Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1865-11-30
Legislative.

/ al tuC OCitttC, SoiAe AsSoOAo-
ton No. Is, introduced by Mr..
Trimble, was passed, saying that
Jefferson Davis, James nj. Mason,
r. NJ. L. Hunter, Robert Toombs,
Howell Cobb, Judah P. Benjamin,
John Slidell, and Robert E. Lee,
"deserve and ought to suffer the
extreme penalty of the law, and
be held as infamous forever"
M. Carrigan entered his protest
against the passage of the Resolu-
ton, and said:
clam unable to see how the
passage of such resolutions can ben
eft the people of our State in any
manner whatever, nor can they
have any influence over the judi
cial and executive officers OF the
Federal Government. 1t is true
that the individuals named in the
preamble of the resolution, are
guilty of treason against one OF
the best and most powerful gov
ernments on earth. 1t is also true
that the government against which
they rebelIed is one OF the most
magnanimous and liberal in the
world.
"While there are many things
said in the preamble which |
heartily endorse, ] cannot give
my consent to vote for or counten-
ance course of legislation that has
a tendency to nurse and foster old
and embittered feelings among our
people. Give the people of the
State of Tennessee wise, liberal,
generous laws, well-toned with firm
and devoted conservatism, and
they will soon become the most
prosperous and united people in
the Government.
"Thc calamitics and devasta-
tons of the late rebellion are much
to be lamented, and the prime
movers of, the cause deserve the
excavations of all good men, but
mercy pleads before a generous
Government to pardon the wrongs
OF erring and impulsive humani-
ty.
"The history of this whole rebel
lion shows it to be war, to a great
extent, of prejudice and passion,
and how that it is at an end, par
don should be granted to the erring
penitent, and then devotion to the
Government can be inculcated and
cultivated. If the Government
# the United States had had a
President when treason was being
oddly commenced and matured
in the Congress OF the United
States, we would never have been
called upon to mourn over the sad
condition of our country. The rot
ten inf;,my that perfumes the adj
ministrative mantle of James Buc-
hanan smells to heaven. There,
IN the failure ON his part, to exc
cute the laws of Government, is
the fountain head of rebellion, and
all its horrid crimes.
''Bssides these objections, there
is another concerning the indef-
niteness of the preamble and reso-
luton. 1t assumes to be very
specific in its charges, as against
individuals, but such is not the
case ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS names
| of jeff. Davis and Others, it says,
they deliberately conspired to-
gether, and with others of less en-
,inence, and then resolves that jeff.
Davis "and said accomplices,
which certainly includes that class
! of men of s'less eminence," have
! '.iustiy forfeited their lives" Sup
pose the Government should adopt
the policy Of this resolution, how
many lives in the South are CON-
petent for this forfeiture?"
In the House, two reports were
submitted by the Judiciary Com.
mittee on the Senate bill permit.
ting negroes to testify in the Courts;
a majority report, by Mr. Gaut,
against the measure, and mlnorl'
ty report, signed by Messrs. Ar
neil, kercheval and Smith of Har.
deman.
); The following is the majority
report:
The Judiciary Committee hac
MISREPRESENTATION Senate bill No
l.39, entitled, An Act to do justice
and render persons of African de
!, scent competent witnessesin court