The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1870-07-30
Hon. A. 0. p. Nicholson.


Senate, on the amnesty bill, Senator Fow-
ler, of Tennessee, moved to insert in the
bill the name of Hon. A o. p Nicholson
and W C. Whitthorne No sooner had he
done so than Mr.. Wilson, of Massachusetts,,
asked ''if this was the gentleman who was
in the Senate in 1861" and wanted to know
''if he did not leave the Senate and 60 into
the rebellion" Mr.. Fowler explained that
he remained in the Senate till the adjourn
ment of Congress, on the 4th of March,
1861, when he retired 70 his home in Ten
nessee, and did not return to his seat. "He
sympathized with the rebellion, but he
took no part in it whatever; his judgment
was against it and throughout the war he
remained quietly at home, without becOm-
ing involved in any capacity, with the Con-
federate cause" This did not satisfy the
Radical Senators Mr. Robertson objected
that Nicholson is a man of learning and
ability; that he is Objectionable to a great
many of the Union men of Tennessee; that
he has never, on any public occasion, ex-
pressed his aequiescence in reconstruction
that on the contrary he has expressed dis
appreciation of the reconstruction policy
and has been violent Opposer of the re-
construction acts" Mr. Howard, of Michi-
gan, declared that he would never vote to
receive back into political association those
men who were entrusted with the political
and Legislative power of this nation at the
most critical period of its existence, and
betrayed their trust" Mr. Sumner added
the weight of his authority on the same
side. He had seen Mr.. Nicholson in has
seat in the Senate. He saw him leave his
seat a traitor, to begin the war which filed
the country with blood, and caused untold
expense. Mr.. Maynard and our associate
in this chamber not now in his seat, Mr.
RroWnlow, had asked that Mr. Nicholson
be excluded from amnesty, and the aceomo-
dating Senator would vote against the
mercy Mr.. Yates, of Illinois, managed to
steady himself on his legs long enough to
tell the Senate, in an outburst of indignant
patriotism, that There was no evidence of
penitence On the part of the applicant and
you might as we'll extend pardon to JEFF
Davis as to Nicholson, under the cireum-
stances" The words "Jef Davis" are
the hobgOblin in the Radical party that pro-
duces an impression when everything else
fails, and no man in the Senate or out of the
Senate knows how to fling the 6ete ROir in
the face of his party more adroitly than the
illustFious backsliding member of the con-
gressiOnal temperance society from Illinois.
MIR. Thayer hoped the Senate would not
vote to amnesty applicants; a Republican
| member of the House, Dir. Maynard, had re-
quested him to vote against the insertion of
Nichelson's name in the bill 1t was pro-
posed to elect him Judge of the Supreme
Court of Tennessee, and that was one oi
the reasons why he did not want him re-
| lieved of his disabilities. They did not
want him for judge. The they" whom
the Senator from Nebraska referred to, are
the corrupt and debauched Radical party o.
Tennessee-sbout one-third of the people
and Mr.. Thaye er was ready to defer to the
remOnstrances of this minority as against
the wish of the overwhelming majority il
Tennessee that desired Nicholson for Su
preme Judge.
The debate showed that the Senate re
fused to include Nicholson in the amnesty
ito crafty the personal resentment of HOr
ace Maynard and Brownlow. Powerles
and detested as these two men are in Ten
nessee, they are still able, like Bullock, 0
Georgia, to control the Senate Of the Unite,
States in ali legislation affecting their owl
State. Bullock compels Congress to main
tain him in power over a people tina
despises him, aud Maynard and BrownloV
persuade the Senate to keep in outlawTy al
admittedly learned and able citizen Of len
nessee in defiance of the wishes of the pee
pie of bis State who desires his services O
{ their supreme bench.
Notwithstanding the Senator'S refusal I
amnesty Mr.. Nicholson, he has been nom
mated for one of the Supreme Judges {
, the State. He was pardoned by Presider
johnson, and he believes that this relieve
, him from all disabilities At any rate,
} viii be elected and if objection is made
, him, the Supreme Court of the Unite
States will have to decide how far a Pres
! Dental pardon operates in favor Of il
: beneficiary.
A |
Prince Leopold, who was offered Il