Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-10
AN EAST TENNESSEE RADICALS
RECORD

| n GOuNtutiDh VI Ah1tftt4ic Afiits ~
Washington county, was held at Jones'
boro on the LIST inst, which nominated
Capt Newton Hacker for Representative
from that county. p c. Nelson was
nominated for reelection to the Senate
from that district, and a preference was
expressed for r. r. Butler as their first
and only choice to represent that dis
triet in Congress One Of the resolutions
adopted by this convention reads as fol-
lows.
Resolved, Thatitisthe indefeasible right
| of the unconditional Union party 10 deter
mine who shall fiji our public Offices, and
we will not support any man who recon-
mends the appointment Of any Rebel or
man Of suspicioned loyalty TO any public
trust, and will do all in our power to de-
feat his election.
The gentleman recommended by this
convention for Congress, and who is
already a candidate, was elected to the
Rebel" Legislature after the people of
the State had adopted the ordinance Of
separation He came here and took his
seat in that Legislature, first taking an
oath to support the constitution of the
Confederate States This was a yolunta-
~ act After the bridges had been
burned. in East Tennessee by the Union>
lists Of that section, the subject was
brought up in the House of Representa-
tives, and from report of the proceed>
ings Of that body on the 18th of Novem-
Der, 1861. we copy as follows:
"Mr. Butler denounced the act in the
strongest terms and sincerely hoped that
the perpetrators, be they whom they may,
will be arrested and severely punished.
lie stated that he had always opposed the
introduction Of Lincoln troops into East
Tennessee, and when consulted upon the
subject, had advised against it, and he be-
lieyed a very large majority of his consti-
tuents we're opposed TO such step"
This is very emphatic language, and
left no doubt as 20 where Mr. Butler
stood He desired to have the men who
risked their lives to burn these bridges
arrested and severely puuished-how
severely he did not say, but the impress
sion is legitimate that he would not stop
short Of hanging
On the 23d Of November, 1861, Mr.
Butler offered resolution "instructing
our Senators and Representatives in Cons
gress to vote for pension bill This
was directed to the Senators and Repre-.
sentatives from this State in the Confed-
crate Congress, and the pension was not
for the Union soldiers, but for those who
should fight for the Gonfederacy The
gallant Mr.. Butler desired that these men
should be rewarded for their hardships
and sacrifices in the war for separate
nationality, and in the fullness of his
heart he asked the Legislature of Ten
nessee to aid him in an appeal to the Con-
federate Congress to grant these to be
war>wOrn veterans pension.
In the House of Representatives, on
the 18th of December, 1861, Senate reso-
luton expressive of the opinion Of the
Legislature Of Tennessee. in regard to the
future policy and determination to main-
tain our declaration of independence of |
the government Of the United States
was taken up, when the following resolu..
tions were offered in lieu:
Resolved, That il is the sense Of this
General Assembly that the separation of |
those States nov forming the Confederate
States of America from the United States
is, and ought TO be, perpetual and ire
Vocable and that Tennessee will, under no
entertain any proposition
from any quarter, which may have for its
object a restoration or reconstruction Of the
late Union on any terms or conditions
whatever
Resolved, That the war which the Uni
led States are waging upon the Confederate
States should be prosecuted on our part
With the utmost vigor and energy until our
independence and nationality are uncon-
acknowledged by the United
States.
Resolved, That Tennessee pledges to
he will stand by them throughout the
truggle: that she will contribute all the
means which her resources will supply, so
ar as the same may be necessary, to the
Import of the common cause, and viii
lot consent 10 lay down her arms until
'eace is established on the basis Of the
oregoing resolutions
On the 10th Of the same month these
esolutions were adopted in lieu of the
'enate resolution and then adopted as !
he sense oftheLegislature ayes 81, noes
, Mr.. Butler voting for the resolutions. !
here Is no mineing the question in these
BY his vote Mr. Butler de-
Jared that the separation fought to be !
and irrevocable," and that !
enPessee ought to listen to no PROPOSE A.,
or to return to the old Union. This is
ie man put forward by this funeon. +
itional Union party convention to
epresent that party in Congress How
oes he Gil the bin marked out in the
we have quoted from their
latiorm2 How could he take the oath
res crihpd for naubarq of Gonprpaa y