Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-19

that portion of the white community who
are greatly rejoiced over the election of
Grant and Colfax, have determined upon
an immediate public celebration of the
event The principal feature of the de-
monstration is to be speaking in both halls
at the Capitol, and the following named
gentlemen are announced to do the talking
of the occasion: Hon. II. II. Harrison,
Hon. D. W. C. Senter, Hon. D. NJ. Nelson,
Hon. D. w. Peabody, Hon. 7. c. Muse,
Hon. w. NJ. Woodcock, Hon. John Hugh
Smith and Hon. T. A. Hamilton.
1t will be observed that the names Of
distinguished colored orators, "Hon." John
Cockrill and "Hon." Randall Brown do not
appear in the list Of speakers. How is
this? Is the seemingly significant omis.
sion the result of accident, or an intentional
slight by the white managers Of the affair
upon the colored troops whose votes so
largely helped to achieve the victory TO be
celebrated? If an accident, the omission
is pardonabe-if otherwise, it is mean.
The colored people who are mainly de-
pended upon for getting up the noise and
sudience of the coming celebration, and
who will no doubt be looked TO for lib
eral share of funds to defray the expenses
of the same, are entitled 10 an explanation.
1t is certainly due them for these white |
managers to say why black men are SO |
highly honored before an election and 30
strangely forgotten just after its occurrence
Let the explanation be made and recorded. |
But let us glance at the list of white ora |
tors announced, and see how some of these |
gentlemen can have the heart to rejoice over |
what is termed Radical triumph, and
how others mentioned in the list can fnd
leisure and disposition to harangue polit- |
ical gatherings.
Hon. II. II. Harrison has just been |
overwhelmingly defeated in the Legisla-
ture for public printer. With what sort of
enthusiasm can he celebrate the victory OF
party so mauifestly ungrateful for the
service he has rendered il? How can he
have the heart to utter words of cheer and
cong llulation
Hon. D. w. C. Senter, Speaker of the
Senate, has but recently passed through
the humiliating ordeal of being arraigned
at the bar Of that body, for giving aid and
comfort TO the Confederacy while mem
Der of Gov. Harris Rebel Legislature.
Knowing, as he certainly must do, that he
only escaped conviction and removal from
office, because, as stated by Senator du-
ring the discussion attending his arraign-
ment, majority of his colleagues at some
stage or other of the rebellion, either sym
pathized with or supported it, and that TO
remove men from Office upon charges OF
that sort, would leave Tennessee without
Legislature, with how much voice can
Speaker Senter sing psalms over the
achievement Of victory by party which
passes laws practically forbidding his fu-
ture election to any office of profit, honor
or trust? How can he say thank God
and the people who condemn me, for the
election of Grant and Colfax|
Hon. T. A. Hamilton, elected to repre-
sent Tennessee in the councils of the nation,
will, before he takes his seat il that cap
acitY, be required to make solemn oath
that he never aided or abetted the rebel
lion. Gentlemen of unquestioned veracity
have publicly charged that Mr.. Hamilton
was early in the war connected with the
| Quartermaster's department of the Con-
federate army. If Mr.. Hamilton cannot
disprove the charge how is he 10 take the
required oath, or evade the law disqualify-
ing for Office all persons who have aided
and Allotted the rebellion? Called upon ID
swear that he has been unswervingly true
to the government of the United States,
can be, as if with msgician's wand, dispel
all proof to the contrary, and boldly de-
| clare himself one Of the Lords untainted
II lie cannot, how can he have the heart TO
rise up ia the Capitol and say to the blessed
that be was qlwqys loyal, and that be sin
cerely rejoice5 in the triumph of radical
ism?
Hon. D. NJ. Nelson is Clerk Of the Sen
ate, and, leaving his erroneous political
views out of the way, altogether "a nice
young man" He reads bills and calls the
roll in a clear and distinct manner, and
sometimes even in a musical tone Of voice
discharges this branch of his official duty.
He has in fact a voice to be proud Of, and
can readily see the danger to which it
would be exposed by long winded ora
ton at the proposed jubilee. He will
therefore recognize the importance Of
brcvity, which ia, after all, the soul of
Wit" in the congratulations he may have
| to offer.
Hon. D. w. Peabody is young man of
unquestioned loyalty, and no doubt has
cause to feel thankful over the result. He
was not vested with Supreme Court honors
by Gov Brown!ow, but was few days
since elected City Attorney, which is said
to be a better thing, financially speaking,
than any judgship in the State, provided
the incumbent manages it with that end
in view. 1t seems, however that Mr..
Peabody can still fnd time to address gen
eral assemblies of his Radical fellOweci,i.
zens He has lately had the good fortune
to marry a Tennessee wife, and We hope
that in future the good lady will manage
to keep him at home Of evenings.
Hon. John Hugh Smith is Judge Of the
Criminal Court now in term, and with some
unimportant and even questionable excep-
lions, 4 gentleman with a record Of undoubt-
ed Loyalty. He i. also blessed with solid
proportions and a ready faculty for speech
making. We listen 10 him with pleasure,
| even aometiYnes while he ullers sentiments
we cannot approve. This is because we
give him credit for 4 degree Of eandor not
common to his political associates, and the
possession Of enough political honesty to
occasionally rsbuke his party friends for
official rascalites. We regret to see him
dragging the Judicial ermine Of the State
through the dirty ce=s-pocls Of Radical
ringisin, and hope he will keep the aiore-
said ermine well tucked up to prevent a
contamination tina; all the waters of the
| Cumberland could not wash clean. When
tue Jubilee il over, We will be pleased TO
hear that Judge Smith either declined to
speak or ouIy said few words in the way |