Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-02-24
rarsE THINK.

In the Legislative proceedings which
We published yesterday morning occurs
The subioined record. a member Of the
legislature had been arrested by the
c~oorkeeper and brought 10 the House,
under the order Of the Speaker:
prr. Ga-ret Ethe member referred To remarked
with considerable warmth on the gross outLa-
Ees perpetrated on members OF me hou>e He
understood cEar The military authorities had
been called upon 10 sid in compelling the al
m. speaker Heiskeu arose and asked the
90 rkceper Il he called OF the military author
fteS for assistance.
me eco keeper responded that ne commander
of the pg- had ielac7sd a guard f- N purpose
but tLst the services OF said guard had not been
me speaker remarked somewhat warmly
thai he would not under any clrclmeulteee
authorize ~ give couDIenauce 10 the use OF
military power "A the premises
The portion which we have printed IN
ftalic i noteworthy. Who suggested 70
the Commander of the POST that a
guard of soldiers to arrest members Of
the Tennessee Legislature was necessary?
Was it the Radical majority Of that
bodyo Is that the spirit in which they
propose 10 govern the State? Do they
propose 70 perpetuate their power at the
point Of the bayonet2 Are we to have
. dssD0tisn7 in Tennessee, il the place Of
q republican form Of government ~
And ~again-Under what authority does
the Commander of the Postn at Nash
vile ''tender a guard for the purpose Of
not the preservation Of public order,
and the maintenance Of the lar, but ar
resting members Of the Legislature with
the strong arm Of military force? We
must be permitted to doubt that he can
ind any warrant for such profiered in
reference, in his orders and instructions,
either from District Headquarters, or
from Washington. If they do warrant
guch interference, then the sitting Of the
LEGISLATURE, under such Overshadowing
duress, is a farce, and its members might
As well 20 home. If the Commander Of
The Post" may, with his military guard,
arrest members and compel them to 20
TO the Capitol, he may with like
propriety disper8e them from the Capt.
tai, and prevent their assembling.
We do not believe, however, that the
Commands Of the Post" has authority,
from any legitimate source Of authority,
for either the one or the other inter
ference by military force. The charitable
construction of his conduct Is, that. with
good intentions, be has acted in the pre-
misses without due reflection. But even
in that case, what q f0rcible illustration
Is this incident Of the s0undness Of Presi-
dent JoHNsON's objections TO filling up
the country with military agents, acting
on their own discretion and judgment.
The exercise Of power V which there
is no legal supervision, must, by the very
nature Of man, be attended by acts Of
caprice, injustice and passion and it
behooves good and patriotic men, Of all
shades Of political opinion, TO pause and
think what are the tendencies Of such
~urecedents as that which has just been
set ST Nashville.
We trust too-indeed most earnestly
adiure the members Of the Legislature,
20 abate much Of that ultrsism of views
and feeling which has given occasion
FOR this bad precedent Our State Gov
ernment is valuable only as a nucleus
FOR the union and harmonious action of
our people. II it Is to become a center
from which j. disseminated discOrd and
division, we would be better without il.
The people want peace, reconciliation,
harmony, andan hOnestaud fun restora-
ton to their constitutional relations with
the Federal Government. The Legisla-
ture, by its curse Of w~rangling and bit
rarness- i misrenrasentnr fhem.