The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-17
General Rutler and DR.. COtlman-
An InGsFcstinE Int. view.


Yrom The New Orleans Correspondence Of tie Boston
Traveller.
As to DR.. Cotrman, beside the tril ng
objection that be Was never elected to
Congress, there il another difficulty in the
way; and this leads one to relate . story
Of Gener Batier's administration which
does not appear in Dir. Partoh's book -
A little over year ego we had an cleo
tion for Congressman ia the First and
Second Districts, by direction Of the Pres
ident Dr. Cottman engaged TO be = can
didate, and Was thereup0n sent for BY
General Butler. The conversation be-
tween the two took plsce in the presence
of two residents Of this city, to one Of
which / am indebted for q report Of its
Substance.
The General, after iDquiFing whether
il was really true that the Doctor was g
candidate with his own consent, and re-
ceivihg an affirmative answer, read the
cath which be would be required to take
before entering upon the Congressional
duties. 1t is pretty stringent cOvensnt,
you may remember Il wish had copy
Of it 20 insert heTe--declsring that the
deponent has never given aid or comfort
70 the iniernal or external enemies Of the
Rept bic, never held or sought Office un-
der ths pretended government of the
Confederate States, or in any way coun-
tenanced the great rebellion. Having
thus called the attention of the Doctor to
the terrible ordeal which awaited him,
the General drew forth large fac smi
Of the ordinance of secession and point
ed 20 the signature, Thomas e. n. Cott-
man, which appears thereon in fair,
round, schoOlmaster like hand. "Now,"
asked the General show can you take
that oath after having signed that trea-
sonable document
"Bat did not assent to il. I opposed
saperatt secession all through"
"But you signed the ordiRance--and
the signature looks as though you
thought it something to be proud Of"
81 signed it merely as witness 10 the
record"
Signed IS witness! Bosh! What nom
sense! Suppose, Doctor you really were
. Member of Congress, and old Jake Bar
ker, as the representative of BeDjamiH
franklin, should present a claim for wit
ness fees on the ground that his ancestor
signed the Declaration of Independence
only in that capacity-would you vote
for ii?''
The Doctor appeared 10 be afflicted
with bronchial disorder, which proven
ted his making immediate answer.
'NOW," says the General, 81 tell you
think it an insult to loyal men that
signer Of that ordinance should offer ~
take the oath / have read. You know
very well that the signing of that docu-
ment was made test OF the devotion Of
members Of the Convention to the eau Q of
secession. You know very well that It
was made 3 test in the case Of Mr.. Ro-
zier, and you knew that be did not meet
it as you did, by surrsndering TO trea-
son"
Every well, Sir, l viii announce in the
newspapers that / am ordered by the
military commander 10 withdraw my
name from the CANVASS"
mo you wont-nothing Of that sort
l have given you no orders; shall give
you none. have only 70 say that
think il grossly scandalOus that you, af-
ter having signed an ordinance Of seces-
sion, should ask the people Of this dis.
trict TO put you in position TO take this
oath; and even if you can bring your
conscience TO allow you 10 take that oath,
certain il is no House of representative
will allow you 10 take it in its presence"
So the Dorior went his way, announced
in the True ID La, that unforseen circum-
stances commanded his Withdrawal from
the canvass, Mr.. Hahn was nominated
and elected
Now DR.. Cottman has the effrontery,
not only 70 offer TO take the extraordi0a-
~ oath, but to pretend TO a seat in Con-
gress TO which be was never elected, in
accordance witt any law of any State, of
the United States, of the Confede rate
States, so called, or even in conformity 60
the programme Of his own committee,
which unlawfully, in disregard Of the su-
thOrity Of the Government, and in fraud
of the rights OF other men, formed =
scheme Of obtaining a snap judgment in
their own favor By an ex parte election
on the I'd Of November scheme which
they made haste 10 abandon as soon ~
its inquitous character was exposed
The committee hsd not the hardihoOd
10 face the public after their trick was
discovered. The Doctor is not 50 mod
est by half