Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-02-28


contempt of parliamentary rules, sanctioned by the
unoroKen observance of more than five centuries In
Migrant contempt and heartess disregard of the in
terests of the people
The bill foots up at the present time, as follows
The Mutineers to the People of Tennessee, DR..
70 three days speaking against time......Sl ,O2O
10 Fridays mutiny. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $40
10 oaturdays mutlny 3io
IL AOHuay mullny o4u
Total. 5000
The entertainment ought to be valuable one to
Justify SO profuse an outlay of the peoples money.
The roll was again called yesterday, and ffty-tour
answered to their names. The Speaker ordered the
Doorkeeper TO bring in the absentees and as If rather
dsgusted with the outrageous insolence OF the ap-
sentees, remarked to that officer "Do your duty,
and let US have no more child's play about 1t r
Nearly every body thought that there had been
great deal too much childs play already.
Mr.. Duggan argued that, as there were only
elghty-one members belonging to the House, nity
four made up quorum which we had already, put
the Speaker ruled otherwise
Mr.. Raulston urged that il the absentees still re-
fuse to come let us declare their seats vacant and
save expense to the State. We were informed this
morning that the prisoners at the pententlary were
without provisions, and supplies could not be fur-
nished without money. The prisoners were IN DAN
ger of starvation from the rebeious course OF the
absentees, for no appropriation could be voted:
The Speaker said he would suggest to the door,
keeper to make the following return in regard to the
absentees "Strict search made and the parties not
found or refuse to come"
He hoped that members would not instruct him
to pursue any course which would wound the feel
ings of the absentees to issue any order OF de-
grading character.
Mr. Raulston said he saw nothing degrading or
insulting to any man to compel him to obey the
laws. If a negro guard were sent after him, he
would not feel insulted, but would obey.
Mr.. Moss made some remarks, the substance OF
which that the majority had tried to gain
their point and failed they should yield and seek to
compromise with the minority. He thought this
was time for some Clay or Webster to step forth
if there was one in the house
Mr. Raulston said that was the very talk of 1861,
which brought on the rebellion. The minority
would not obey themsjority. If this House had any
power in Gods narl" let It enforce the rules, and
assert its authority If he belonged to the minority
he would vote against the franchise BILL like man.
and not skulk off like secessionist If these alb
sentees wont vote then let them resign and the peo-
pie will elect better men in their places. No Clay
or Webster was needed to settle difficulty so plain
as this.
Col Patton said that he had no compromise to
make with men who trampled all law under foot;
he had no use for rebels revolutionizers Let us
stand strictly to the rules and attend to our duty
Mr.. Raulston said that this was the little rebel
lion he supposed of which of the rebels in this
city had spoken. Well, if the rebellion came on he
wanted to carry out Andrew Johnson's maxim
which he taught here often, that "treason must
be made odiouS and traitors punished"
Mr.. Mullins followed IN speech of great vigor
and severity against the mutineers. If the enemies
of the State Government who were engaged in this
most disgraceful infamous interruption of legisa-
tion thought that they could mould in the fires of
this dssenon the key which would unlock the doors
Of Congress for the Tennessee delegation they would
soon find out their mistake. The record of this
meeting would stand like flaming sword to shut
them out of that Eden. The conduct of the absen-
tees was utterly without parallel He heard the
member from Hamilton Hood tell another mem
Der to leave Friday and break up the session. and
the member from Marshall (Steele) asked another
one to leave the House. The disorganizng leaders
went fitting about the chamber like filthy bats stir
ring up mischief And this was done on the inau-
guration of civil government by protested friends
of the people, This the first step in the little
rebellion of which we had heard, which is to turn
Gov. BrownlOw and this Legislature out of doors,
and reinstate the rebel leaders. The Union men
are it seems, to be sold out, the State was sold
out by Gov. Harris rebel Legislature, to Parson
billiard, of Alabama These seditionists will soon
be held up to the whole country for e1ecraton
than that which followed Arnold and Iscariot.
The members listened with deep interest to the
remarks of the speakers, and it evident that
there was in their hearts deep-seated indignation
against the little faction who triing with them
in so reckless a manner In the afternoon, Mr..
Duggan made another one of those brief but logical
speeches which he knows SO well how to make. He
asked if little nsurrectionary faction should
troll ffty-four members of the Legislature and block
the wheels of Government? They tell us virtually
that we shan't pass any laws until we succumb to
them! Is there no remedy for this evil? The alb
sentees pay no respect to an ordering summons and
new the House should resort to order of arrest.
The Speaker said he had urged three of the alb
sentees to attend, but they replied that they could
not sit by and see law so oppressive the fran
chise law established their constituents. He
deprecated any extreme measures, for if any evil
consequences should follow he would feel himself re-
sponsible The majority have it in their power to
pass this law but they had better pass it in such a
shape that all will admit its legality He had sug-
gestiOn to make to the House. A Convention would
meet here on the 22d inst. He advised the members
of this body to wait until after its adjournment and
then pass the law. He thought this would not be
conCeding too much by the majority (!!l). The
response to this suggestion of the Speaker uni
versal low chuckle, amounting in some instances to
considerable laughter the part of the Union
members. Why we could not exactly understand,
unless they supposed that the Speaker meant to hint
that the Convention would be willing to draft
another franchise bill in lieu for the Legislature
The Speaker continued that he thought the bill
would pass and he would be one of the first to obey
it.
Mr.. Willis, one of the absentees, here made his
appearance and handed in his resignation.
Mr.. Duggan replied to the Speaker, that he knew
of no other way to settle this matter than to offer
motion to the House to instruct the Speaker to issue
a warrant to compel the absentees to appear and
show cause for their absence from their seats The
Speaker said he woald issue the warrants for arrest
very reluctantly and unwllingly.
Mr.. Garrett, another of the absentees now made
his appearance in the House and handed in his re-
signation. The Speaker said, that as there was no
quorum present. neither of the designations could be
acted on this evening. The Doorkeeper having re-
ceived the warrant from the Clerk Immediately
served it upon Messrs. Garrett and Willis.
SPEAKING AGAINST TIME.
In order that the people may see what reasons the
mutineers have to complain of the enforcement of
a gag-law by the movement of the previous ques-
ton we give the following list OF speakers on Tues
day, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last and the
time occupied by each:
AGAINST THE FRANCHISE BILL.
Garrett hours.
Steele hours
hour.
Total hours
FOR THE BILL.
hours
Wines ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. hour.
hours.
And this after debate in the newspapers and in
the Legislature of over eight months on the subject
of restricting the franchise. Nothing is more GER
tain than that the leaders of the minority did not
want to discuss the bill. They hoped to Save it of
till after the Convention of the 22d and then defeat