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

Speech of Hon. Elijah simeTiys
REPREsEETATIYE OF CAETEB AID JoHSso'
COUNTIES,
peiFered il The House Of Representative. 1896
On motion 70 reconsider the ycte lEde14 otell
/ poslponing 6 resolution expressing the sense Q
| toe Eouse i relation TO the admission Of Ten
nessee delegates a fhe Congress OF the UnitsS
. / 5tstss.
Where's, representation and taxation ar,
indispensable in all free governments, anC
IS the State OF Tennessee is bound for hel
Proportionable part Of the public debt, ana
where's, as she has elected none but original
Union men TO represent her in the present
Congress Of the United States, and only such
as can cOnscieutiously take the Congress
sional cath. Therefore be ii
Resolrcf 6y the General Assemble, That
our Senators and Representatives., elected
10 the present Congress, are as much and
as fully entitled 10 their seats as anv mem
bers from any other State in this Union.
Mr.. Speaker: 1t strikes me very foreiblv
that this body ought to reconsider the vote
that indefinitely postponed this resolutions
and not only reconsider, but in my iudg-
ment they ought TO unanimously adopt il
as the sense of this body. Why, Mr.. Speak
er, should this be the case Because, sir,
1t would have the effect of counteractiug 2
the mlschievOus results and impressions
that, fear, have been made by the publ
cation Of articles through the public Jour
nails purporting to be the sense of this
| body, and of the loyal people of this State
in reference TO the right Of representation
in the Congress Of the United States, and
of their views ofthe policy Of the President.
Mr.. Speaker: !, as one of the humblest
members Of this honorable body, believe
| that it is the duty of this Legislature to take
a bold, emphatic and decided stand in
favor of the President and his restoration
| policy. / would advise, however, that we
do so in mild, temperate and respectful
way. Why do deem it necessary for this
| BODY to endorse and sustain the President
and his policy2 Because, when We east
| our eyes to the Capitol of this Nation. the
| fountain of political thought, where it is
presumed that the wisdom of the nation is
concentrated, and there behold the political
struggle that is going on between the
wise, far-seeing, dispassiOnate policy of true
| craftsmanship on the one hand, and the
shortsghted, one idea, fanstieal and dan
gerous strategy of political partisanship on
the other--the President representing the
| first, and Mr.. Summer, of the Senate, and
Mr., Stevens, of the House the latter. What
is the foundation of this great political issue?
Is it not the political status OF the people of
the States lately in rebellion? The Presi-
dent assumes that the States are now in the
Union, and never were out Of it; and that
the rebellion is crushed, peace restored, the
supreme authority Of the Constitution, as
amended, recognized, and law and order re-
established by the people. This is practi-
cally acknowledged by everybody in the
United States; and the rehabilitated States
are each of them resuming all their hither-
TO suspended functions of vitality, and are
ready and willing, obediently and harmo-
nioasly, TO perform their duties as States
under the supreme charter; are ready to be
represented, and ought to be represented in
the Congress Of the United States, leaving
Congress, of course, in each House, TO de-
termine for itself the election returns and
| qualifications OF its own members. But the
other side, Mr.. Speskor, declares that the
| States rebelling forfeited their existence as
| States-eommitted suicide; and being ex-
tinet as States, are merelygconquered pro-
yinces, which, with ell their property, lives
and rights, irrespective of parties, are at
the mercy of the cOnqueror, and ought to be
held as territories, and governed by the
sword until the supreme poger Of the gov
erument shall decree otherwise.
Mr.. Speaker: If this be so, We can readily
see the logical conclusions that NAV be
drawn from the premises. They are these
The States in the rebellion pending the war,
HNAN Az AAANlG HAlnASuA u4AADua Ii lIlH De SOs
Mr.. Speaker, in warring against the Union,
they exercised only belligerent rights, and
consequently committed no crime there
fore, Jeh. Davis, the prince of Belzebubs, is
merely prisoner Of war, and never COM
nitled treason, and conviction and punish
ment by death would be simply Judicial
murder.
Again, Mr.. Speaker, If this be So, would
not the Government Of the United States,
according to the Law governing nations, be
bound to pay the debt of the Confederacy?
