The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-01
.ashrilte 2AaiOlI.
speech of Mr.. Jarvis, of Hancock.

49, 49, -
Upon the motion to concur with the re-
port Of a majority Of the COMMITTEES on Elee-
lions, recommending the rejection Of Messrs.
Thoma', Of Coffee, steele, Of Marshal, aid
A. D. Nieks, Of Dixon, L. n. Jarvis, Of
Hancock, said:
Ma. eFEaKeR. Task the indulgence of the
HOuse while l make few remarks in re-
gard 70 the vote 10 concur with the
majority Il the Committee on Elee-
ti0ns. I would ask tie House 10 give
me their attention while I shall offer
. few thoeghts in support Of my
action. ] Wish 70 base my action upon tho
law and ths Constitution IN the cases men
toned IN sid report, aud feel il my duty to
express nay views in explanation Of my ao-
ton. The case Of Mr.. A. D. Eieks, OF Dix
on county, was frat tsksn up in the com
mitles room. was one Of the committee,
and eoucurred in the report, because upon
the evidences Of she gentleman from Maury,
Mr.. Arnell, who stated be had seen certified
copies Of marriage license upon which Mr..
Aicks had celebrated The rights Of matri-
nOny in 1855, as an ordained minister Ofthe
gospel, / voted 10 exclude him upon a con-
sIigutional disqualification. However unjust
It may be 10 deny I0iHIstersl Of the gyspel
seats IN the Legihlaturey II Is nevertheless
the Constitution, and / would vote to ex-
el
ally dia9 aAlifsd, bntI &annOt vote 10 deny
any gentlemen seats on this hooI who are
Sonstutiobaliy eligible, and who have a
perfect right 70 represent their loyal con
stituency.
Mr.. speaker-Here I must ask. if IN OK
der, for a division Of the question, so az 10
take Up eseh Case ssparstely and act upon
thrn separately
The Hsuss here consented to division,
!. f. u l.
ease Of Mr.. Thomas.
Ar. Speaksr-In regard TO the case Of
my frisnd, Mr.. homss, permit me 70. state
that an on tue floor to- insistGPeR'the ad-
mission Of q Union man as member OF this
House, az ! BhaH more fully show beforeI
close. ] must here state IN support Of my
position, that I shall present the facts upon
which / rely. LIST. Il IS urged in ths ma
iority report that these counties are not le-
gaifyf6g fsteTedi ana upoH this point would
say BIZ way Of illustration, THAT person cast
out upon the waters catch at strsws, and if
! we're in their place l would atiRsISt upon
this, as other counties whose 1nemters are
on tho floor are in the same condition, to
wit: The counties of Monroe and Madison,
Uhoss TePIeseni atlYes are here to-dsy, were
reported Illegally registered, and other cOun-
ties also, and whoever questioned the loyalty
OF right Of the gentleman from Monroe 10 a
seat on this floor? In order 10 show The
counties have been legally registered, and
thRb4hSisiection'isLEhh in ,law, / viii re-
fer you 10 the proclamation Of the Governor
authorizing the Bherfis Of these counties 10
open aud hold an election on the 3lst day Of
March, 1866. In pursuance OF tire highest
authority in the State, the sheriffs of CCfiee
GTundyl aud Van Buren counties did, On the
day designated by the Governor, open and
held the election in pursuance Of law, ard
whose certificates are here on file, showing
that Mr.. Thomas Was- 0lmOst unanimously
elected, being only thirty EIGHT or forty
votes cast against him in the three coun-
ties. Now, as I am correctly Informed,
there are 80 or 100 discharged Federal SOL
disrs in Coffee county alone, and concede
the fact that OF these the vote against b im I
were Of that class, then be got the majority
Of the Legal voters ----r+ -.-.....-.- --..- j
IN addison 4G his.eerLifeates Of election,
! hold in my hand a copy of the oath pre-
scribed by act Of June 5, 1865, " 70 limit the
elective franchise" placing him before you
- elssrly eligible ~ the position his people
have elected him, ard who have a perfect
right p representation upon this floor
through Mr.. Thomas. If the credentials
and proof that are before this body were
placed before aDy, Circuit Judge, Chancel-
Tor, Supreme or Federal Court, they would
decide under the law that Mr.. Thomas has
. right 10 seat on this floor and ask !
those Of this honorable body who under
stand the law, II my statements are not true, !
and il thsy are not well founded in law
The gentleman from Campbell and Ander- |
son asks me If Mir. Thomas did not sign a !
public address TO the pc pie Of Tennessee, |
aud here l will proceed to answer the ques- |
ton and see If this would diIqualify him. 1
But before proceed further, permit me TO |
read in support Of y hat / am going TO say, a |
ssrtihed copy Of the Journal, Showing to |
some ez ent the action Of Mr.. Thomas which |
IL - follows, tO-wit:
s"Ar. Thomas obtained leave of absence |
from the House for three days, February |
l6th, in the morning. The franchise bill |
tko. 505) after Mr.. Thomas had obtained /
hiS leave, was taken up.
Mr.. Thomas renamed in-his seat and /
voted until noon. In the Afternoon the i'll
IibESteTing eommeneed.
"Oaths r20th, his name appears again
voting. On the afternoon of the 2lst, Mr. |
Thomas sAs not in the House. On the |
morning OF the 23i he was again in his seat,
wEers he rsmsined until his resignation |
was accepted, which was done that day.
Ed. III. GoWKN,