Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-18
TENNESSEE.
The Condition of Affairs in The
State.
Defense Of the People by Sena-
tor Fowler against Radi-
cal AsperSiOns.

Senator Fowler defended the people o
his State in the Senate of the United
States on the 10th inst. as follows:
have but one remark to make viii
reference to my own State. 1t has pleased
every person who has spoken here, from
the roaring lion dOWntO the very humbles
member, to bring accusations against the
State of Tennessee, l do not know fol
what reason. She gave them no pledges
at any time She is under obligations to
them for nothing. The reformations that
shemade she made herself Congress did
not go into the State of Tennessee and
legislate for the people there. / speak
only for the people of the State, many of
whom | have no particular interest in
whatever, more than | have in the people
of any other State in the United States
But, sir, am opposed to having a poo
pie willfully, deliberately, and shameful
ly misrepresented on the floor of the Sen
ate of the United States. | think that
Senators before they bring such accusa-
tions here ought to be assured that they
speak the truth in regard TO a great peo-
pie. No man has a right on the floor of
the Senate to utter what is improper or
incorrect. He ought TO take time on this
and on every measure to consider it fairly
and properly.
Now, sir, with regard TO the State of
Tennessee, hope soon TO take occasion
TO explain to tie Senate and to the cOun-
try the result of the recent election in
that State. Prudence, wisdom, and that
good faith which was absolutely necessa-
~ to be exercised toward those people
would have made that a Republican State
forever. The Republicans Of the State
of Tennessee had the power, they had
the entire control, they had the authority
over the State Of Tennessee, and they lost
it because they had not the virtue or the
wisdom to hold it, and it cannot go back
to them again. | regret this, sir; re-
greet it as much as any person. l com
menCed acting with the Republican party
in the State of Tennessee when ] could
count all of them on the fingers of one
hand. The men who are hOnOTed here and
throughout the country, but who broke in
pieces the Republican party of Tennessee
by their vulgar ambition, are the men
WIN GtlDA4A bt dl4di-LlEu utit,
and not the people of Tennessee. The
Rebels, whom it pleases everybody TO
denounce, and toward whom there is no
forgiveness unless they bow down hum
bly, and come and profess to be Republi-
cans OF the extreme Radical stamp, those
of them who were swift TO turn when the
occasion took place, are the men who
have been hOnOrod, are the men who have
been installed in Office. The Union
men who stood firmly by the flag of
the country, and who sacrificed every
thing. have throughout all that State been
trampled under foot. There is not q soil
tary one of them now in place. 1t is the
laggards, the cowboys during the rebel
lion, who hastily came around and took
occasion to profess warm Radicalism who
have the positions and the places, and who
broke in pieces tie Republican party in
Tennessee.
Nor do propose to blame Gov. SenteT
at the present time for the position that
he took. lie did no more than was done
by his predecessors. He did it on a more
wholesale order, it is true; but he had
more authority for the action whichhe took
Had not the unfortunate quarrel taken
place there between Republicans for posi-
ton, if not for worse, as l think am
prepared to show, Tennessee would have
been secure. But feeling strong in the
power of the bavonct, which they could
call out at any time, trusting nothing to
faith, trusting nothing to good principle,
trusting nothing to the progress and edu
cation Of thg people, they pursued their
ambitious schemes until the Republican
party stinks in the nostrils of every honest
man in the State. You could not rcsuT-
rect 1t to life by anything short of an
almighty power at the present time. The
hayOnct cannot do It; Oaths cannot do IT.
have no confidence, either, in the pres
Ont Legislature Of Tennessee, which has
met and was composed OF the very kind Of
men of whom ] have been speaking; but
| have an abundant confidence in the con
vcniion which is shortly to assemble in the
State of Tennessee, almost ninc-tCnths of
the members of which probably were in
the rebel service. 4 great majority of
them are men of ability; and if their pro
LESSONS are to be relied upon, as | think
they can be- have no wish to call them
in question now-thcy will stand firmly
up to all the advanced principles of the
present age, and they will prove TO the
country that they, too, have advanced du'
ring this wonderful period of war. ! hope,
sir, we shall hear no more of these wrong
unjust, silly accusations, unsustained by
proof, made against the people of tina
State
Mr.. Wiison-WilI the Senator allow N,
to ask him aQUesliOn.
Mr.. Fowler-Most assurcdly.
Mr.. Wison-If l understand the scna
ior. he refers to remarks made hy me!
Mr.. FOwlcr-To some of them; no
these last ones at an.
Mr.. Wilson, wish to say simply {,
the Senator, if he viii allow me, that he
has re-afiumcd all | said and gone into
particulars. do lot put the blame il
Tennessee upon either one side or the
other | see il all around.
Mr. Fowler shall do the Senate
from Massachusetts the Justice to say tina
/ was glad to hear him make the state
mcnt. and II confirmed me altogether II
the wisdom that lac Processes to have use,
on all these questions and the Justice tina
he exercises SO generally on all measure
with reference 20 this subject ] wen
into the statements ! have made 20 con
firm tn truth in q great measure OF VIVA
he has said He has shown at any rat
that he understood that subject. Tn
only exception | take is 10 the infaliblit,
always OF bis sta,um.nts or his wisdom.
am opposed 10 another doctrine that
heard advanced on the floor of the Sgnat
L.