Because, Mr.. Speaker, l understand that it
IS settled principle, when one government
OVerthrows and destroys smother, taking
possession Of all its assets, the conqueror IS |
liable and bound to the creditors Of the de
funet government Ter its liabilities.
If the doctrine Of the opposition TO the
President and his policy be true. The Union
men Of the south-yes, the Union men OF
Tennessee-WhO abandoned the Confeder-
acy, and went into the Federal army As SOL
diers, are not worthy TO be represented in
the Congress Of this great and good govern
ment, for which they fought so nobly. But
they are numbered with, and elassed
with the traitors, as far as representation is
concerned.
This is not the only conclusion that we
may very readily come to, if this be the
doctrine by which We are TO be governed.
No, sir; If this be true Andrew johnson is
not President of the United States, but be is
an alien and a usurper /; for the Constitution
requires the President to be a citizen of the
United States, and a native born citizen at
that. This theory, however absurd and dis
astlous in its logical sequences, is q necessity
with its advocates, in order to justify their
opposition to the early admission of repre-
sentatives in Congress from the formerly
Slave States.
Mr.. Speaker, if they admit that these are
States, and in the Union, the Constitution
declares that each of them shall have two
Senators and at least one Representative
hence, in order 10 prevent representation
from the Southern StaIes, they do practical
ly, by Congressional legislation, what all
the national armies for four years fought
valiantly and successfully to prevent that
Is, they dismember and break up the Union.
BY this kind of Congressional legislation,
they strike eleven stars from the flag of the
free, snd leave but twenty five dimly
| twinkling, where thirty-six blazing lumina-
ries should shed their glory on the world.
But why, l ask, should they wish the
State of Tennessee to remain unrepresent-
ed Has she come up to the requirements
of the Constitution? Has not her brave
soldiery fought to sustain this Government?
nave NueN lON EtttLCQ anu 6Eut 10 W MdEullE-
ton loyal delegation, elected by the loyal
people Of the State Then why, repeat,
should any person be opposed TO Tennessee
| being represented But will let the oppO-
sltion attempt 10 answer these questions, for !
might improperly impugn the motives OF
| patriotic gentlemen. only let me add, that
in my judgment this Legislature ought TO
adopt the resolution under consideration
snd in doing SO, they will only be speaking
what ! believe TO be the sentiments of at
least two-thrds Of the loyal people Of the,
| State.
Let US speak out and manfully sustain
our patriotic President, and demand Of
| Congress the full and prompt recognition of
our inaliensble rights to participate in the
| legislation Of this great aud good Govern
ment, which the loyal people of Tennessee
have always loved and clung to, in peace
and IN war, and to preserve whose existence
they have suffered and sacrificed far more
! than many who are now trying to class US,
and do class US, with rebels and traitors, and
even deny us the rights Of freemen.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, allow me to say, that
| in my judgment the loyal people Of Ten
nessee-aRd hope there sre but few others
at this dsy-are willing to bear their pro-
| portionsble part Of the expenses 10 sustain
| and support the general government; and
1 At Alt hnlAn AlL-1 - - AQkllAg more t0aH
| simple justice thst their voice should be
| heard through their Senators and Repre-
| septstives IN the Congress at Washington.
Mr. Speaker, Notwithstanding the people
of Tennessee have been overshsdowed for
the last four years by the dark and lower
ing clouds OF war, which were continually
pouring forth its showers Of devastation,
trihulstion snd veXstion upon the heads Of
thousands OF her citizens thss we're as loyal
\ to the Government Of the Unned States a.
sny man Of the North ever dared 10 be;
notwithstanding ail this, Mr.. Speaker, the
A lovsl people OF this stste, even IN their
nevertv stricken condition, are willing 70
bear the burden OF taxation to support this
Government. And now, Mr.. Speaker, since
the cloud of war has been removed, and the
sweet sunshine Of Psace IS pouring forth its
bright rays upon this once happy land, and
tbe thoussnds of soldiers wholeft their homes
and joined the Federal army hsve returned,
sud are trying to improve .heif unfortunate
condition, and have elected their members
> a. CONGRESS 10 represent them snd their in