Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-11
SHELBY COUNTY ENDORSES AND RE
N0MENATES HER REPRESENTA-
TIvES.
Speeches. of sIessrs. POsaen and walker.

Il
Speeches OF sIessrs. Posisn and walker
From the Memphis Commercial -..
Agreeably to public announcement, pub
lie meeting was held at the City Hall, Ex
change Building, last evening at 8 o'clock
Mr. John Martin was called to the chair
and briefly explained the objects of th'
meeting to be to reeeiye.from our late Repre-
sentatives, Messrs. Poston and Walker, al
exposition of their conduct in the Legisla
ture, and an Explanation of the causes in
ducing their resignation. He then intro
duced Mr.. s. P. Walker, who said:
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
| appear before you under strange circum.
stance, and with some degree of sadness, to
explain to you thereasons that have actuated
me In Withdrawing from the Legislature
1ou elected me to attend to your business as
a Representative. | had hoped 70 modify
the tax bill, the railroad bill, and your
court and other bills of local and important
character. The franchise bill, limiting the
elective privileges of the citizens, was re-
ferred TO committee and in the midst of
| legislative business of a most important
character. This was reported back and
| passed on its first reading, but on its second
reading, another, of a more restrictive
character, was introduced in lieu by the
| Representative from Bedford.
The passage of this bill would change the
character of this Government from repub-
| lie to a despotism. If you want that bill
passed you must send another man, for
cannot and will not serve you in that way
The leading features of the franchise bill
were then explained by the honorable gen
tleman, who said that if it passed Mr.. Sum-
ner, of Massachusetts, and Mr.. Stevens, of
Pennsylvania, could defeat in the State the
illustrious son of Tennessee, Andrew john
son, for the humblest office. 1t violates the
Bill of Rights, and takes away every vested
and natural right of the citizen, and confers
power upon the Governor more despotic
than that welded by the Gar of Russia. He
did not believe that Governor Brownlow
wonld use those powers for purposes Of self
aggrandizement but he would not confer
them upon the illustrious George Washing
ton, were he living. 1t violates the amnes-
ty proclamations of Presidents Lincoln and
johnson, and is violation of the pledged
faith of the Government and Generals Grant
anu Ills HI6dbcob ODlcCilOD WAS
that 1t gave too much power to one man, and
deprived the citizens Of their rights, as to
property and political qualifications. Col
onel Poston asked that it be postponed until
the urgent business of the State be attended
to, but they refused, and we were compelled
to say that we would not longer continue
with them, but return to our constituents.
We acted throughout as band of brothers,
and acted XUa hava ,,o1ar tho cAlon,r, nOn-
viction that these men were attempting a
revolution for the basest purposes. The
Governor, too, in his proclamation, branded
us as revOlutionists.
To refute this charge, Mr.. Walker read the
names of the signers of the protest, and
briefly reviewed their course in life, COM
mencing with that Of Maj. Lewis, the aid-de-
camp of Gen. Jackson, and running through
the list, eulogizing them for the past as up
right honest and gallant citizens, many of
them having served as officers in the army
of the United States. We are not attempting
to repeal the franchise bill of the last Leg
islature, but to prevent one being fastened
upon you much more odious. Where are
the conspirators of whom the Governor
speaks in his proclamation? These men, of
whom have spoken, are not nor are they
acting like cOnspirators. / have given you
brief efsumming up of the causes inducing
me AID my colleague in withdrawing from
the Legislature, and, in conclusion, would
warn you that we have fallen upon strange
times, times that will try US ALL but / have
faith in the American people and the Presi-
dent of the United States. Aided by the
people in whom he trusts, Andrew johnson
will bring back the country to its original
condition as the home Of freemen. | be-
seech yOu as you love the land Of your birth,
or adoption, to give him a hearty support,
and stand by constitutional liberty and the
liberties of your country. He would go back
to Nashville, if necessary, cheerfully, and
serve them faithfully to the end.
Mr.. Poston was then called upon, and after
the applause had subsidized, said: What
every man present, whether recent conner or
old citizen, would bear him testimony that
he all his life long, from the hour when
twenty-seven years ago he entered this city a
beardless boy, until the present, had care
fully eschewed politics as incompatible with
his desires and his tenor of life as quiet
unpretentious citizen. Some weeks since he
had been called upon by the citizens of
Memphis and Shelby county to serve them
as Representative in the Legislature. At
first he declined, but being pressed he re-
solved to accept the trust, and with the de-
termination to do his whole duty he went to
the capital of the State, and there, as the
journal of the House will prove, did his
whole duty, courteously, but firmly. He was
met tonight by the proclamation of the
Governor, and if that gentleman had con-
fined himself to the legitimate duties of his
Office under the circumstances, he would not
touch upon the extraordinary document
but since he had chosen to act otherwise, he
would, while he respected the Office, lay
hands upon the man who had attempted to
characterize him in a manner at once dis
courteous and dishonoring. With full es-
innate of the strength of the character he
has endeavored through life to maintain, he
could not let this document pass. He then
reviewed the antecedents of the twenty-one
men (himself and Mr.. Walker omitted) who
had signed the protest, and characterized
them as infinitely superior to any of those
who were opposed to them-
The most kind and courteous relations
have existed between him and the Governor
and the Secretary, Mr.. Flether. With the
former, he worshipped at the same altar, and
had worked in the same political organiza-
tion, they could then estimate with what
feelings he approached this illumination of
Mr.. BfOWniOw. 1he present Is an ADJOURNED
session of the Legislature of 1868; on that
fact hinges the parliamentary objections to
the bill. Many franchise bills were intro
duced, some radical, others based upon the
Presidents plan of restoration; these were
referred to a committee who laid them aside
and in lieu reported the Objectionable bill.
A motion was made, as is usual under like
circumstances, upon the presentation of this
bill, to defer the whole matter for debate,
but that was refused, and under the call of
the previous question, on two occasions it
was passed, and under a similar movement
was made the order of the day, the day sue
ceeding that on which it passed its second
reading.
On that day every member answered to
his name, and the question came up. Mr..
Steele was allowed to speak for about an
hour, but Mr.. Ralston Immediately obtained
the floor, and moved the previous question
again, cutting off debate, and being sustained
a vote was taken, and as they should be, the
Radicals on the occasion, found themselves |
without aquorum; and, thus, this iniquitous |
measure designed to rob vou nv fellow |