Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-23
ASTOUNDING DEVELOPMENTS
Stokes Plotting Against Senter.
The Effort 20 Remove Senter
from the SDeakership 500
ali of the Senate. ltpQf
The Hero OF the Calf Killer the
Prominent Figure In
the Plot.
The Proof! The PrO0fl!
Correspondence Oftho Union and American.

Correspondence ofthe Union and American.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN, April 90, 1862,
promised in my last to give an &C
count or rather secret history of the
Cate>Senter resolution. have reliable
authority for saying that the programme
was considered by Col. Stokes and some
of his comrades here of the Grand Army
Of the Republic prior to his departure to
Washington to attend the adjourned ses,
sion of Congress last fall On his return
to Tennessee he continued his campaign
for reelection to Congress and spoke in
Harrison, the county seat of this county,
on the 9Th day of October, 1868. He ac-
copied the invitation of Senator Cate to
share the Inequalities of his roof that
night on his way to fill the remainder Of
his appointments, sand it was during that
night that Senator Cate and the Great
Unpardoned completed the arrangements
for the attack on Senter, which was ex-
pected would result in abbreviating his
legislative and political career. did ex-
pect to have to relate the more important
points of this politico- nitroglycerine-Cate-
Stokes plot, but having learned of the
following documents that will explain
themselves, and through the kindness of
a friend, having obtained them, 1 desire
to insert them here and mark them
Exhibit A" and file them as evidence in
this case. They are the original manus
script and I desire them returned to me
after publication:
EXHIBIT A. ..
CHATTANOOGA TENN, April Is, 1869.
Hon. A. G. Sharp, Mayor of Chatta,
nooga, and Chairman Republican Exc
cutive committee Sd congressional district
Dear Sir You told me some two weeks
ago that you were present when Senator
A. C. Cate and Col. w. B. Stokes, dis
,ussed the question of introducing a reso-
luton in the State Senate for the porpose
Speake Scatter, now Governor, of forcing
70 resign the speakership of the Senate or
,r have his disabilities removed by special
act of Congress. As Col. Stokes COM
olicity on this affair is denied, you will
please give me the substance of the con-
in writing, such as you are
willing to make oath to, if necessary.
Very truly yours, etc. E. A. JAMES.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, April Is, 1862
E. A. James, Esq,-Dear Sir: Yours of
o day is received, and in reply would say,
hat on the night of the 9Th of October,
1868, was present during a conyersa>
ion between Senator A. NJ. Cate and
Col. W. B. Stokes, at the residence of |
Senator Cate, in Hamilton county. The
ollowing is the substance of the con.
7ersatien .... ...
Cate asked Stokes il he did not I'M
ierstand that the l4th amendment to
he constitution of the United States
any one from holding office
Who had prior to the war held an office |
Ind taken an oath to support the consti- |
ution of the United States, and after
ward held an office in the Confederacy.
Stokes replied that it did, unless their
disabilities we're removed by a apecial
vet of Congress. Cate remarked that he
lad been looking up case and was salts
led that the person could not constitu-
onally hold Office. l asked why |
hey did not say D. W. G. Senter at once,
md be done with it. Cate remarked
hat he supposed he had spoken plain
enough for me to understand who was
meant. Stokes then said that il Cate
would take the proper course Senter
would be compelled to resign or have his
disabilities removed by act of Congress.
he (Stekes) then explained the consti-
.utional amendment in full and told Cate
how to proceed against Senter, and re-
marked that Senter was holding the inn
DOrtant office of Speaker of the Senate of
The State of Tennessee in violation of the
Of the United States, and
SeRter knew it. r....E
Gates subsequent action in the State
Senate proves that he followed the ad-
vice and instructions of Stokes.
Very respectfully your ob't sey't,
A. G. SHARP.
"Ohl think what anxious movements pass
The birth of plots, and their last fatal
periods"
HAMILTON.