-
iiy Of over two thousand votes in the governors
election.
The Bill as fixed up by Col. EETHERLAND and his
colleagues on the committee, gave the Opposition
still larger msjority joint ballot, but many dis
tries Sere reyolutionized in favor of the Democra
cy at he election of 1858. thus rebuking and 10
some extent co recting the injustice which Col.
is difficult to conceive how Col NETHERLAND can
have the erontery to assert the face of these facts
that the apportionment bill Of 1851 gave the Dem
Ocraev larger representation than the old appor
tonneut
90 Under the old appOrtionment the Democracy had
46 out of 100 members of the GeueralAssembly,
Of 1872 with majority Of 1900 against them in
the State In 1884 under Col. NETHERLANDS
apportiOnment the Democracy had but 40 out of
= hundred members of the General Assembly, with
majority Of 900 votes in their favor in the State
Yet Col NKTHEELAND continues to repeat state
ment which he must know is incorrect
Another misrepresentation.
The Memphis Enquirer, one of Col. NETHERLANDS
organs, reports him as saying in his speech in that
city
ain ls47 we had war with Mexico Tennessee
volunteers were there and did honor to their state
and the country. They came home after having as
sisted in planting the stars and stripes IN triumph
in the City of Mexico. And in 1850 proposition
was made in Congress to give additional pay to the
rank and file of the army that had served in that
Giddngs and his Abolition cohorts voted
against it. and member from Tennessee found
shoulder shoulder With that AbOlitiOnist in
his opposition to that measure Who was he?
Turning to Gov. Harris, he continued, % as Nathan
said unto David, thou art the mani"
Here the charge is directly made by Col. METH
- RRLAED that Gov. HARRIS voted against PROPOSE
tOA to give additional pay to the soldiers who had
served in the with Mexico. An attempt is
made to excite the indignation Of the people against
Gov HARRIS on the ground that he refused to re-
ward the services of those gallant men who had
bstled SO bravely for the honor and glory of their
country. The seriousness of the charge and the
solemnify with which it is made, gives ii all the
authority which any statement from Col. NEITHER
LAND can possess. 1t could not be supposed by the
audience that Col. n. unscqusintei with the
facts he was asserting with much energy and
confidence. He surely would not be guilty of the
injustice of making grave an accusation against
-- Gov HARRIS without being assured Of is truth
Such vas the impression that Col. NETHERLANDS
assured and confident manner Of urging this accu-
s.tiou was calculsted and intended to produce |
And yet the charge is utterly and totally untrue
II has no foundation in fact whatever. 1t is en-
tirely unsupported by the records which were &C
cessible to Col. NErHKBLAND and which his hearers
Of course So posed he had consulted
There was proposition before Congress to IN
crease the pay Of the soldiers Whs hsd served in y,
Mexico, alledged by Col NErHERLAED.
On the 26ih day of February, 1850, " Mr. Burt !
from the Committee Military affairs" reported
"a bill to increase the rank and file Of the army,
and to encourage enistmtnts" Cong Globe, LIST |
.1- Ees. 31st Congress, page 42l.
The Bill as passed is follows, (see Statutes Of |
Legs, 1880, pages ASs--9):