Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-03-24

was liable TO abuse, involving loss TO the
note-holder. He also opposed the system of
1853, believing it deprived the banks of the
power to Withstand panic or pressure, and
only one years experience was sufficient to
demonstrate the wisdom of that opinion;
call session being made necessary to repeal
or suspend its operation.
Ia addition to his unimpeachable record in
the regular sessions of the Legislature. re-
fer to the firm and unyielding front he pre-
scented TO the fierce and raging pillows of Sc
cession in our late Extra Session. Then and
there be introduced a resolution, i'm sub
stance, declaring it inexpedie ut to call
Convention. upon the plan suggested by
Governor Harris. or upon any other plan or
for any purpose whatever, which proposition
got only four votes besides his own And
against the bill calling Convention, bis vote
was the only one in the:House recorded in the
negative, until just before the adjourn ment
another representative had leave to change
his vote to the negative. He also offered in
substance the following series of resolutions:
First, that secession was unconstitutional
aud a remedy for 10 existing evil Second,
that publication was equally demonstrations
al and tended only to mischief and anarchy.
Third, that the General Government was adj
equate when properly administered to pro-
tect all our rights, ana that il ought, there
fore, to be maintained in all its vigor within
its constitutional sphere. Fourth, that the
proper remedy against unfaith.ul and incom-
petent public servants was impeachment un
der the Constitution and the ballot box
Such were the resolutions touching our
national troubles that he had the head and
heart to conceive and offer; and they contain
in a nutshell the doctrinal balm that would
heal our national wounds and restore our ma
tional vigor, if adopted and acted upon. His
resolutions were referred to the Committee
on Federal Relations and no direct vote was
ever had on them. His policy, in reference
to the obnoxious and unconstitutional legis-
lation by Northern States, was not to bring
railing accusations against them; but to
send messengers of peace to them, and re-
spectfully and earnestly request them to re-
peal such unjust laws. That such policy
was observed by entirely distinct nations,
much more should it prevail among co-equal
States of the same nation. These views he
| suggested in short speech, and referred to
| the instance of Kentucky having so acted
| towards Ohio with success, aud resolution
was subsequently offered to carry them out.
| for which he voted, hat failed.
He opposed the Military Bill, a leading
| and favorite measure of those locking to and
| desiring secession, with the Governor at their
| head. He moved an amendment TO the bill
| that the election of the Major General should
| be made by the volunteers and not appointed
| by the Governor, which amendment was
adopted; and probably contributed much to
| the defeat of The whole measure. He also
proposed to deprive the Governor of the
| privilege of appointing the Supervisor of
| Banks and give it to the people. He looks
| with Jealousy upon any policy tending 10
| unite the purse and sword, and on all ques-
/ tions OF this character, the people will al
| ways fad him enlisted, and laboring on their
| side against those who would steal power
from the many to confer it upon the few.
For this reason, if for no other, he opposes
| those Southern Babel-builders of a cotton
| ocracy, whose height, in their vain imagina-
| tons is, to reach the Heavens and oveIshad-
| ow the while earth. He sees that the pro-
| jectors have Ignored the people, that they
| have refused to submit the questions of Union
| or dlsunion. convention or no convention,
| ratification or rejection; but have held their
conventions, passed ordinances of secession,
| declared their people out of the Union, made
| new constitutions and elected new and chief
officers all among themselves-the people
being allowed to be mere spectators of their
| extraordinary proceedings. He is opposed
to secession in any phase it can assume, and
when it takes on such arbitrary form and eX-
| ats itself above the people, he shadders for
| American freedom and liberty.
| Such have been some of the most impress
| sive and important acts of Mr.. Wisener in
| his legislative capacity. The positions as
| signed him by the different Assemblies OF
| which he was member, also bespeak the
consideration with which he bias been invari-
ably regarded by those associated with him,
| and acquainted with his talents and ability
| for usefulness. In the session of lS47, he
was chairman of the committee on elections,
and a member of the judiciary committee.
| In the session of 1851, he was chairman of
| the committee of ways and means, and on
the committee ON banks. In the session OF
| 1853 be was chosen Speaker of the House,
and discharged the difficult duties of the
station in a manner highly acceptable to the
| body, emitting himself to that courtesy and
respect from all sides that fall TO the for
| tune of but lew men called to fill SO impor-
tant a post. In the session of 1859 be was
| again a member of the Judiciary committee
and committee on banks.
/ have referred to those political contests,
| acts and positions, that the people of Ten
| nessee may judge of the character of the
man / suggest, as suitable and worthy of their
support for Governor in the coming contest
If may be allowed to express an opinion
as to the secret of his great success, should
say it consisted in those qualities of head and
heart, that should commend him at this time
especially, to the people of Tennessee as the
standard bearer of the Union party for Gov
ernor, He always cool and dspassienate,
selfpossessed and conscious in the rectitude
of his purpose. Always armed with the po-
litical facts and statistics Chat he carries in
one of the most retentive memories,) to un-
horse any assailant that has the temerity to
impesch or call in question the justice of bis
premises. And this he does in such cour-
teous, calculating and bOsiness-like manner,
that his opponent feels compelled to assent,
if not to admit, that no one could have done
it in a manner less offensive and unpleasant.
don't suppose he ever had a competitor
vet but felt constrained, after the race was
oyer and he beaten, las was always the case)
to confess that he esteemed and thought more
highly OF him, than when he first encoun-
tered him. He never deals in sarcasm or
ridicule, nor gets into passion or rage, but
leSFes that whole field to his competitor, if
he chooses TO occupy it; so that when the dis
cussion is over, if any one is mad, 1t is not
he nor any one with him. When he addresses
the people, he does SO to instruct and edify.
He appeals to their judgment and patriot
ism. He never endeavors to carry crowd
by exciting passion or creating mlrth.
An examination of his acts in the Legisla-
ture will satisfy the people of Tennessee that,
though the representative of county OF
Middle Tennessee, he was ever mindful and
ready to vote for any just measure of legisla-
ton to either East or West Tennessee. Some
OF the most important interests OF those
sections found in him an early and efficient
advocate.
His brief proposition in the extra session
to save the people the turmoil, excitement
and loss of time consequent upon the useless
il not mischievous project of q convention,
was voted down by the politicians there as
sembled. but was voted up by the people on
the 9Th of February last. Is it not reason
able to suppose that if the politicians will
now permit his name to be presented to the
neOnlQ they will further endorse his
policy by electing him Governor? l conceive
there is no injustice or disparagement TO any
one who has or may be named, to express the
honest conviction that his nomination will
obyiate more objections, be as available, and
whose success would be as clear ring for
our glorious Union as that of any other.
a FARMER.