American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-05-03
HON. CAVE JOHNSON.
His Speech in the Tennessee Senate
The Radicals Rebuked.

: he was elected, Hon. Cave johnson
was permitted to speak in his own
behalf. A synopsis of his speech is
thus reported:
:, Hon. Cave Johnson was permitted
to address the Senate in his own be-
half. His eminent ability, high char
acter andnational reputation, coupled
with his venerable appearance, caus-
ed him to be listened to with great
attention.
He said he was thanful for the OPP
portunity afforded him of presenting
the claims of his constituents, who
numbered seven thousand people. Ii
his personal interests only were in
yolved in this question, he would not
say one word. The s,inctity of the
Constitution and it's security were in
volved in this question. That Con-
stitution on which our liberty de-
pends-the foundation on which this
Government rests.
Shall white people be kept in the
condition of emancipated slaves !
Have they no rights here 1t was
said that he had not voted at certain
elections. lie had the right to hold
Office even if he had not the right to
vote or had not voted. Tire Consti-
tuition fixes the qualifications reQItir
ed and beyond its requirements you
cannot go. Even if he was man of
bad character, this body cannot say
that he shall not be admitted to a
seat if he was elected according to
the Constitution. H..
Ii man is a traitor, it's an absurd
iity to say that the Senate can exclude
him. Ii this doctrine can be carried
out our liberties are gone. Report
lsaid he consented to the rebellion.
| Where is the proof! He did not con-
sent, but acquiesced in it. When
President Lincoln called for TenneS-
see to fight the South and to invade
our own country, we went with the
South. @
We did not intend to fight with the
people of Alabama. 1t was thought
best to form a military league with
the Southern Contederacy and he
: agreed to it as the best thing we
could do. The Federal troops were
on their way to our borders, aud we
resolved to sustain our State and its
dignity.
Our troops acted gloriOusly and
= added fresh glory to the already
: bright and dazzling reputation of the
! 4 M
checks blanch with fear. They tougth
Ike honorable ard true soldiers, and
he felt proud Of them and their con-
duet.
t What do Senators propose to do !
t VIII they set aside the ConStitu-
: ton, which is the work of Washing
} ton, Jefferson and Madison? Let
: them remember that aithough they
t are in ascendengy now, the wheel OF
e fortune Is constantly revolving. To
} day you are on top /; and perhaps to-
J. morrow YOU will descend to the bot
I tom. Beware how you establish a
4 precedent to ruin yourselves. If one
man is excluded because he did not
vote tor Governor BrOwnjoW, another
Legislature may fix a different stand
c ard of admission. We did not vote
for Andrew Johnson at the last elec-
ton, because we feared his associa-
: ton with AbOiitioniSts was danger
e GUS: hut aiterward, when we found
= out that he was for the Constitution
and rights OF the people, We went tor
him zealously.
He was sorry to see resolution
offered in this body advising neutral
Il ity between the President and Con-
c gress, because every man in the South
should sustain the President. While
be is doing bis best for us, we could
not occupy neutral position,
He regretted, also, TO hear our gal
5 LIANT bows, who fought in the South
= ern army at the call OF their States,
. cenSured on this floor. They joined
the army to fight for TcrucSSee-nOt
Tor the Confederacy nor the United
: States. They enlisted at the call OF
Is the State, and at the command OF
4 the Legislature. How dare any Sena-
/ tor condemn those noble young men
for obeying the command OF their
own State?
The Senator from Davidson, who
Il is chairman Of the Committee on
Il Elections, was him self a member OF
the Legislature OF 1861.
Mr. Trimble here rose, and with
much emphasis, remarked that he
} was a member of the Senate of 1851
!. but neither by speech nor vote aid.
p ed the rebellion. He should as sOOl
have thought of going to the intern.
al regions as following Harris into
% the rebellion. he had opposed the
e nefarious movement tliIor ehout.
Mr.. johnson resumed by saying
II the gallant boys who went in the
" Southern army committed no crime
legally, morally or any other way.
q The Speaker here interposed and
7 requested the gentleman to confint
: his remarks to his own case.
Il Mr.. Senter arose and expressed tht
hope that Dir. johnson would bs
permitted to speak without restraint
= as the Senate had allowed him t.
d conduct his case without placing any
70 limit to me scope of his argument.
Mr. johnson resumed By saying
he had opposed secession as much al