The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-01
Ed. II. GowkS,

a.. Z. Il. OF L. -
Thus you viii see that Mr. Thomas per
formed She duties Of representative while q
member Of this House and resigned, and his
Sssignation was accepted before this whole
zee roaighing occurred, and on the two
asmorable days, when the bill TO "lmit
she elective franchise I" was before The
House-io-wit: the 10th and 18th days Of
G0bruary-Ar. Thomas had a leave Of alb
ssnee fer thres days.
Nov, IN regard to the question Of the gem
tlensn from Campbell aud Anderson,
viii frat say, ME. Thomas having resigned
bis tsat. had perfect right to sign the
pablie address 10 the people Of Tenn essee,
and without, in the least, disuualifyine
BIN 'or future seat ia this honorable body
This viii beRpparent to any person.
Having disposed Of the first count in the
bill pf indictment, viii proceed to the
second, which charges him with secession
sad rc6Clhda.. HATiBg shown by the Journal
thss Mr.. Thomas " as in his seat, and voting
during the time be was a member of this
honorable body, Except when he had leave
OF s5senes) until he resigned his seat, which
be bed perfect right 20 do, where is the
6nlaWfut seH Where Is the legal a1ong?- Is
IL because he signed an address TO the peo-
pie Of Te nnesEes7 I answer, this does not
constitute q wrong; it is privilege guaran-
tsed TO every tree citizen Of this State. He
had G. perfect r ght to give his reasons for re
signing, without committing wropr
This 10 what we call freedom of speech aud
citiAspa' ghts. shall VIC IS a Legislative
body and without any warrant Of law, DENY
PsrsOns the right 20 explain their official
Asts 20 tbOse Concerned? fsIaf
Now, What ~ our duty in this case? Mr.
Thomas comes up here with his certificates
all in manner and form az required bv
law he Is eonstitutlonally elected; he has
been slee cd BY the legal voters Of his dis
triety and presents himself here oradnis-
alien. He is upon the same footing that shy
ethsr Pertcn would have been if elected ia
his stead Then what objection can be
urged that he Ia not entitled 40 n seat in
this General Assembly, He is o loyal man .
II that Is tho gronna Of objection, and ever
has been loyal. OF this fact appeal to
gentleman from Bedford and Rutherford
and the gentleman from Marion, by whom
S1akRew can prove his fidelity to the Cow
sEnment OF the United States, Yes, sir,
say knew be Is an original Union man,
and doubt whether in ia Sc three ooan-
tss you could end better Union man than
Mr.. Thomas. sir, his loyalty csnnOt b.
disputed. he may be more liberal in his
views than sOme others. and may differ
d.. with some ia the best policy for the State
gcvrrnmens. iaa iasa .ia1.ta = ..,t. $50
Am llbsral myself, but, sir, this does not
make me .dislOyal, aud am a Union man,
aud VII ever adYocats the policy OF my
Government; aRd now adyoca the cause
ofA Union man, oBe " hose patriotism never
giFs wy when the dark shades Of secess. on
sr0sssd Che STATE and Terminated in Ken
lucky. He 500 the tempest when Others
fell. Yes, sir, when our grand army adj
Yaneod early in 1862 aud hurled the Con-
fsdsFste forces back 10 the Tennessee river,
AT, ThOmss makes HE way 10 the Federal
army. WkeTe he could breathe more freely
and express himself ia favor Of has Govern
nent-, Where DO We find Mr.. Thomas nextg
answer, in The convention Of s62. and at
terFafds lsos-5, helping organize the civil
government Of State.
Did any body doubt his loyalty then? I
answer, ftAsy did .hspulled cut the rena,n
Easndsli0n Of His Exesllsncy Andrew Johu.
soa, then Military Governor of this State.
Ena 81 MAJOR Gensral George H. Thomas
and othe ; "a this Department, and showed
them that they were not afraid 20 vt,t hin,
81 the oulposls and trust 10 his fidelity.
appeal % the members OF this General.
Assembly 80 examine into the Justice of Mr..
fkonas' ctsim 20 a sest on this floor, and If
he possesses the constitutional dualifca-
Hons, AID 81 other qualifications required
~ las, Why shall we deprive him from
seat on this BOor and deny his people rep-
Tsssntaiion1 The election was regular. lis
asfsdsntais are correct, he has taken tbe
required cath Tor candidates, and is man
Of uDdoubted 10Y ally,
Here being notified the time was out, the
SPEAKER decided II lacked Eve minutes
s Mr. Speaker, / viii ny ia the few min
utss / have, that Mr.. Thomas was charged
with not rejecting the will Of those he rep