Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-04
LETTER FROM HON. CAVE JOHNSON.
ClARKsvnLE, April 30, 1866.
10 the Citizens OF Robertson, Mont.
gOmcry and Stewart Counties:


10 the Citizens OF Robertson, Mont.
gemery and Stewart Counties:
As soon as notified Of my election, i'm
nsedia,ely repaired to Nashville, and on the
9th Of April, presented to the Senate the
certificates Of my election, as required by
law, and asked to be admitted to my seat
that might perform the duties you expected
of me. There was mother claimant for the
position, and no exception taken to the re-
turns Of the sheriffs and certificates of my
election. was informed, by the Speaker,
that the Senate had adopted rule to do no
business without quorum. In vain
urged upon him that the admission of new
members was not part of the business of
the Senate requiring a quorum-that the
organization of the Senate by the admission
Of new members was necessary before quo
rum could be formed--that such was the
practice in all legislative bodies---that, in
Congress, members were admitted and quail
flied upon production of a certificate of cleo
ton, and sometimes even upon publication
in the newspapers, giving the election of ap-
plicant and that the Senate now in ses-
sion had been organized on the presentment
Of the certificates of election. He replied /:
1.-THE rule of the Senate must be adhered to-"
Upon some occasions, the admission of my
self and Mr.. Carrot, (member elect from
smith, would have made a quorum, and
would have enabled the Senate TO proceed
with the public business After remaining
some ten or twelve days in attendance upon
the Senate, quorsm appeared. The spea-
ker submitted my certificates of election to
the Senate; and although there was still no
other claimant and no objections to the re-
turns, they were referred to the committee
on elections, and my admission and quaiifi-
cations still refused. After the case had re.
manned some six or eight days before the
committee, the public business going on, and
some of the measures of the most important
character involving your interest and dearest
rights, l became impatient at the exclusion
of your representative from his seat, and
thus silenclng the voice of three countless
] therefore addressed memorial TO the S en-
ate, respectfully asking the decision of my
case at once. Two days after, the committee
of elections reported against my admission.
This was done upon the grounds that
bad CONSENTED to" and "countsnanced" the
rebellion, and as my three sons had been in
the Confederate army, they presumed had
contributed "means'' to aid the Confederate
cause and as had not voted in tho spring
elections, | was not entitled to hold Office,
although no such law existed. There was
no proof of any act committed by me, for
or against either party. The proof showed
had remained quietly and peaceably at
home, taking no part and unable from age
and in6rmity, to take any part, had | been
so inclined, other than the expression of my
opinion upon public men and public meas.
ures.
For the first time, in the history of our
country, has peacea Bile and orderly citizen
been condemned aud punished for entertain.
ing and expressing his opinion upon politi-
cal questions, involving his own interest as
well as the rights Of the people. But even
if such expression of opinion had been made
criminal by law, l had complied with the
proclamations of the President--taken the
oath Of amnesty, and had obtained pardon
from the President, which relieved me from
any responsibility for all prior misdeeds, If
any had been committed, and restored me 70
all the rights and privileges of a Citizen
Notwithstanding the immunity thus extend
ed to me, as well as the citizens generally,
the Senate undertook an examination of my
character and conduct as citizen without
any specific charges against me; without
court or jury, and without any testimony
justifying 1t, declared me guilty of some
crime which disqualified me for the pos ition
your votes had assigned me. Some TWEEN ty
other counties were, in like manner, de-
prived of their representatives. These acts
were palpable violations of our constitution,
which secures to me the right of trial by
jury, in open court, and the examination OF
witnesses face to face, as well as destructive
of the constitutional right of the people to
be represented. in their legislative assemblies
by such individuals as they may select, sub.
ject alone to the qualifications prescribed In
the constitution, of residence, citizenship, and
the proper age. The character of the indi-
vidual selected, whether moral, religious or
political, is the proper subject of enquiry for
the people before the election, and the as
sumption of it, by the Senate, is a daring
usurpation of the rights of the people. The
offence or crime, as they are pleased to call
it, it any, which we committed, was against
the United States. We were responsible to
the United States alone for our conduct, and
to them belonged the infiction of the pun
ishment which was imposed upon us with
no sparing hand. The loss Of our property,
the burning of our cities and villages, the
destruction of our farms, the sacrifice of
thousands Of our best men, will ever attest
the severity of the punishment. The United
States were satisfied with it, and in the proc
lamationso of amnesty and pardons promised us
protection of persons and property upon our
and obedience to the laws. The
have been complied with, and