Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-19
THE THOMAs-ARNELL SEAT 4

CONGRESS-.
As soon as the Representatives from
Tennessee were admitted into Congress,
Hon Dorsey B. Thomas who was elected
by the people, appeared in Washington
~ contest the seat of Arneil who was
appointed by the Governor. The matter
was referred to the Committee on Elec-
lions, which committee held the subject
under adyisement until the Dist ut
when it reported that the proper legal
notice had not been served by Mr.
Thomas but graciously recommended
that The contestant be allowed to giye
notice, and to take testimony for the
space Of eighteen days The House took
no action upon the subject, 50 far Is we
are informed, and there the matter rested,
and still rests. .IHt|.# 1911 tI#|
The law requires that notice be given
by the contestant within thirty days after
the result Of the election shall have been
determined By the officer authorized by
law to determine the same The election
was held in August, 1865, and the Repre-
sentatiyes were not admitted until July,
| 1866 A notice prior to this admission
would have been worthless, as neither
was admitted to the seat for nearly year
after the election, and neither could tell
whether either would ever be permitted
tn occupy it. But Arnell was notified in
time, and sneaked to Washington in time
to take the seat and draw the pay for the
| full term When Thomas came forward,
the Rebel shoe and leather contractor
pleaded that he had not received notice
Of the contest. But Mr.. Thomas had
given him the notice within the thirty
days, in presence of witnesses who were,
at the time, called upon to note the fact.
This was acknowledged by Arnell in re
ply to an inquiry addressed to him by
Thomas in the following terms
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec 4, 1866
My DEAR SIR: Yours of the third instant
has been received The following state
ment contains the substantial facts, so far
as / remember them: In the House of
| Representatives at Nashville, Tennessee,
after learning that Gov. Brownlow had
| given to me the certificate Of election for
the sixth Congressional district of Tennes-
see TO the thirty-ninth Congress, You re-
marked to me that you intended to contest
the election. replied, very we'll; ! lex
peel you to do So After some other con-
yersation of a mutually friendly character,
on your turning away, | volunteered the
| information that il was necessary TO give
| me notice, which you seemed not to have
| thought Of / further remarked that de-
| sired to throw no obstacle in the way, and
would acknowledge notice. You then
called up several witnesses, and the matter
was verbally understood.
Hoping that this will be satisfactory, /
am, very respectfully, yours,
SAMUEL M. AREELI.
"Hon D. B. Thomas"
1t is thus the Radicals in Congress
have, in conjunction with our Governor,
defeated the express wish and will of the
| people Of the sixth district Of Tennessee.
There is but one recourse now, and that
is that the people of the district call
upon Mr. Thomas to again bear their
standard, and elect him by legal ma
jority 50 positive and overwhelming as
will defy cayil, and will deter even Gov
Brownlow from contravening the popular
will by appointing another to the posi-
ton