Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-02-12
OUR NASHVILLE LETTER.
A survey of the General Assembly

M r-e NASHVILLE, Feb. 10, 1882.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: To-day L took
survey of the General Assembly. Of cours
it was quite casual. had no opportunit
, of forming any correct idea of the abilit
) of the members, as there was no discussion
going on. In appearance it will compar
favorably with any body preceding it TO
years past. 1t is infinitely superior to tn
last one, in every respect. That one was
failure, as you know. 1t was composed O
obstinate men, with no breadth and Il,
appreciation of the condition and wants O
the State. Consequently they foundere.
all the way through and rendered them
selves ridiculous by their unwise legisla
ton. I do not pretend to say that there
were no able men in that body. Thai
would not be true. There were few, and
only few, wide-awake, sagacious and pa,
triotic members, who endeavored to dc
their duty, but they were foiled and cir
cumvented by a mass of inactive and
phlegmatic men. The present body is
made up, for the most part, of energetic
young men, who have caught the spirit OF
progress and who comprehend the fact
that a step forward must be taken in lift
| ing Tennessee out of the mjre.
| One thing that struck ME was absolutely
refreshing. 1t was the marked harmony
and unity of all the political factions, and
the utter absence of partisan strife. That
argues well for the future of Tennessee
Heretofore there has been by far too much
political rancor. 1t endangered the growth
of the State and hampered the energies
and enterprise of that class who have been
striving to infuse some vigor into our in
dustrial interests. Work, is the guiding
star of the present body. AS yet there
have been no high sounding speeches
made for buncombe. The members have
squared themselves down 10 business. No
former session ever made more rapid pro-
gress in ''cutting out" work, for the same
length of time. OF course, the most of
this has been done by leading members"
the ruling spirits of the body. .-
JUDGE HoUK. "a
You have no idea what an indefatigable
worker Houk is. He has not only brains.
but an ample supply of working power. He
is never idle, engages in no dissipation and
He is always present at "roll call,n is
keen-eyed, watches everything, and ready
BIS appreciation. He is prodigiously pop
ular. Everybody likes him. Hence he
can accomplish great deal for his con-
stituents. I am amused at his jokes. For
example: The other night, in conversation
with q squad of Democrats, who were
Joking him about his Radicalism and HUI
morously telling him that he ought to re-
pent of his sins and come over to DemoC-
racy, he replied by saying that he knew
he had been great sinner, out he dld not
want to complete his infamy by going over
TO Democracy. Of course the joke was
received in the spirit in which it was
given.
SENATOR RICHARDS.
David Richards is making all excellent
member. There is not q more just and
honest member in the Senate. In all
his actions he is go 7erned by his con-
science. That is his only tribunal. He
never sweryes from it. When twitted
occasionally by partisan friends and
reminded that he must go with his
party, right or wrong, he tells them
no! The party must do right. In the midst
of his legislative duties, he never forgets
his moral obligations. Hence he is found
on the Sabbath visiting the pententiary
and making short. impromptn speeches to
the convicts, and attending temperance
meetings and contributing his influence in
this direction.
REPRESENTATIVES, CARNES.
Mr.. Carnes is quiet, attentive, polite
and watchful member of the House. AN
upright. land conscientious man, he Will
try to do his whole duty.
The next question of the present session
will be the financial question. 1t Is knotty
one, and no one, as yet, seems to know now
to unite it. Confusion, impenetrable dark
ness gathers around it. 1 look forward to
one or two conclusions with regard TO the
| matter First, that it will be utterly lg-
nored, as Cd former occasions, and left for
future Legislature to pat in shape, or,
second that fierce and bitter struggle will
| ensue that will end in jargon. A number
are for funding the old debt, while as many
are against it. Houk has prepared mas
terly "brief' on the subject, &C., at the
proper time, will astonish the Assembly
and the country with his clear, cogent and
logical views.
The 'Torbett issue will meet, from pres
ent indications, with final adieu. am
convinced that there is a strong disposition
in both Houses to send it where the
"WoOdbine twineth."
I am not prepared to say at this writing
what will become of the Common Schoo
system. 1t is in the fog, somewhat. Inn
migration will Ego" in some favorable
form. We will get bill through author
izing the Directors of the E. d. Fair to sci
the present grounds and to reinvest TIT
proceeds elsewhere.
My next will be Sabbath day il
Nashville ALoNZo DANTE.
rood storv isa-told Of the students O