Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-04-17
LETTER FROM SENATOR BRowyLow.
Who Passed Our University CIainn-East
Tcssuessee Claims.
WAsHINGTON. April lOth. ls72.


WASHINGTON, April 10th, 1872.
EDITORS CHRONICLE Hon. Henry
Wilson, of Massachusetts,, who is Chair
man of the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs, did me the kindness yesterday to
call up Senate Bill for the relief of the East
Tennessee University. BY an unanimous
vote of the Senate the bill was passed.
Since this University has been made the
depository of the Agricultural College
fund, appropriated by Congress to the
State, and since 1t is now in amost flourish
ing condition, the people of the whole
State will doubtless be gratified to hear of
the passage of the BILL as all our people, ir-
prosperity of the College.
AS matter of interest / give the bill as
passed yesterday:
A BILL for the relief of the East Tennessee
University.
BE It enacted by tie Senate and House of Rep
rescntatires Of the United States of america IN
Congress assembled, That the Treasurer of the
United States be, and he hereby is, authorized
and directed TO pay to the Trustees of the East
Tennessee University the sum of eighteen thou
ton for all claims which could be made by
said University for all damages caused to its
buildings at Knoxville. Tennessee Provided,
That before said sum shall be paid, release
in full Of all claims against the Government for
al damages that might or could be claimed by
said East TENNESSEE University on account Of
said buildings, shah Be executed in due form
by the proper officers of said University. and
deposited with the Treasurer, along. With tho
receipt for tho money hereby appropriated.
My colleague, Hon. Henry Cooper,
heartily ana efficiently co-operated with
me ~ my efforts in behalf of our tjniversi-
ty, but TO Senator Wilson are our people
more indebted for this act of justice to our
most important institution Of learning
than TO all of US beside. BY his tact, Leg
islative experience and exalted character
for integrity, Senator Wilson was enabled
| to put the bill through without difficulty.
| At this period of the session, when hun
dreds of bills are pending, and the most
important legislation of a general charac-
ter is still on the calendar, unattended to-
it is no small matter to have bill passed
as Senator Wilson had this, giving It pre-.
cedence to n host of others which were
pending and on the calendar before it.
| | wish i had it in my power to correct
| the erroneous impression so prevalent
that to get bill passed by either House OF
Congress, it is only necessary for Sena.
| tor or Representative to present it, and
will be adopted On the contrary, so many
claims of fraudulent character, sc
many in the interest of disloyal
parties, in the violation of all law
have been snuggled through Congress
fro II Tennessee that any claim presented
! from our State is more closely scrutinized
than from any other section. And on this
account it is difficult for an honest man
from Tennessee having just claim to get
justice.
am almost daily written to from East
| Tennessee by parties having claims to 20
| through the Department and look after
thonI and aid in having them audited and
paid. ! don't plead i'll health as an excuse
| for not complying with these requests, fol
/ claim to discharge my duties as Sena-
tor, about as well as the majority, with the
exception of speeeh-making. We have 9
great deal too much talking now in both
Houses of Congress and the country would
lose nothing ii more Congressman were
| unable to talk.
Agent is that, beside it being unlawful in
a Senator to prosecute claims against the
Government, have no time for that BUSH
ness. All my time is occupied in attend
ing to the legitimate business devolving
| upon me-
To facilitate the adjudication and settle
ment of these claims in the South, Con.
gress has provided for the appointment by
the President of three experimenting com
missioners who sit in this city. These COM
missioners are Hon. a. G.. Adds, former
Judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont;
Hon. J. b. Howell, former u. :. Senator
! from Iowa, and Hon. o. =. Ferris, long a
| member OF Congress from New YORK
! They are all able, just men of unim-
peached character and undertake to say
that the claims which they approve will
| be paid by Congress.
| For East Tennessee they have appointed
as observation-disclosures, Hon. i. G. Houk
Col. ID. q. Thornburgh and Maj. Chas. J
| Mckinney. Let our East Tennessee peo.
| pie go before these men with their claims
and witnesses, who will, i doubt not, dc
their work properly.
| w. q. BRowSLow.