Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-12-15
rh. Legislative Union and American.

By request, we publish the subjoined re-
marks of Mr.. EWING. Of Williamson, in the
House of Representatives yesterday. Mr..
EwrSe is friend to that enterprise. having
voted for a subscription for five copies for
she use of each member of ihe House at the
commencement of the session. and referred,
in argument, at the time, TO the previous
volume as useful and valuable. We are
sure bis complaints are sincere, and not
prompted by any desire to embarrass the
publication. Another member, Mr.. PORTER,
heretofore made a similar complaint to the
House. They believe that the reports of de-
bales are not SO full and impartial, as they
should be. Whilst we have regarded the
LeQislatiue Union and American as a highly inn
sportant and useful record of the proceedings
and debates of the Legislature, and are sin
long as it continues to be an impartial record
of the positions of members on questions of
state or national policy, it certainly loses it,
value and authority when it fails TO maintain
this character. We trust that no member
will feel just cause to express dissatisfaction
work IL made up; we have no doubt ID is
the object and desire of the publishers to
make it strictly what it purports to be a
fair, just and impartial record of the pro-
ceedings and debates of the General Assem-
bly,.
Mr.. EWING remarked:
Mr. SPEAKER IL arise to a personal ex-
PLANTATION. II the reports Of the debates in
this House are TO go to the country as official
aud with the sanction Of the House as to
either their fairness or impartialty, it must
be with my protest. L Tor one am unwilling
to endorse the Legislative Union and American
as either a fair, full or faithful report of the
debates of this body. l am unwilling that
the country shall render verdict ON the
evidence therein contained.
My understanding from the published
prospectus of that paper was that we should
be furnished. for our satisfaction, and that of
our constituents, with full report of the
proceedings of this body; and for one in
nocrntly inferred that this included the dis
cussions on this floor. Under this Impression,
ir will be remembered, favored the resolu-
lion to furnish each member with five copies
OF this paper. L have been egregionsly de-
ceivrd in the published reports. and wish to
declare here that SO far as 1 have observed
no man on either side OF this House bas been
faithfully reported unless he has chosen to
add to the emDluments of the reporter re-
ceived from his regular employers u special
reward for his services. This, in my opinion
Is extortion but L would have been willing
TO submit even to this in case OF extraordin-
ary labOrs, v here | or other members made a
spec oh of any length, but these quasi official
reports are becoming more and more meagre
small each day and beautifully less-unlil
now it seems he gives no report of utterances
on this floor unless furnished Herewith by
the gentleman making them. You will see
al once, Mr.. Speaker, bow great Injustice may
be done by this partial repor. of our pro-
ceedings. One gentleman may furnish the
reporter with his written arguments, and
they, under this system, may go to the
country, whilst gentlemen occupying diff
ferent position are represented to maintain
an utter silence on the same subject, al
though their constituents may be vitality in
terested in the measure. fE -'
On yesterday, made few remarks on
the resolution before the House in reference
to the establishment OF State Military
School at the Hermitage. The remarks of
another member appear in full in the pub
lished proceedings of this House, whilst / am
represented IL maintaining utter silence on
the subject OF my own proposition. My con-
stituents win hardly understand this silence
on my part. They have not heretofore
known me as one who avoided such gladia-
tOrship.
Irpeat, think some expression of Cpl
MON Is necessary on the part of this House
in reference to this matter. If the labor of
the reporter is too great. the proprietors of
the LtgisLGtiUe Union and american should fur
nish him with additional assistance. They
are not now carrying out in good faith the
contract entered into with this body; or if
they are, was deceived as 10 the extent OF
the engagements entered into by them. |
therefore give the propriz.ors of the LegisLa-
fius Union and A1neTicdn fair notice that unless
some wholesome reform is introduced in re-
gard TO this matter, / will introduce resolu-
ton to discontinue the paper.