Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-15


beratiug in the Hall, we have the open dec
laration that they intend to exercise the con-
troll of the navigation of the Mississippi.
Would it not have been better for 1ouisi-
ana 1--~=--sa4---- s----zse
Mr. Lane. think the Senator ought to al.
low me to, say one word .--------------
Mr. johnson, of Tennessee. do not want
to be interrupted. I certainly mean no dis
courtesy at all to the Senator.
Mr.. Lane. only wish to say, in the way
of explanation, that the people of New Or
leans have had police regulations By which
they have collected taxes to improve the
wharves ever since New Orleans belonged to
this country.
Mr.. johnson, of Tennessee. II is a very
common thing in all cities where there are
wharves, either on the river or ocean, to have
what is commonly called a wharfage tax.
We understand that the navigation Of the
high seas and rivers is a different thing from
paying wharfage. and a little tax to defray
the expense of keeping wharves and docks
up. We understand all about that. That is
a very different affair from placing batteries
at this early day upon the banks of that great
stream.
Mr.. Lane. That was against the common
enemy.
Mr. johnson. of Tennessee. did not know
we had any enemies in these States. /
thought we were brothers, and were entitled
to free trade from one extremity of this con.
federacy to the other. / did not know that
the people of Indiana and Illinois and Ken
lucky and Tennessee, going along down that
river. had got to be enemies | suppose, how
ever, when we look at these things our minds
change and vary by varying circumstances.
When we are candidates for the Presidency
we feel more like brothers; but when we
have made the experiment and signally fail
ed, suppose the enenay's line begins just at the
line ichere our defeat ,cas contaminated. Laugh
ter and applause in the galleries.
The presiding officer called to order.
Mr.. johnson, of Tennessee. How long has
it been since we we're prepared to go to war
with the most formidable power upon earth
because she claimed the right of search? We
would not coneede to Great Britain the right
of searching our ships on the high seas; and
yet what do we now see? Batteries placed
upon the banks of the Mississippi to enforce
the right of search. Do we not see where it
will lead? Do We not all know in what it
will ends
THE GREAT WRONGS INFLICTED UPON LoUI-
Sir, what are the great wrongs that have
been inflicted upon louisiana Prior to 1903,
Louisiana was transferred from Spain to
France, and from France back to Spain
both property and sovereignty-almost with
the same facility as chattel from one per-
son to another. On the 30th of April, 1903,
condition of Louisiana? 1t was then a pro-
vince OF the First Consul of France, subject
to be disposed of at bis discretion. The Uni
ted STAGES did what? Came forward and paid
to the First Consul of France 60, 000, 000f. for
the territory. The treaty was made; the ter
ritOry was transferred; and in 1906, in ex-
press compliance with the treaty, as soon as
practicable, according to the terms of the
Federal Constitution, Louisiana was admit
ted into the Union as State. We bought
her; we paid for her; we admitted her into
the Union upon terms of equality with the
other States. Was there any oppression, any
great wrong, any great grievance in that?
In 18l5-war having been declared in
1S12-Louisiana was attacked; the city of
New Orleans was about to be sacked and
laid PROSTATE in the dust; s'beauty and
booty" were the watchwords. She was op-
pressed then, was she not? Kentucky, your
own gallant State, sir, (and, thank Godl she
is standing erect now0 and Tennessee,
(Which, as / honestly believe, will ever stand
by her side in this struggle for the Constitu-
zion and the Uniou,) in conf anction with
other States, met Packenham and his myrmi-
dons upon the plains of New Orleans, and
there dealt out death and desolation to her
invading foe. What soil did we invade?
What city did we propose to sack? Whose
property did we propose to destroy? Was
not Louisiana there gallantly, bravely, pa
triotically defended, by the people of the
United States, from the inroads aud from the
sacking of British foe? Is that defense one
of her expressions? Is that one of the great
wrongs that have been inflicted upon LOuisl-
ana?
What more has been done by this Govern
ment? How much protection has she receiv-
ed upon her sugari In order to give that
protection, the poorest man throughout the
United States is taxed for every spoonful
that he uses to sweeten his coffee. How
many millions, under the operation of pro-
lection on sugar, have been contributed to
the wealth and prosperity of Louisiana since
she has been in this Confederacy! Estimate
them. Is this another of her wrongs! Is
this another of her grievances? Is this
another of the expressions that the United
States have inflicted upon Louisiana?
Sum them all up, and what are the
wrongs, what the grievances which justify
Louisiana in taking leave of the United
States? We have defended her soil and her
citizens; we have paid the price asked for
her by the French Government; she has been
protected in the production OF her sugar,
and in the enjoyment of every right that a
sovereign State could ask at tie hands of the
cucfdi ToScTuiueut. anu LOW AaS Ene
treated the United States? What is her posi-
lion? Upon her own volition, without con-
'ultation with her sister States; without ev-
IN consulting with Tennessee and Kentucky,
Who defended her when she was in peril, she
proposes to secede from the Union. She does
more: in violation of the. Constitution of the
United States, in dispite of the plighted faith
hat exists between all the States, she takes
,ur aresenals, our FORTS our custom-houses,s
,ur mint, with about a million dollars.
Irocious GOdl to what are we coming? Is
t thus that the Constitution of the United |
States is to be violated? Forts, arsenals.
'ustom-houses, and property belonging to all |
he people of all the States, have been ruth |
essly seized, and their undisturbed posses
ION is the sum total of the great wrongs |
hat have been inflicted upon Louisiana, by
he United States,
MIR. President, when look at the conduct |
,f some of the States. am reminded of the |
able of King Log and frogs. They got tired |
u the log that lay in their midst, upon which |
hey could bask in the sun, or from which |
hey could dive to the depth beneath, with |
,ut interference. And these seeding State.
lave got tired of the Federal Government
which has been SO profitable to them, and |
oathe the blessings which they enjoy.
its inability to take care of itself |
treated their opposition TO it. 1t seems, the |
inability of the United States to defend and |
AXE care of its own property, has been an
invitation to them to take possession of it; |
md, like the frogs, they seek substitute for |
heir log. They prayed to Jupiter, the SUI
'reme deity. to send them another king, and |
lie answered their prayer by sending them a |
tork, who soon devoured his subject frogs.
There are storks, too, in the seeding States. |
'outh Carolina has her stork king, and 30 |
las Louisiana. In the heavy appropriations
hey are making to maintain armies, and in |
III their preparations for wal, for which there /
8 no cause they find they have brought down |
forks upon them that viii deYour them.
= : - = -
s.-s1s 80 "a 1mARRIED: "a
Wednesday evening, Feb 18th, at the residence Of |
he brides mother, by the Rev. Mr.. Hays, Mr.. DANIEL
ERKSs, of Williamson, to Miss KATE MORGAN, of Da-