The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-12-05
The SO-Called Congress.

|
The usurping Jacobins now Assem-
bled at Washington, and styling them
selves the Congress, in defiance of al
which the Constitution plainly says
constitute Congress, have had the Ia
bles turned on them by Mr. Brooks, {
, staunch Democrat ofNew York, who
is editor of the New York Express, as
well as a member Of Congress. 1t viii
be remembered that ut the late session
tho delegation from Kentucky were de
MED seats plainly because oftheir dem
ocratic proclivi:ies--that is, they were
not "lOyar' IN the Jacobin sense Of the
term. Mr.. Brooks at the present con-
vocation of Congress introduces res
olution calling for inquiry into the an
teccdents Of the Tennessee delegation
during the war, and this he desired as
precedent to admitting them to seats,
VI COuISc tHc IcSOlutiOu WAS NOIct'
down, for the Radical majority have
no idea of being honest or consistent
if that honesty or consistency is calcu-
lateed to damage them as party. We
quote from the Congressional proceed
ings of the 2lst ult., as follows:
The eight members elect from Ten.
ncssce having hean called by the Speak
cr to take the oath, Mr.. Ellridge OBJ
jected to administering the oath to Mr.
Stokes, and moved the reference of his
credentials to the Committee on Gre,
dentials.
Mr. Brooks, ,f New York, objected
to administering the oath to any ofthe
Tennessee delegation on the ground ;
first, that two, if not more of them had
been guilty of treason to the govern
mcnt and taken the oath Of allegiance
to the Confederate government and
jeff. Davis, and second, there does not
now exist in the State of Tennessee q
republican torn of government. Loud
laughter on the Republican side.
Mr. Brooks argued that the electoral
law of Tennessee DISTINGUISHED a ma
jority of the white citizens. The vote
Of the State is lao, 900 and yet 100, 900
votes had controlled the election, 55,-
900 Of whom were negroes controlling
the $4,000 white voters who were not dis
franehised. He said an oligarchy now
existed and reigned in Tennessee, the
franchise law there was u disgrace to
any free form Of government, and a
dishonor to all forms of republican
sclf-governmcnt.
Mr. Brooks then stated his special
objections to the swearing in Of Butler,
because, as member Of the Tennessee
Legislature, before and during the re-
bellon, he had voted for resolutions
and measures proving his disloyalty to
the United States government. Among
these were resolutions to reject the
confirmation of any man to office who
indorsed the Helper book, condeming
the appointment of Seward in Lincoln's $
Cabinet as an act hostile to the South,
and for calling q convention to take
Tennessee out of the Union. Mr..
Brooks quoted the precedent establish
ed by the Republican side of the house
last July, in regard to the Kentucky
members, and argued that they were
now irrevocably bound by it.
Mr.. Brooks then objected to swear
ing in Mr.. Mullins, on the ground that
he had given aid and comfort to re,
bellion; had made speeches in behalf
of it; had lent his aid and support to
it; had attempted to raise troops for it
and made speeches in Bedford county,
in 1861, in which he urged young men
to enlist in Rebel companies and defend
their homes and tiresides.
Mr.. Brooks also objected to swear,
ing in Mr.. Arnell, on the grounds he
had established in Lawrence county,
Tennessee, tannery, which was dcvo-
ted to supplying of Rebel soldiers.
Mr.. Brooks also objected to swear
ing in Mr.. Trimble, saying his informa-
ton was, if he voted at all on the ques-
ton of secession, he had voted for ta
king Tennessee out Of the Union.
Mr.. Trimble, in his seat, assured Mr..
Brooks he had not done so.
Mr.. Brooks accepted the denial, and
withdrew all special objections to
swearing in Trimble.
Mr. Eldridge then stated to the
House the ground on which he object
ed to swearing in Mr.. Stokes. 1t was
that Stokes had admitted IN the House,
on the 9th of July, 1865. having writ
ten letter to John Duncan on the
10th day Of May, 1861, stating that he
understood some gross misrepresenta-
tions were going the rounds of his sec
ton in reference to his position, which
he, Stokes, wished to correct, was that
he had been a Jealous advocate Of the
Union up to the time that Lincoln had
called for $4,000 troops, in violation of
law, for the subjugation of the South.
That he commended to Gov Harris, of
Tennessee, for his course, the arming
of the State, and resisting Lincoln at
the point of the bayonet, and that he
had enrolled his name as volunteer to
resist Lincoln's usurpation.
|