Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-16
THEGENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Now that the members of the General
Assembly are bringing their labors to
close and rapidly leaving the crowded city
and the halls OF legislation, TO return to their
homes and families, We deem II a fitting oC-
casion to say what it affords us a zeal peas
IRE and heartfelt satisfaction TO record as to
the bearing of the members, and leave the
public to judge as to them and their wo ks.
if this Legislature has not, in every particu-
lar, accomplished all they. aimed at, and
all the people desired, yet it must be
said that there never before were gath
cred together in our Capitol men
more in earnest, more faithful and
more devoted TO the high mission entrustel
to their hands. Constant attention to
their public duties has teen the character
istic of al the members from their fist or
gan;Zation to their closing day. in this
connection ii may not, perhaps, be improper
to state, what can scarcely be said Of the
Legislatures of this or any other State, that
this body has never been forced TO adjourn
for an hour for want of quorum; and that
too, VIXEN two-lhirds Of the members are
required TO constitute a quorum. The ut
most harmony and good feeling has prevailed,
and they seemed linked together as band Of
brothers. We have never seen a member
the least dissipatei in either house, nor on
the street. We deem IL right TO state this
fact, which the State should feel justly
proud of. The high moral bearing, perfect
sobriety and attention 10 business exhibited
by this General Assembly should be highly
priced by our people throughout the the
Slate. Many Of the members are commun-
icants Of the different churchre, and all Of
them, by their department during the ses-
sion, have justly won for themselves an
enviable character as public men
and private citizens. We record these facts
with pleasure as an indication Of return
TO the primitive times, when true merit was
the standard of both public and private
men; and whatever maT be the future Of
Tennessee, or whoever may be the future
lawmakers of our State, We commend the
membership of this session to their success
ors for imitation, fully satisfied that our
State will never be represented by Legs
lature Of which she may be more
Justly proud. We think il but
just 10 them that their respective
cousl tuents should know the character
lhey have borne while at the capital. They
have had laborious and intricate duties to
perform, and their people may very justly
say "Well done, good and faithful servants
Where all have done their part so well ii
would be impossible to individualize with
out maI1ing The good opinion they have 50
well earned as a whole. We have written
the foregoing without designing to cast any
reflection on any Of our previous legislative
bodies by ,ompaIison with this. We hope
those following this may be able to leave
behind them equally as fair records.
Since writing the above our attention has
been called to the following extract which
we find in the Memphis .4ppeal of the l4th
We fully indorse the high and just COM
pliment to the members as a body:
The General Assembly of Tennessee,
about to adjourn, has been more efficient
and industrious, and earnestly devoted to |
the best interest of Tennessee, than per
haps any of its predecessors. Its members
have certainly been the soberest that were
ever gathered, in our time, within the walls
of the Capitol. They have done more work, |
with greater care, have been freer from i'm
proper influences, and have devoted more
time and toll to public service thar was
thought possible at the hands Of such a
body in modern times. They began their !
work when the press and people had jus,
inauguratcd the reform II ement; when !
the old idea was reproduced, that govern
ments were Instituted for the advan are |
of the many, and not for individual az |
grandizement. The labors Of this body are /
about to terminate, and it is proper 10 say |
that its members will be welcomed to their
homes with the plaudits of the multitude.