The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-28
Senator Graham. Of North Caroliu,

Senator Graham, of North Csrolini
publishes the correspondence, the SUI
stance of which has been heretofor
given, in which he asked and was re
fused permission to attend the exam
nation of witnesses before the Recor
struction Committee, where North Ca
rolins was concerned. He conclude
his card of explanation with the FOL
lowing: fUts
To prevent mise0neeption, I esteem !
proper 10 remark that in giving these letter
TO the public, no reflection is intended oi
the motive Of the committee, much less ol
those Of its honorable chairman in the Sen
ate, as a gentleman with whom, through
personal aegusintance Of many years,
have ever maintained the kindest and mos
respectful personal relations. But it is OBJ
vious that, from inadverteBee, or a differ.
ent view Of the subject on the part Of .ht
committee, or from misappre hension On my
part, ] have been disappointed in the ex.
| pectation of being allowed to hear ,yhsi
was imputed 10 my State as demerit, and o.
counteracting it, if | could-a mistake from
ference, from the correspondence, certainly
was thst the committee, when they should
reach the matter touching North Carolina.
would notify US Of the points on which evi-
| dence was desiIed, and would afford an op-
| portunity to apply 70 adverse testimony the
! ordinary tests of truth, as well as Of com
| batting it, if, in our judgment, proper TO be
done, by witnesses called by ourselves.
| ! was, therefore, surprised, a few DAYS
| since, to learn that the sOmmittee had made
/ report of the evidence taken by them, and
obtained an order for its publications. pfo-
ceeding which, in legislative body, as in
q court of chancery, ! presume, implies
that all the evidence has been taken that il
is designed TO receive. This inference is
confirmed By the application for and adop-
ton Of the additional order TO print 70, 0tO
extra eopiss. Il imports that the case, as TO
the facts, is fully made up, and that upon
these II is to be submitted to the Judgment
of the two Houses of Congress, and the still
higher arbitrsment of public opinion Now.
l most respectfully protest that, IL, upon
anything contained ia all this evidence, the
people Of the State of North Carolina shall
be condemned, or kept in a state Of con-
demnatiOn. it will be condemnation with
out hearing, when she was entitled TO be
heard.
H.
mittee, there is notG single affidavit having
any specific reference to her; and there IS
room for hope that, from the absense Of
other evidence, she was net considered in
yolved in any great degree Of demerit or
eriminslity, and 1t was not deemed neees=
sary 10 prosecute the investigation any
further on that account. Bat il cannot es-
cape investigation, that in a State Of a mil
lion inhabitants, the only witness called to
speak Of her condition, the sentiments and
ruling motives of her people, should be
Lieut.. Col. Dexter H. ClaPp, from one of
the Eastern States, an officer of the Freed
mems Bureau at Raleigh, who states that
he IS cOnversant with the people in some
twenty counties out of eighIy-seveE-a So
jolrner filling an Office for which there viii
be no necessity in short time to come, an
less upon the theory that the government
of the State. will not do justice 70 its negro !
population in their new condition of free |
dom. do not design to impeach the ip- |
tegrlty Of this gentleman. He is spoken of |
IN terms of high respect by persons OF our |
common acquaintance. 1t has "a happened |
that have not ment him. But surely his |
opinions, loosely expressed, as they are in |
his affidavit, (and nothing more fully illus |
trstes the importance of crOss-eXaminaiion |
than the went Of precision in the language |
Of his statement formed by intercourse, as
be admits, among less than one-fourth of /
the people of the State; his vague statement
Of a design TO repudiate the rebel debt. |
what is meant by this do not compre-
hend;) his sweeping assertion that "Union
men and freed men stand poor chance for
Justice in the State courts" ian aspersion
upon the judicial officers Of The State re-
Gently chosen by Legislature elected un-
der the restricted system of suff age or
1ained by the proclamation Of the President |
and Provisional Governor, as well an inius-
lice to the general sentiment of the peop.e.1
ire all too Indefinite and unsupported 10
ierve as the foundation tor any action or
,Ourse Of policy on the part Of the Govern
nent towards the people of an en- ire STATE.
Had been so fortunate as to have had the
lttention Of the committee, even after this
lffidavit was taken, think could at once
nave more than neutrslized ali the dispar-
lging testimony of Col. Clapp, by request
ng that there might be summoned another
,heer Of the Freedmen's Bureau, some time
N duty az Fayetteville, North Carolina,
no had equal opportunities of observation,
md Judge as much capas ity for improving
hem. This is Major Lawrence, OF Illinois.
am told brother of the chief Justice Of
hat State whose letter recently published
n these topics | hope TO append to these |
emarks, as'Well as the statement of Colonel
llapp.
l had no design or wish to be examined
IS witness myself | should have con-
idered myself rather as occupying the
,lace of counsel or advocate Of the State
md if the committee had intimated wish
or such Information, would have taken
,lessure in furniship them the address Of
gentlemen in every section Of the State
whose acquaintance, whose integrity, whose
whose loyalty and interests, ,
nd indentifoation with the county sushr ,
led them to speak of the condition OF affairs
nd the state Of feeling and opinion towards
he Government Of the United States with
ull knowledge; men whose ambition has j
,een chastened by the fires Of adversely,
Fhose Affections and sacrifices would sa'iate ,
generous foe, whose desire is TO re-estab-
ish the constitutional relations of all the
tstes with the Federal Union, and, as pre-
laratory t1 this, 10 disarm the spirit of re |
enge and the remorseless passions engen- ,
ered in a great revolution, which, by rea- ,
Oh Of its want of success, many are unable ,
0 distinguish from a petty rebellion.
And before Congress and the people, to
which this evidence is submitted for their
-erdict and judgment, | respectfully claim |
hat the State OF which | am citizen and | /
servant is not TO be affected injuriOusly by I
ny evidence received by this committee. 9
he has in good faith submitted herself 70 /
II the requirements in that scheme Of poll
y prescribed by the President from the Po-
omae to the Rio Grande; IS obedient to I
very law Of the Union; is with heavy sac
iices paying the arrearages of taxes Of {
primer years to the United States as well IS l
resent leyies, snd not arrogRntly, but con-
dently appeals to that sense Of justice and :
bose emembrances Of ancient friendships : :
lhich shall restore to her the full fruition !
{ her rights as State Of the American |
'nion. W. A. GRAHAM. I
EBsIT HoFsE, Washington, March is, 1866. 8