Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
THURSDAY, March 21.-The House met
at 10 A NJ, Speaker Richardson in the
Chair and sixty-seven members present.
Leave Of absence was granted Mr.. Guild
until Saturday.
CONGRESSIONAL APPoRTIoNNENT.
MIR. Ferguson, from the committee ofsix
on Congressional Apportionment, reported
back the bill of the Joint committee on the
same subject, with two amendments, which
are noticed below.
Mr.. Frierson moved to suspend the rules
for the purpose of taking up the bill and
passing it upon second reading. 1t was
growing late in the session, and action
should be taken upon the bill as soon as
possible. He believed that it would meet
the views of large majority of the House,
although, by most unusual proceeding,
yesterday, and through misunderstanding
among the friends of the bill, it had been
choked down and referred to a new COM
mittee, after it had been reported back al
most unanimously from the committee in
which it originated. The Senate was de-
laying action to see what the House was
going to do, and there was no time to be
lost.
The motion of Mr.. Frierson to suspend
the rules was agreed to.
Mr.. Tillman, member of the commit
tee appointed yesterday, believed that a
more equitable apportionment than that
proposed by the committee could not be
made. 1t would be impossible to reconcile
all the differences of views among members
but the House should do its duty and let
the aspirantS take care of themselves.
The committee which proposed the amend
ments reported this morning were not dis
posed to sickle for those amendments to
the danger of defeat of the bill. They were
prepared to support either the bill of the
committee originally appointed, or in the
amended shape reported this morning, as
the House might decide. All they desired
vas the that apportionment should
be made in spirit devoid of partisan preju-
dice and irrespective Of mere personal in
terests. 1t would be lasting disgrace to
the House if it should get through the ses-
sion without having taken proper and final
action on this question, As Mr.. Webster
had said of Massachusetts: "There she is.
Behold her, and judge for yourself; she
needs no eulOgium," so he had said to the
committee-there was his district; do with
it as they pleased, if they could harmonic
their differences. 1t needed no gerTyman-
dering for party or individual, and he did
not ask it.
Mr.. Dick, though not a Republican, knew
that the people ofhis county (JefersOn) did
not want it thrust into the First district,
like ram, for the mere purpose of putting
Butler out of Congress. This gerrymand-
ering would do more damage to the Demo
70 " TVannncCno fnau of
course they could possibly pursue.
Mr.. Carr thought the gentleman from
Jefferson (Mr. Dick) seemed to be gerry
Wandering in Buffers interest, If he was 10
be Judged by the way he talked and acted.
Mr.. Gift had noticed that some gentle
men appeared to be very anxious to have
their districts compact. As Tennessee was
not big enough for this, he moved to annex
BuncOmbe county, North Carolina. (This
sally was very entertaining to the House,
but was not entertained by the Speaker.)
The first amendment proposed by the
Committee of Six-to take Union from first
district and attach it to the second, and TO
take Jefferson from the second district and
attach it to the first-was then nOn-cOn-
CURED Images p, noes "a.
The second amendment proposed by the
committee of siX-tO take Dickson from
the Sixth District and attach it to the Sew
enth, and to take Perry from the Seventh
District and attach it to the Sixth-was
then considered.
Mr.. Waters commended that, as a matter
of justice to his people, the two counties
which he represented should not be sepa-
rated.
Mr.. Enloe was against the amendment.
It was understood that the bill, as reported
from the joint committee, would pass the
Senate, but that body might not accept it
if the changes proposed were made. No
member wanted to go home to his constitu-
ents and say that they could not pass the
bill because Of the multiplicity of eandi-
dates who wanted to go to Congress.
Mr.. Buford said that God had already
placed Perry in the 9th District, as shown
by the geography of the country.
Mr.. Crews argued that the committee of
six had suggested the changes in a spirit of
compromise. Middle Tennessee had given
way that the districts in East Tennessee
might be properly made up, and he, for
one, was not disposed to conceal the fact
that sending q Democrat to Congress in the
place of Maynard was not an important con-
sideration. The Republicans had repeat
eddy done the same thing and would do so
again if they could.
Mr.. Freeman asked if the main object in
redistrincting the State on the plan pro-
posed by the joint committee was not to de-
feat Horace Maynard?
Mr.. Crews answered that as he had been
a member of that committee be was not
to make statement on the SUBJ
ieCt.
Mr.. Harris said that the changes proposed |
in the 9th and 9TH districts were merely to
please Montgomery county. She had a
candidate for Congress who wanted Dick
son thrown over into the 7th district. The
bill as it stood was, in Mr.. Harris opinion, |
the only one that could pass both Houses. !
The amendment was then nOn-cOnCurTed |
in.
The amendment proposed yesterday by |
Mr. Freeman (Rep.) next came up for con- |
sideration.
MIR. Freeman insisted that the contor- |
tiOns and distortions shown in the proposed |
formation Of the second district were of a |
vile and monstrous character. Such dis |
Of the minority by the ma |
jOrity was wrong and oppressive. The |
man whom they would down would not !
down at their bidding. Horace MAYNARD |
could not be sacrificed by such partisan |
action, but would stand an ornament and |
an honor to his State.
Mr.. Frlerson: Talk of gerrymanderine! !
Had not the gentleman from Madison (Mr. !
Freeman) presented a map on which he |
had constructed three districts which be |
knew would be Republican? He thanked |
God he was here to do his duty in this mat |
ter, without regard 10 any mans or party's !
The apportionment in East |
Tennessee was as fair as could possibly be |
made.