Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-19
TENNEassEE LEarsT.ATrRE.
IIoase o. Repre.enlallve..

House Of Representatives.
i WEDNESDAY, July 1s.-The House met
az ten o'clock A. N.
A call Of the roll showed only thirty-fiye
members present
On motion, the House took a recess until
two o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The House met at two o'clock Mr..
| MARTIN arose and said
Dir. SPEAKER desire to know whether
l am member Of this House, and if so.
why am held prisoner. I am no refrae-
tory member, I came here and was present
| on the 4th, 9th and 9th inst, wher some
members who voted for my arrest were at
| home. went to my home for the purpose
of visiting sick family and comforting with
my constituents. When the men came TO
arrest me l could have blown a horn and
hundreds of boys would have fOcked to my
rescue. ! do not intend to be prosecuted in
this manner. l am a free man, and intend
10 have the rights of one.
Mr.. MULLOY hoped that the House would
relieve Mr.. MARTIN on his declaration.
Mr.. MARTINI wish to be understood.
l am free man, and, if released, l will act
as such. ! will go where 1 please, and do
as please.
Mr.. WINES said that lac was unwilling
to have the gentleman released, after hear
| ing his last remarks.
Mr.. MARTIN said that he would come
TO the Capitol, and that he would not
leave the city without Informing the Spea-
ker, but that as for coming to this House
| for the purpose of forming quorum, he
/ would not do it.
Mr.. JARVIS remarked that there was
/ not parallel to the action Of this House in
| holding Mr.. MARTIN as prisoner. Where
was an honorable member of a legislative
body, who had taken the oath of Office, that
he was ever required to take any other oath,
as some members of this body now wish to
exact from the prisoners. 1t was evident
that other members of the House had gone
home without asking leave Of this body. 1
am in favor Of treating all men alike. If
these gentlemen had not treated the House
with contempt, what could be done with
them?
If it was expected that the State should
pay the expense of sending armed men over
all portions of it by railroad and other con-
veyances, that he was opposed to, and would
vote against any such an appropriation.
That while he intended TO stay here and try
and constitute quorum, he would not sign
a parole for that purpose. L do not wish to
exact that from others which would not be
willing to do myself l must now announce
that if there is not a quorum here in few
days l will have to 60 home. l hope that
the House will release these gentlemen, and
now move that they be released.
Mr.. WINES said we had been here for
two weeks trying to get a quorum, but have
not yet accomplished it. yet there have been
plenty of members in the city, but who alb
scented themselves from the House in order
to defeat certain measure. He believed
that a majority of the people of Tennessee
were disloyal at heart, but were not until
the commencement of the rebellion, and
that they would become loyal again.
Mr.. MARTIN interrupted the gentleman
here, stating that when he spoke he had no
idea of causing such political harrangue
from the gentleman, and withdrew his re-
quest to know what he was held as a pris-
oner for, and also motion of Mr.. JARVIS for
his release, and that he would return TO his
hole as a prisoner.
Mr.. WINES continued his speech for a
few minutes when call of the House was
made, which showed that only forty-tWo
members were present, when on motion, the
House adjourned until 10 o'clock A. NJ to-
morrow.