The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-07

You viii all bear ne witness that I hsE
not impoTtunsd you for your votes
for that, if nothing else, you shsu Civ
me credit In determining s choic
for Senators, I have right 20 insil
: that yoa do not hurt TO the State, b
electing man, who from any caus
cannot serve you if elected. I have Z
right to urge upon you, nor viii I, N
abilities to represent the State, but
may, and should present my available
y. II sny of You imagine that II is
matter Of trihing importancs, what pc
sition, civil or military, an individus
has occupied in the defunct Govern
msnt. of the Confederacy, Let me tel
you, that YOU labor under & pFofoun,
mistake; whoever regards lightly tn
test oath, and believes it inmatsria
whether one can take 1t or not, Is Ia
boring under delusion. The s6mis
sion CT members into the present Con
gress, viii depend mainly upon tai
ability Of the members to take the ostt
required Of him-conscisncio1siy. Ths
history Of each member will be inquir
ed into; rigid scrutiny will be observ-
ed as 70 his antecsdents. And no mat
ter what may be the personal merits oi
q man, his political career aad chsrsc.
ter alone will be consulted This stern
rule may irritste and wound your pride
but it should not, if indeed you are the
loyal men you profess to be II you
really feel 8 reluctance to elect & man
who can take this oath, then Is it because
you disappro7e his loyalty, and if sus-
tanned in this sentiment by your con.
stituents then you are not entitled 10
| representation in the councils of the
nation. II it be matter of feprosoh 70
be able to take this severe oath, then
denounce me, for Z can take i. I am
sorry to say that know 50 few who
are IN my situation. Do you not wish
that all could take it7
The State Of South Carolina hss Sc
lected for a Senator 3 man distin-
guished for his love Of the Union since
the days of notification, and another
not identified with the revolution. If
South Carolina can act so wisely, how
much is to be expected of GeorRia ?
You all profess TO love the President
and to sustain his policy II may be
allowed to compare large things TO
| small, let me inquire how It Is that YOU
can forgive Andrew Johnson for max
ing war upon the Confederaoy and ex-
erIing himself to crush il, and yet com
plain Of me for my peaceful opposition
TO your Tevolution3 His children
fought you, while mine fought for you
Are YOU quite certain that your love
for tina President IS heartfelt and sin
cere2 :
If you would give evidence OF your
attachment, consult his wishes. The
President Is q man of wisdom, and
readily distinguishes between mere lip
service and genuine devotion. You
will not be able to deceive him.
Rumor hath it that am to be de-
feated-nRy, crushed, snnihilated BY
some unseen handsome, intangible sd
versary. Ifit be your purpose to bring
me into contempt, you had better re-
sort to blanks. But let me tell you,
gentlemen, that you cannot drive
me from my purpose; .vou cannot
weaken my convictions Of Whist il due
TO my character, my selfrespect, sud
above sll, my devotion TO the Govern
ment love. am prepared for the
sacrifice; let the suspended sword fall
Thank heaven, sm Injured to greater
evils than your displeasure l have
suffered much for my opinions; can
endure more.
Understand me, do not complain,
and l will not complain; for l shall
have no right to do so if in the election
you should prefer to me some other
citizen of similar sentiments, on account
of superior moral worth or tslent-but
when, forgetting the helpless condition
of our people, dependent upon the fs-
vor Of the government for what Of lib
erty they now epjoy-you shall madly
and reyengefuliy choose q man over me
prominently identified in either g civil
or military capacity with the rebel gov
ernment l will denounce the folly and
infatustion Of the act.
1t is generally understood thst you
will make choice of 8 distinguished
gentleman, prominent for his public
services and his Acknowledged talents,
and, regardless of his earnest remon-
strsnces SO set forth in the letter will
read you, force upon him, oLjectiRg and
reluctant ss he may be-this high trust
If you are really his friends, you viii
better serve him by foregoing the use of
hia name. care not If e man be con-
sidered as pure as sn angel, under such
circumstances he cannot escape sus
pioion Of encouraging the act Ny at
titude may bias my judgment, but l
will stake my reputation that evil comes
of the deed. But the fst has gone
forth, and it il irrevoSable.
Some profess to believe, that there is
little difference as 10 the status Of men,
and that all viii be regarded alike. Is
it nothing thst such as !, condemning
the revolution, and sbstsiniDg from lie
commencement to its close, from par
ticipating in any public meeting, from
casting vote for sny officer Of the pre-
vented new government, snd from any
act voluntarily ct war with obligations
70 my country--is there, in your judg-
uent, no difference between such
man, and one who took Office under sn
organization hostile and ct war with the
Government 70 which his allegiance
was due7 If you determine there is
not, the Senste Of the United States
will reverse your Judgment Remem-
Der that il Is Of far less consequence
what may be the standing Of your fsS-
orite in Georgia, than what is the esti-
mate Of the Senate in regard 10 him
That body, ana not the people Of Geor-
gis, must pass upon his eligibility.
hsye heard that / am censured for
having made speech on the occasion
| of raising a national aag at the military
hesdquarters IN Augusts. ! did make
the speeeh--at the solicitation Of Gen.
Steednsn, a bTs7s and generous man
and my personal friend, 70 whom an
indebted for many kindnesses 70 Others,
granted as fsvOrs to me- What should
| / have done-refused the act OF cour-
| tesv Let ne be frank and declare 20
you that I never looked upon the dag
| Of nv country, nor listen 70 the strains
of our national airs, without feeling my
cheeks glow and my pulse quicken l
sought 20 promote on the occasion re-
ferred to, 3 spirit Of kindness and good
feeling between citizens and soldiers
/ II wss time Of considerable excite
ment and my efforts failed 70 please
either psrty, which couTinees ne that
was on the right line.
Ny object has been 70 convince you
Of my general ooncurrence Of opinion
with the President and distinctly 20
impress you with fixed conviction Of
my loyalty 20 the Government II ny
/ principles commend NE 70 your sur
frsge, I shall rejoice; il they do not,
they shall not 0e the less my se1tments
Here Mr. Hill was asked BY 3 gen
tlenan to state his position II regard
70 Mr. Davis Mr. Hill said
I am censursd for ohjecting to the
late Convention, as = Convention, ne
mo-islisinE the President for the par
don of Jefferson Davis, Alexander H.
/ Stephens and others / did object TO
such action on the part Of the ConFen-
ton insisting that il was not tke sp~
propEizte business Of such body cali
ed ior the Erest purpose Of restoring
the state % its former relations WITH
the Government Of the United States,
and would have no eject on the mind
or sction OF the President who would
necessGriiy be governed mainly oy mo
lives Of Pablie policy. usintain nov
the correctness Of ny position, and
claim that tine hss already iastiSsd ny
course