Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-11

liberty Of the descendants Of Africa in The
United States, il it were possible,
could only be established by violating the
incontestable powers of the States, and sub
verting the Union. And beneath the ruins
of the Union would be buried, sooner or
later, the liberty Of both races"
THE ADMISSION OF JUDGE BUTLER
As the people Of Tennessee are familiar
with the Butler contested election case
which has occupied the attention of the
Committee on Elections in the United
States House Of Representatives for some
time, a brief extract from the closing
debate before the vote on the 9th inst re-
lieving him of political disabilities may
entertain them as an example of the
tribulations which men undergo for the
sake of office. Mr.. Butler has been, or
will certainly be, admitted, but the
"trooly loil' evidently do it with re-
luctance
Mr.. Dawes (RadicaD explained that the
gentleman who appeared to prosecute the
matter before the commit tee arranged the
documents az he desired, and asked whether
the gentleman referred to the bridge burn
ing.
Mr.. Brooks (Democrat) replied he did.
The speech which Mr. Butler made in the
Tennessee Rebel Legislature was omitted
from the printed books. The bridge was
burned by soldiers of the United States,
some of whom were arrested and punished.
Mr.. Butler denounced the burning in the
strongest terms, and declared that he had
always opposed the entrance of the Lin
coin troops into Tennessee, and believed
that the majority of the people of the State
were also opposed to it.
Mr.. Dawes explained. The bridge was
not burned by order of the government of
the United States, but by Union men in
aid of the cause, and fifteen or 60 of Mr..
Buffers constituents were brought to Nash
vile charged with the offense. Intense ex-
element was occasioned. When Mr.. But
Ter left his place in the Legislature to in
tertere in their behalf, and tried to save
them, the enraged crowd cried out, "There
is another God damned bridge-burner p
He was taken aside and counselled to do
something to save his life. In order to do
30 be openly declared that he never ap-
proved of this bridge burning.
Mr.. Brooks referred to the fact that in
1861, some of the members of the Rebel
Legislature of Tennessee presented Mr..
Butler with a sword, which Mr.. Butler
promised to WELD in defense of the State
Mr.. Dawes said that Mr.. Butler never
put his name to the letter of acceptance. II
was placed there by his Rebel colleagues in
the Legislature.
Mr.. Brooks said the gentleman was per
forming the part which he had been ac-
cused of performing, namely: defending
the Rebels. The gentleman had observed
that Mr.. Butler could not take the oath
trutbfully. He Mr. Brooks was quite
sure of that. But Mr.. Butler did take the
oath prescribed by the Legislature of Ten
nessee, that he had never voluntarily borne
arms against the United States, nor at any
time given aid, countenance or encourage
ment to its enemies, and never sought Of
| fee, civil or military, under the authority
| or pretended authority of the so-calIed Con.
federates States, etc.
Mr.. Dawes replied that this bill relieved
the disability. Mr.. Butler did take the
oath referred to. The words with intent
or desire to aid the rebellion" governed
him in doing 80. Because he did not de
sire to aid the rebellion, he felt no consci.
entious scruples in being willing to TAKE
the Congressional test oath, which, how
ever, the Committee on Elections said ht
could not take.
Mr.. Brooks said the gentleman wa,
making an excellent speech, but he did no
exactly understand his metaphysics anC
law.
Mr.. Dawes admitted that his metaphysics
never was worth anything, but he asked thu
gentleman to take his law.
Mr.. Brooks was understood TO say tina
the gentleman's logic was not in accord
ance with Paley, but rather 10 accordance
with Mrs. Opie's Work-not teaching lying
but showing how lodging may he profes
sionally conducted.
Mr.. Dawes dissvowed anything lik
regeneration on the part of the member
| of the Committee of Elections.
Mr.. Paine (Radical) said every single
witness brought by the protestant to pre-
vent Mr.. Butler from taking his seat, Will
one exception, believed Mr.. Butler to be
true Union man during the rebellion We
the record of his votes in the Rebel Legis
| lature of Tennessee was az bad "a it coulC
be. If Mr.. Butler had faced the bullets o
| the enemy since he was member of tina
Legislature, he would vote to relieve him
but his reading of the testimony did no
show that he ever faced the bullets of tn
enemy, or ever heard the enemy's cannon
on single field.
Mr.. Harding Radical knew that Their
was an umbrella here large enough Il
shield all the Rebels that ever tough
against us. He preferred to take the bOlC
men, who took ground against us, rattle
than the miserable sneak who went int
the Legislature of Tennessee as a Unioi
man, and there took an oath 10 support tn
Confederacy for the purpose of destroying
our government.