Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-12
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
EXTRA SESSION.
SENATE.

FRIDAY, Jan. II, 1861.
The Senate was opened with prayer by the
Rev Mr.. Bardwell.
The Committee on Banks reported adverse
ly to the Bill 10 amend the charter OF the
Bank of WestTennessee, and recommending
the passage of tie Bill regulating the APP
praisement Law. and the Resolution for the
relief of Ed. Willis.
The Committee on Federal Relations re-
commended the passage of the Bill calling a
Convention of the people of Tennessee
Mr. Richardson submitted a resolution
which lies over.
Mr.. Allen offered bill, (amending the
stay laws) for the relief Of the people he
ferred to Select Committee.
Mr. Payne's Bill, calling Convention OF
the people of Tennessee, came up on second
reading.
M. Stokes offered an amendment, prOvi-
ding that when the people come to vote for
delegates to the Convention they may vote
Union" or "DisHniOn.'
Mr. Wood moved that Submission" be
substituted for ~ MON" in the amendment.
Mr.. Payne said, What do Senators mean
by Union? Do they mean Union under Lin
coin. or a Union with the Constitution I'M
broken and the rights of the South protected?
Mr. Stokes said he did not doubt that the
people will know what Union means. The
question of Union or Disunion was before
the country, and he desired 10 know how the
people stood upon the question. If the Con-
federacy is to be broken up and We are 10
have civil war and all its attendant calami-
ties, the question should be put to the people,
that the Convention may act in conformity
TO their wishes. He desired TO appeal from
the politicians to the people. We have been
led too long, both North and South, by the
latter, whose only guiding star is their own
promotion. he desired 10 hear, not the pol
iticians. but the people speak in this matter.
When Tennessee had spoken he would suo-
NIT to her decision.
Mr.. Payne said it would seem that the peo-
pie were incapable of deciding the question
when they come to vote for or against Con-
vention as provided for in the bill as 1t now
stands. He thought the people might make
known their sentiments in terms sutlcIenll ~
plain in the election of their representatives
in that Convention, and he would not seek
to tramble the action OF the Convention and
involve it in ineyplcable difficulties. which
would be the tendency of the proposed amend
ment Senators had spoken OF Union Union!
What sort of Union What does the Senator
from Wilson mean by Union? Some of the
people of Tennessee would have no Union
without stronger guarantees protecting the
rights of the States; others will take II as II
comes-Union on any terms. How are the
two classes to vote as provided for By the
amendment The bill would speak with q
forked tongue, and two constructions would
be plac, d upon it.
MIR. Stokes said the Senator processes not
to understand what is meant by Union
There was time when he did understand it,
He understood il on a memorable occasion
when he Travelled North. II those who OPP
posed the amendment did not wish to force
Tennessee into secession, why did they Te-
fuse TO submit the question 10 the people!
Did they fear the RESULT Of such proceed
ing? The amendment was intended simply
as a means OF ascertaining whether the peo-
pie of Tennessee are for the Union or Dis
union. All he asked or desired was that
they might be afforded an opportunity TO
make known their sentiments upon the ques-
ton. There was no grounds to fear that they
would be at a loss To know what is meant by
the Union. We have but one Union, and be
would ask how is possible iOr there to BE- a
misunderstanding as 10 its identity? Was
Tennessee TO be dragged into that vortex oi
secession into which some of her sister Stat e.
were falling? Who would deny the people
the right to say whether they are for Ihe
Union: He wanted TO hear them speak =
HIS people, he knew, were for lighting the
question in the Union, and be desired TO
transfer it from the politicians TO the great
body of the people
Mr.. Payne objected to the amendment be-
cause be did not wish TO bind the people with
leading strings-make them put words on their
tickets they did notwant to use. be would
not stay in the Union under Lincoln. He
loved the Union as il once exis, ed, bat throw
the pail of Black Republicanism around i!
and its last hope is gone. Ii the North would
offer plan of settlement guaranteeing our
rights he would accept il gladly. Some were
for waitiug-irusIing TO God and sll that
sort of thing-hoping that Lincoln would
be converted by come great political camp
meeting. He had no sucn hope. Should the
State vote for the Union under this amend.
ment, Tennessee would be heralded - the
world as having voted TO submit To the rule
of Lincoln.
Mr.. Stokes asked If the Senator from Shell
by were for secession7
"a. Payne. / have said nothing about it.
Mr. Stokes said if the gentleman was for
secession or disunion he should have The
uianiiness to nail his cOlors to the mast aud
saw whose lead he followed.
On motion of Mr.. Peters the amendments
of Messrs. Stokes and Wood were laid ON the
table by the following vote:
AYEs.-Hiidrelh, Hunter. johnson, Lane
Mickey, Minnis, McClelland, McNelly,
Payne, Peters, SIovall, Wood and Newman
- Is.
NoEs--Aiien, Boyd, Bradford, Bumpass
Horn, Nash, Richardson, Stokes and Stoke
1y-s.