The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-21

10 admit that We are unsurpassed b. an
people, in our progress IN science, agricul
ture, religion and manufactures, l am ire
to confess that fear We are degeneratiu
and siFaying OF IRON tae path OF magnan
unity, patriotism and statesmsnship. SUP
pose that it were possible thing that Ia
immortal statesmen Clay Webster, Douglas
and a host OF other great political spirit
who have been called to rest, could be re-
turned and placed in the positions they ono
50 gracefully occupied, and could be allowe'
10 take a cain and pkilosOphic view q al
political stains OF this once happy country
would they not, when they saw the old shil
OF State rocking from shore 10 shores upol
the waves of fanticism and discord, and 81
the crew IN a state OF e91fasion, would no
the immOrhl Clay rise up in his place, ant
IN that graceful and statesmanlike manner
raise his hand and stretch it forth, and ut
ter, IN a clear and Impressive voice, tht
memorable words peace, be still2' Mr.
Speaker, imagine that instead of seeing
him pour forth vial Of wrath, we would
see him pouring out the oil of eompromis,
and reconciliation, on the troubled waters
Then cast your eve over the political sea Of
this nation, and beholdthose bo.sterous waves
offanaticism aud discord raising and passing
| away, and the surface of cur political sea
1
then, Mr.. Speaker, would those great states
men commence inspecting that old ship of
state, and finding it almost perfect wreck,
| inaugurste the work Of repairing and recon
structing that great shiPwhich they former
ly controlled and which they left in the
most perfect order.
AT this time there is sound at the door
Of the great machine shop Of this nation,
and il Is opened, and in front we
see our Tennessee delegation standing
with their credentials in their hands; and
the question is asked Whence came you,
and whittier are you going And we hear
them all with one voice respond We are
workmen from the State OF Tennessee; not
from the conquered province, as Northern
Radicals style us. And the further inquiry
is made: What came you here TO do and
they respond that the loyal people Of Ten
nessee, seeing that the old ship OF State was
nearly wrecked and ruined, aud feeling a
deep interest in her welfare, have sent US
here TO help repair and refit it, that she
may setsail once more. Do you think. Mr..
Speaker, that the door OF the great Capitol
would be closed in their faces by those old
patriotic statesmen to whom have referred?
think not. On the contrary, the portals
would be thrown wide open, and they met
at the threshold, the right hand of fellow
ship extended to them, and a cordial and
harmonious greeting would ensue. Then,
Mr.. Speaker, we would hear the sound Of
the mallets and the hammers ofour Senators
and Representatives upon the hull OF that
old ship Of State; and | imagine that |
hear the sound of the hammers of our
Taylor, Maynard, Stokes, Cooper, Camp
bell, Hawkins, and others, as they labor in
the glorious work, corresponding with the
sound Of the mallets of the Honorable Sen
ators Patterson and Fowler on the Other-all
working in harmony and union under the
direction of our Master Machinist-I mean
our patriotic President; for you all know
him to be good mechanic. Sir, with him
as the foreman, and with such apprentices
and journeymen as those | have mentioned,
that Old vessel would soon be put in good
running order once more; and when she is
ready to set sail then will the emblem of our
country's pride be hoisted on her mast
head-lhst glorious old flag with her thirty
six stars and corresponding stripes, with
the inscription OF 3 Pluribus Unum as its
motto.
When ell this has been done, Mr.. Speak
er, and that old flag is about to be hoisted,
We can readily imagine We hear the voice
Of the patriotic statesman from Massachu-
sets, the immortal Webster, (not Sulnner),
asking the privilege Qf adding to the glory
of the occasion; then would he seize MS
patriotic pen and inscribe apon that glori-
Gus old banner the memorable words: Union
and Liberty, now and forever, one and in
separable. 70 this, 0rec ked as We have
been by domestic feuds, q grand huzza
would peal forth from all good and true
men, and in the language OF the poet they
would respond
Unfur the glorious banner
Let It sway upon the hreeze,
lhe emblem o. our countfy's pride,
On lsnd and on the seas.
The emblem OF onr liberty,
Borne proudly in the wars.
Ths hope Of every freemsn,
TIE Gaming stripes and stars.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, in conclusion | desire
tomake an appeal to the honorsbls gentle
man from Maury, who moved the indefinite
postpongment Of this resolution, and called
the previous question on it. / must confess
that in my judgment any other member Of
this House could have made the motion with
more propriety and more consistency than
he could, he having been an asplrant tor q
seat in Congress, and, IS / am informed
holding a certificate of bis election to that
high and responsible position from the Ex-
ecutive of this State. Sir, he reminded me
very much of a certain animal ! once heard
of, which, lying at a hay stack, would
neither eat the hay himself nor let any other
one eat it and the consequence was, that
he starved himself TO punish others. If the
gentleman from Maury believes that we are
not entitled to representation, why did he
seek the positions Again, Mr.. Speaker, If
the gentleman from Maury thinks that we
are entitled to be represented, he ought to
| bejn Washington city knocking at the door
of the White House with his certificate IN
his hand, and demanding of Stevens and
others to be admitted TO his seat.
Mr.. Speaker, there are other consldera-
| tiOns, why we ought to declare that 1t Is the
sense of this House that our Senators and
Representatives are entitled to their seats.
In the first place, Sir, l do not think that
Tennessee ought to be. excluded, because
other Southern States have failed TO come
up to the standard of their duty. Has the
Tennessee soldier no interest that ought to
be represented Where are the interests OF
the widow and orphans of the thousands OF
Tennessee soldiers, who fell CALAMITY nght-
ing the battles Of this government who
is there in Congress TO ask for any law to be
passed that may benefit them, as well as to
urge the thousands of claims that ought 10
be adjusted and paid TO the loyal people o,
the State Of Tennessee? ! again appeal
10 the House in behalf of these suffering,
these loyal people-snd urge that they
reconsider and adopt this resolution. Lay
ing aside all sitter reasons, it IS clear that
by so doin z, they will take one OF the
strongest W sapons out of the hands OF those
who are ss ying 20 our members that they
cannot be admitted to seats, which right
fully belong to them.
With b,ese considerations, Mr.. Speaker, !
submit the question to this honorable body,
hoping tliey will dispose Of it as the interest
Of the loyal people OF this State demands.
am ready for the question.