Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-08
GEN. TOM BENTON SMITH.
Have His Disabilities Been Re

HOFeOF i F
TRIUNE, Williamson county, Aug 12-
To the Clerk of the House of Representa-
tives, Washington City-Dear Sir: Please
inform me if my political disabilities have
been removed by Congress. Il was
Brigadier General in the Confederate army,
and was psrdoned by one of the special
acts of President johnson, through the
Hon. Ed Cooper. Not hsing fully salts
fed, l applied to Congress in the spring of
last year. My petition was signed by Gov.
Senter, Gov. BrownlowN and the Hon.
Horace Greeley; forwarded the petition to
Gen. Butler and asked him to have me re-
lieved. have been told that T. B.
Smiths name appeared in the papers
among those that were relieved of all po-
litical disabilities incurred by the late war
of the States against the General Govern
ment. have complied with the terms of
surrender. My friends want to send me to
Congress to represent them, and not wish
ing to involve them in any difficulties, 1
write to know if have been released and
a0Ooild be dlI0aDed to take n1y seat If elected.
I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, Tom BENTON SMITH.
Gen. Tom Benton Smith
WAsH1NGToN, D. O., Aug. 16, 1870
DEAR SIR 1 send herewith part of the
act of March 5, 1870, which relieves of dis
abilities Thomas B. Smith, of Wilson
| county. As your name is not in the
| Williamson county list, question of
| identity might be raised if there be Thos.
B. Smith in Wilson county. If elected,
the right to take your seat could be deter
mined by the House of Representatives, if
| questioned by any member.
Very respectfully yours, '7 80
EDWARD MCPHERSON
| TRIUNE, Tenn, Aug. %, 1870.-Hon.
| Ed, Mcpherson, Clerk of the House OF
| Representatives, Washington, d. C.-Dear
| Sir: It is the desire of the people of my
| congressional district, that 1 should repre-
sent them in the next Congress of the
| United States, and not knowing whether
my disabilities have been removed by that
| honorable body, cannot consent to be-
come candidate for that important po-
| sition, until l can learn officially whether
| nv disabilities have been removed or not,
hence 1 address this to you
wrote you about a week ago relative to
this matter, stating that my Office was a
| Brigadier. general in the Conferate army,
but have not heard from you. Now will you
be kind enough to inform me as soon as
practicable if they have been renewed, and
if the way is clear, ETC.; and if elected,
would be compelled to take the iron
clad oath? By attending to the above
request, you will greatly oblge, --..
Your obedient servant, ,--
Tom BENTON SMITH.
General Tom Benton Smith: -
WASHINGTON, Aug. q, 1S70.-DEAR SIR:
I answered your previous letter promptly,
and inclosed a disability bill contain.
ing the name of T. b. Smith, of a certain
county in Tennessee. Itappears not to be
the county in which you reside, and as I'M
tials only are given there might be ques
ton as to your identity with the person
named. 81 IS rar.s
If the House believed you to be the per-
son relieved, and that the constitutional
provision on the subject was actually car
ried out in your case, you would not be re
quired, if elected, to take the test oath, AZ
special oath is administered to persons
relieved of disabilities by act of Congress.
OF course the contingencies referred tc
can be settled only by the House.
/ will direct this to Franklin, Tennessee.
. Very respectfully,
EDWARD MCPHERSON.