The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-05-28

1 NNN-NEf ~ NAAN NN-N Va nNAA4a- OAAC 1AA ~ y
floor to reply and l propose TO perform
that cUty, doing 50 in as plain and en-.
| phatic Language as is given US 70 use
We aretol6 that he speaks by the card
Perhaps two cards can be played in
such a matter ss this-gentlemen mav
play their cards and " bet their bottom
dollar on them, but by doing 50 they
will not effect mel propose 20 play
ouf to the end
The gentleman tells US, in the lirst
place, that be did not ges his military
bill passed. We patiently discussed
that bIll-we had the most votes on our
side, and we won. regret that the
gentleman did not obtain the privilege
of being heard when he wanted TO speak:
if had known his wishes I would have
voted so as to give him the opportunity
he desired We have been told that / { we
do not pass this bill then the bill reds
tricting the State will not pass We
have been told that two gentlemen have
already left their places on this floor be
cause we refused 70 be whipped into
the traces. We have been told that if
We do not act as some gentlemen wish
US.
to do, this General Assembly shall be
broken up. Whatever may be done Of
this character, Mr. Speaker, on their
heads be the guilt, in their bosoms must
lie the responsibility | presume that
no gentleman Will be driven from his
convictions by any menace OF this cnar.
aeter. If they propose "a withdraw be-
cause they cannot get such measures
pas as they desire, we have-aha, ?
revolution. They break down the
foundations of our rejuVenated State
Government because the majority
refuse to be ruled by the minority
They would invite the continuance of
martial rule in the State, and the do
minstion Of military power They
would be, on their part, guilty of the
same species of misconduct of which
we have had such powerful reasons for
complaint during the past four years.
Is this the condition of things existing
in the General Assembly of the State OF
Tennessee. Is this the wsy we preserve
our liberty? Is this the band Of patriots
that are laboring for the good OF Tenn
essee2 Is this what we are willing 10
struggle and to die for? But whatever
the rest of the State may 20, East Tenn.
essee will send loyal men, who Will
work together for the benefit of tha
State. When large portion of the pro
perty of East Tennessee has been taken
by the government, are We to be told
that, provided he is loyal, we may not
elect to office such men IS we choose 2
If this is the spirit that is suimatiug US,
how are We TO stand from against the
enemies Of our country Who are the
gentlemen who have left this floor be-
cause things were not always done sc-
cOrGing TO their notions Who are
they that, without permission asked
and granted, have stesl.hily taken up
their hats and seceded2 Let US know
their names in order that they may De
hunted down 70 future tiTle in the
Journals Of his House Of Representa-
tives. Let US do moTe-let US send the
door keeper to bring these men before
the House, so that the people Of the
State may know who they are Let
the people of the North be made aware
that the citizens of Tennessee are
threatened with repetition Of the cal,
amitOUs scenes of the past four years,
instead of the civil judge we invite the
presence of the military Provost Mar
shall Let the people of East Tennessee
know this, and let one universal voice
of condemnation go up against those
who betray their country by violating
the requirements Of the law.
Yesterday gentlemen talked abou. 70
twO-edged sword We do not propose to
use one, but if they call for such waa-
pons, thry cannot have the use OF them
all on one side. Suppose We had told
you that if you were determined 20
pass this or any other law, ~ would
leave them without quorum before
the vote came. We could do that-we
have not yet Lost the spirit of the indie
pendepCe ofsour fathers, We will not
be threatened and bullied at this time
of day Little did ] think that those
with WHOM / had been acting would
come on this floor to threaten to break
up this body unless their measures were
adopted / did not think that | should
nit my own friends, but 10 appears that
! have done 50, and much ( regret t.
But we are told solemply, ominously,
that he who says this speaks by the
| card. All what then Is he Eaias 10 DO
with US Send US TO the peniJentia-y p
! Put US all in prison Are we going 70
be all hsnd-cuted if we refuse to do
what we are bid What do these gen
tlemen propose Te break up this
| body--whst then Must We 20 home2
We can 90 homo rs soon as any Of
/ them,
Nr. Duggan Mr. Speaker, ! spoke Of
a card yesterday, but I am misrepTa-
sented. | said ] wished 20 get two
things, if could, but if not, / asked
my friends TO take one tkiAg Il they
could not get two
Mr.. Hood i did not understand the
gentleman to say that members had
left. but that they would leave
Mr. Duggan | understood that Que
gentleman had gone
Mr.. Hood; The principle - tde same,
Whatever the number,
Mr. Duggan But the one may be.
come SIX after a while
Atr Hood: Mr. Speaker, 7 happen to
know that | represent here, to some ex-
tent at least, the same sentiments as
those entertained by the government
OF the Uaited States at Washington,
and Of the two Representative es elected
by this body 10 the United States
Senate, Mr. Patterson and Mr.. Fowler
want it TO De understood, and taken
down by the reporter, that / assert Jhst
they are in favor Of restoring the peni-
tent masses to the exercise the rights
of citizenship, including thst OF the
franchise
| believe the gentleman from Sewer
was out during some remarks / made
at the opening of this afternoons ses-
sion. He said be WAS not q peer oi
rebels, and a rebel was not his peer
and he had, therefore, no right to Try
p rebel According 10 that theory, 8
/ murderer must be tried by his peers
and twelve murdereUs must be looked
up before one can be tried-tbis notion
wall not hold water ] believe eyery
gentleman who has spoken on the
other side has told Us thG. Jhe rebels
have dIsiranchised themselves. Let us
see. suppose the gentleman from Sc
y;eT was. 10 draw up an indictment
against one of these rebels, would he
say a B--a citizen OF the United
States, had acted contrary To the
duties of ais slegiance-or would ID
run AB-s subject Of a foreign gov
ernmeut1
Mr. Dugan No, I would say. j. L
Hood, of parts unknown.
, Mr. Hood: If that is the gentle
msn :. .dea Of drawing up su lno.ct
ment, am not surprised that he should
get astrsy in tina argument How
would Mr.. Dugan be indicted As 8
citizen, in the eye Of the Law. for every
one that has been indicted during the
war, has been indicted as citizen o.
T the [ nited States, guilty OF breaking
is laws Suppose now that rebels have
divested themselves Of their citizen.
ship-where does John smith or san
J Brown belong, when they lived III
= Tennessee before the rebellion, and
their families have resided here ST On.
! time and reside here s,ill-.t he 5 10