Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-07
FRESH FROM WASHINGTON.
Return Of COngressmen Bright
and Atkins.


A Highly Interesting Talk over th'
work Of the aessiOn-Insfde HIstOFJ
OF the Closing straggies In the HOusS
-POIand's HerOfsm-The Country
saved by the Defeat of the Force BIIl
Civil Rights-statesmanIIk COun
sells.
Hon. J. D. c. Atkins, Representative in
Congress from the Eighth Congressional
| District, and Hon. John M. Bright, from
the Fifth District, arrived in the city yes
terday and registered at the Maxwell
House. Believing that what they thought
about the measures recently before Con-
gress would interest the readers Of the
| UNION AND AMERICAN, a representative
Of this paper called on them last night at
room No. u. As the distinguished gen.
tleman held similar views On the general
situation, the reporter has endeavOred to
give, as faithfully as possible, an outline OF
! the conversation that occurred:
They were Of the opinion that the defeat
Of the Force bill and the adoption Of the
resolution Of POland's investigating Com
mittee in relation to affairs in Arkansas
were the real points whereby the future
destiny of the country was TO be determined
i Was clearly understood that the Hnpreju-
diced and intellectual members OF the Re
publican party were all opposed to these
''iron rule" measures. 1t was due to the
tactics Of the minority that the Force bill
was defeated, which they did by delay
ing it in the House until the adjourn
ment. A grander scene had not been
seen in any Of the crises Of the Govern
ment than was witnessed when Poland was
the central figure Of the House. on the Occa-
sion of his speech on Arkansas, appealing
TO his party, and not a voice interTupting
him-the Democrats all crowding around
him and awaiting tie issue which was, as
they felt, the issue Of peace or war. Poland
was a man thab had great reputation as a
lawyer and jurist, and it was his devotion
to his profession and to constitutional law
that made him take the course that he did.
The vote on the Arkansas matter was a
very significant one. 1t was the cause OF
bitter dissensiOn in the Republican ranks.
Mr.. Atkins here remarked that the Presi-
Dental chair ought to have such a man as
Poland in it instead Of one who knows
nothing about and who cares nothing fOf
law.
The question was now settled whether a
man should rule with an iron rod contrary
to the Constitution. If the President had
been armed with the power sought to be
conferred by the Force bill be would have
marched directly over the Judiciary.i
Grant was the worst snubbed man in
America, and they believed that the great
ovation to Andrew johnson was dOEe more
to snub the President than for anything
else.
They both agreed that the Northern and
Southern Democracy were in per
feet harmony and unison. There
was no division in the party on any of the
measures pushed by the Republican lead
ers. They all voted cOmpactly against the
Tariff, Currency, Force, Civil Rights, and
other partisan bills. While the Republi-
cans were split in twain, the Democratic
party was welded cOmPactly together.
Messrs. Bright and gAatkins attributed all
these extreme measures to Southern Re
publicans and said that Maynard, Of this
State, and White, of Alabama, were at the
head of them. Il was done to wreak ven
geanee upon their own people, and as they
could not maintain the supremacy of theI
party, they wanted to plunge the South into
strife and turmoil. Il was clearly shown
by the report Of the Alabama investigating
cOmmitte that there had been but two
political murders in that State. 1t was
also proven that the letter of Congressman
Hayes, Of Alabama, TO Congressman -HsW-
ley, Of Connecticut, was false. They
might talk about White Leagues, but il
was doubtless true that President Grant
was President Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, instead of Senator Logan, as was
pretended. In the event Of a very close
Presidential election, the Republicans
would manage 70 throw out enough votes
to give them an appearance of election;
but if the election should be held to-day
Grant would not carry single Northern
State.
The conversation then turned to the
question of Civil Rights. 1t was their
opinion that mischief might be made Of the
odious law, but if our people were prudent
they did not think any serious trouble
would ensue. A few well marked and
carefully prepared test cases taken before
the Supreme Court of the United states
would decide the uncOnStitutiOnality OF
| the law; the people ought to be moderate,
and leave the decision to that tribunal.
They ought 70 offer only legal resistance,
as violence would be outOf the question.
No man could commit violence in this
matter without doing his section
Of country the greatest harm. The
Civil Rights bill had its origin not in a
humanitarian spirit, but was intended as a
degrading measure; also a political meas
ure, to initiate the people Of the South and
excite tcem to violence. No man would
feel himself degraded if a negro should be
forced into a house with him, but if be will
make 4 negro of himself there would be
something in that. The only hope Of the
Republican party was to carry the next
Presidential election BY violence, riots dis
turbances and by getting few black men
killed in the South; then they would re-
vamp their outrage cry all over the North.
There was a great danger Of the tide
turning against us in that way. We had
all t. lose by it and nothing to gain. 1t
was tire only way to infame the Northern
mind and stir up their old war prejudices.
II would be well for young men TO quit
the dangerous habit of carrying pistols,
which had been the cause Of a great deal
of violence being committed. 1t was iIr
deed a very bad habit.
The question of abolishing the tax on
hotels was mentioned, and both of the gen.
tlemen concurred in the idea that the Civil
Rights law would be enforced, nOtwith-
standing the abolition Of the tax, as its
provisions would not be affected by this ac-
ton. The only way to remedy this would
be for gentlemen to rent rooms and have
their meals brought to them, or take them
elsewhere, as they plea1ed; or, in other
words, to have q club house, and become
their own prOprieto-s. A man could rent
his property to white or black if he de-
sired, orhe could refuse to rent it at all.
Both gentlemen seemed to be very much
fatigued from travelling and their arduOus
Iab0rs for the past few weeks. They ex-
pressed themselves as not having had many
nights Of good rest for a month past, on ac-
count Of the frequent night sessions OF the
House.
Mr.. Atkins leaves for his home in West
Tennessee this evening, and Mr.. Bright to-
morrow morning, for Fayetteville.
CONDENSED TELEGRAMS.