Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-07-20
OUR NASHVILLE LETTER.
From our Special Correspondent
NASHVILLE. Tenn, July IL, 1S

for any one feature that may have helped
to make it notorious, but especially for the
many peculiar and decided acts it has had
the hardwood to perpetrate. We shall not
in this letter attempt a resume of the start
ling acts that have been passed, nor shall
we give a list of the many terrible laws
they have thought proper to perpetrate
but shall content ourselves with giving the
readers of the CHRONICLE our notions of
the peculiar patriotism that has been elimi-
mated by this conclavc of modern Solons.
Cromwell doubtless had good reasons for
suddenly terminating rather long term
of the English Parliament; no one has
ever questioned his wisdom or tact, so far
as his policy was concerned; but when
history attempts to deal with the recent
session of the Tennessee Legislature, the
student of some future time, as he reads
the strange, incredible page, will wonder
that there was no one to cut short the disre-
putable career of a body whose chief char
acterstic was want of consistency and
sense-two ingredients that 90 far to make
deliberative bodies endurable. \ glance
at the work done at the capital during the
seventy days past, will convince any one
that it takes good men to make legislation
respectable.
This energetic and talented body took
upon themselves the legislative function
at a peculiar period Coming into power
JuSJ diJSI ll1t INtJUbllttilS llttl Dttl btditl
by an overwhelming vote, after career
based upon restricted suffrage, under obli-
cations to the more intelligent and liberal
of that party, who had prepared the way
for their political acknowledgements, they
ignored the obligations that gratitude and
decency might have presented for their
consideration, and taking for an objective
the term radical, they had scarcely made
their seats in the Senate and House warm,
before they inaugurated a system Of
REPEATING
That has eclipsed all previous efforts in
that line The laws passed since 1860 by
their predecessors, were rapidly brought
to the block, and one by one were made
special orders for being eXpunged from the
statute books of the State. 1t mattered
not if the act was meritoriOus-was of
real benefit to the people-it was a Radical
law, and ergO-repeal it.
To such extremes was this mania carried
that, in their hot haste, some laws came
near being repealed twice. We might, if
time would permit, enumerate some laws
that have been stricken down that, in De-
cember, these wise men, on reflection. will
re-enact, but we forbear They will be
asked strange questions when they once
more are among their constituents.
Having satiated themselves, or finding
no more radical laws they dare attack,
lutst grave, representative Suu-
denly become subject to the mania of
INVESTIGATION.
Here they were especially at home
Heaven having blessed them with a pry-
ing disposition, il need surprise no one that,
when they took the disease, they took it
powerful bad" Everything under the sun
was subjected TO their astute committees
railroads, receivers, banks, turnpikes,
school fund-in fact, everything that had
been under any kind of radical control was
subject for some committee to investigate.
And then the fairness with which they did
their work the total forgetfulness of party
in horn. Oh, these Investigators were
a bad lot. They could only go so far. So
long as they could smell radical, it was as
tOnishing to see how they would tear loose,
expose things and dance up 10 the mania
of investigation. But if some one just
whispered that there was the least chance
for these bloodhounds running to earth a
Conservative, in a moment they were off
they at once became the most tender and
careful fellows imaginable. For proof Of
this, we need only refer to the school fund
investigation, in which they evinced most
intense zeal so long as the few thousands
that Rutter stole was in sight; but when
they got behind that, and the stupendous
stealing of their rebel-C onservative-D
cratic friends doomed up, their voices be-
came silent and not one feeble yelp could
be heard from the hungry pack that mo-
ment before was in full cry.
AS Investigators this body will long be
known, not for the efficiency of their
work, but for the peculiar manner in which
they did it.
The next role they excelled in was
that of
HANGING ON.
Here they were perfectly at home, SC
long as they could vote themselves liber-
al per diem. Although the press of the
entire State begged them to adjourn sine
dte-t0ld them the people were disguised
and tired of the expense and annoyance
they were deaf TO ii all, and with cool
ness that was refreshing, persisted in
changing ON week after week. and wheT
they were ashamed TO sit any longer, they
compromised with their cupidity by adj
jOurning to meet again in December. This
temporary relief may be received by the
people with gratitude. But Just think o
the horrible prospect in December, wheT
Tennessee must submit to another dose o
. this long lived body.
Let US now look at this Assembly as
EDUCATORS.
Here they spread themselves. Not con.
tent with placing all laws they found or
the repeal list, they went step further
and endeavored to deprive the State of any
thing like a school system, and where was
a fund that was doing good work prepar
ing young men for usefulness, they voted
to scatter it in such manner as would for
ever prevent any good being done. A