Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-14
THE APPORTIONMENT BILL.


Tennessee.
Mr.. SPEAKER: Allow me to state tina
in antagopism to Radicalism, IN its ever
phase, the district that have the honor &c
represent on this floor can, think, show
rather the best record Of any district in thG
State; and, in the same sentiment, think
Mr.. Speaker, that my humble record vii
compare favorably with that Of any gentle
man in the Senate. 1t is known through
out this State that the counties Of Franklin
and Lincoln were more unanimously in IA
vor of secession, or, if you prefer the ex-
preston, for separation, than any other
counties in the State, and | think
their people were as true In theil
devotion to their avowed principles
and to the success of the Southern cause
as were the citizens of any other counties
in this or any other State in the South. II
so happened that /, humble as l acknowl-
edge myself to be, from my earliest youth,
have espoused those great cardinal princi-
Piles Of government upon which, as mat
ter Of right, equity and reasoning, the great
struggle waged by the South can alone
stand; and as a matter of reasoning, yet
stand, sir, unequivocally, but willingly CON-
mitted TO the Endorsement, full and COM
plete, Of those principles. Thus, you viii
observe, Mr.. Speaker, that both my Senate
rial constituency and myself so far as an
tagonism to Radicalism is concerned, are
without spot or blemish; and while that
party held sway IN this Stale, while their
hands reeked with bloody, unre-
lenting persecution, robbing the
proud sovereigns Of the chiv-
alrous State of Tennessee, Of their in
herent and unalienable rights, no man was
more ready to strike back with Just resent
meDt against such outrages than myself !;
and my people were almost universally op-
posed to Radical misrule and Radical pro-
scription. But from the very moment the
political tide set the other way, have been
disposed to cherish, and to lnculcate In 9TH
ers, to the extent of my limited influence,
a spirit Of magnanimity to fallen foe and
| enunciated the principle in my late can
vass, that now, since the revolution in pO-
itical sentiment Lad cOme-now that we
are the dominant party in the State, we
ought not to ape those proscriptive deeds of
Radicalism, that we so unanimously and so
vehemently condemned, in practicing retail
iation to the extent Of injustice to fallen
foe. From the very day triumph came to
our banners, | was disarmed, TO certain
extent, of political resentment, and spirit
of true magnanimity took its place. And,
sir, in strict accordance with the senti-
ments and principles enunciated in my can
vass, and in furtherance of the same, allow
me to say, deem this fitting occasion to
"show my faith by my works" l am op-
posed to visiting political prescription upon
the Radicals now, in retaliation for their un-
principled and unwarranted course towards
their opponents when under their ban. Such
a policy would be unworthy oftrue Tennes-
seeans, and if l become satisfied il is the
object of the bill under consideration to per-
petuate political persecution in this State,
am frank to say | can not.endorse it; for in
that we would only be aping the example OF
that Radicalism we so earnestly detested
and condemned only a few years since.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, have no fears that
those sentiments of magnanimity (as con-
ceive them to be, and in that spirit 1 cher
ish them) viii be distorted into the merest
suspicion of lacking in true allegiance to my
party. state emphatically, l cannot give
my allegiance to bill that aims at retalia-
ton for the proscriptive course Of Radical
ism, however just others may deem it; and
[ agree with the Senator from Haywood
{ Mr.. Porter) that cannot indorse any in
gerTymandering of the State,
in retaliatory spirit, for mere partisan pur-
poses. Why, sir, one Of the darkest deeds
that beclouds the proud escutcheOn Of the
old Wing party was, q have
always been taught TO believe) their course
in gerrymandering this State in 1851. Sir,
my political teachings have impressed
on my mind sovereign con-
Tempt for that system; and
wish it distinctly understood that l
did not come here to re-enact such a policy
Dr. practice, and, as l have already intima-
ed, if it be the intention of this bin to per-
Detuate system Of retaliatory prescription,
persecution, or gerrymsndering
IF the State, simply because we hold the
balance Of power, repeat, cannot, ] will
not support it. | furthermore agree with
he Senator already referred TO, as a matter
If true craftsmanship, that it is both polite
md wise, that the minority in every county
ihould be represented in its legislative halls.
such was the demand of the American Col
Jnists in 1910, and such has been the earn
st desire Of the South since the cessation
# the late war
Now, sir, the Senator from Haywood and
differ in but one thing, and that has no
connection, perhaps, with this bill: that is,
le was an Old Line Wing, and never was
n original secessionlst, while was his exact
ntipOde in both these respects. | was
lurLured and reared an Old Line Democrat, /
md, though the fate Of war be against ne,
acknowledge that was an original Seces- !
ionist; and so far as principle and abstract |
easoning are concerned, l stand yet IN !
onvinced of my error by the fate ofwa
Furthermore, sir; the counties have the |
onor to represent werC ne only two coun- |
les in this State that elected original seces- /
ionists to the convention proposed to be 1
eld in February, 1881, which was defeated !
y the popular vote. Then, sir, my dis /
osition 10 extend to our opponents a de-
zee Of magnanimity not deserved by their
asst prosciptiye policy, or at least to refrain
rom an avowed act of political persecution,
annOt be construed as coming from any
ack of devotion to anything antagOnistic to |
Iadicalism and Radical corruption. | do
ot know or now say, Mr.. Speaker, that
hall oppose the bill on its final passage.
hat shall depend on what my convictions
re after having examined the bill for my
Cl1s DCBIEY L NOllu DICiEi W nave LltUt I
Or further investigation and reflection; Civ
lg myself time only for an hour or so to
1ok into the bill and consider it aside from
he heat of debate, and the pressing nature
fthe legislation that we have been SUBJECTED
} for the last week; for | confess have been
D occupied with other measures that l have
OF examined this bill as thoroughly as l
Tould like to, before vote upon it.
When the bill came up the next day
apt. TOlley rose aud remarked:
Since making known yesterday my views
n the bill under consideration, have given
a careful examination, and | have found
entirely free from the obnoxious, pro-
,riptive construction l felt justified in
lacing upon it at first, in view of the avow-
IS Of the Senator from Shelby, Chairman
the Committee, that reported the bill. /
eleve it to be the best bill that can be
AIMED, considering the interests of each
,unty and the people Of all sections
the State-a bill that has required great
eal Of labor; and due regard has been had
the rights and privileges Of all parties.
It is not the best bill possible, believe it
the very best that could be gotten up I'M
ar the circumstances, and / take this oc-
sion 70 assure the Senate that will most
earthly support the bill on It's final passage.
have expressed my views as TO what l
link is the proper policy to guide us In our |