Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-11

regard to the election of Mr.. johnson to the
United States Senate, and intimated, edi-
torially, that money had been freely used
to secure him the support Of the delegation
from Shelby county. This naturally ex-
cited a good deal of indignation on the
part of the gentlemen Immediately con-
cerned, and the matter was at once
brought TO the attention of the Legislature.
A resolution was unanimously adopted by
both houses, expressing belief in the limo
| cence Of the accused members, and de-
nouncing the charges as altogether ur-
founded. Here the matter rested, and,
perhaps, nothing more would have been
said or done about it, but the Times had its
blood up, as the following article, in its
issue Of the It'll inst, will show:
ANDREW JOHNSON AND THE SHELBY
DELEGATION.
The Tennessee Legislature is deeply
stirred by the Times paragraph, throw
ing out a hint as to the manner of
Andy's election. After whetting their
wits with bill eco increase the school
fund by a tax on bachelors" the Solons
rise and shake their CORY locks with
resolution calling for IAN investigation
y l.
against the Shelby county Representa-
tives and their action In the matter Of
the election Of Andrew johnson to the
United States Senate" the latter haV-
ing been offered by Messrs. Oyerton
and Haynes, who, with several other
Senator'S succeeded in having a special
committee appointed to draft resolu-
tons expressive Of their opinion upon
the paragraph, which, it seems, the
Tennessee papers got hold of and made
uncomfortably conspicuous.
The Times did assert that the great
COmmoner used his Influence" with
the Shelby county delegation and ex-
pressed the belief that such Influence"
might haze cost the Senator from the
Greeneville Cross Roads a handsome
sum, and Is still of the same opinion.
Now if Messrs. Haynes and OvertOn
mean business, instead Of a white
washing report, let them add to the
resolution the words, with power to
send for persons and papers" and call
upon us for our sources of information.
We Will then feel it our duty to lay be-
fore the Committee of Inquiry certain
facts relative to a visit made by Mr..
johnson to Memphis soon after the
State election, as well as what trans
pired at Mr.. JOhnsOn's room at the
Peabody hotel when the Shelby county
delegation visited him In a body.
We might also have been able to lay
before the committee certain facts in
relation to a written pledge obtained
from that delegation before they were
nominated at the Exposition Building
Convention by Young Tammany" or
the Madison street ring" and then,
too, certain letters written by Mr..
johnson before that convention assem-
bled and addressed to his personal
frinds," might have been produced,
which would have thrown no little light
upon the subject to De investigated.
We apprehend, however, the Commit
tee" will not 60 to that trouble, butwin
merely pass their virtuously indignant
opinion upon the charges, andwedoubt
much, if they even make trip to the
western part Of their State to take ties.
/ timOny, as is customary when such in
vestigations are to be made. If they
will be so good as to 60 10 Memphis,
they may by diigent search unearth
| the letters referred to, and besides that
obtain much valuable information, as
well as documentary evidence.
Should the committee adopt these
suggestions, a rigid examination of the
books of a certain Memphis bank
should be made to ascertain whether
any drafts had been drawn uoOn the
COmmOner, and for what amount, and
with that start they would be enabled
to make a vOluminous, and, we doubt
not, an intensely interesting report.
| What say the Immortal nine" to this
propositions
What the Senate Did.
It will be seen that the charges made by
| the Times had assumed a shape too serious
/ TO be met by a mere yindicatOry resolution;
so, during the morning session of the Sen
ate, yesterday, AIr. Quarles took the floor
and said:
Mr.. Speaker regret that a sense of
| duty constrains me to interrupt the bust
ness Of the session, when We have so little
| time left to transact important and neces-
| sary business, but, when the name of one
of the members OF the Senate of a sOyer-
| eign State is implicated, It becomes the
! duty Of every other member, to insist that
the member so implicated shall have the
opportunity to meet his accuser and con-
sign him to theaignominy Of his false accu-
satiOn, OF, failing to maintain his limo
| cense, to stand upon the pillOry Of his own
misdeeds.
But few days ago the Senators from
| Shelby asked a committee of inYestiga-
| ton, to examine into charges Of cOrrup-
| ton made by the Nel1 Orleans Times.
| This body, most of whom had known per-
| sOnally or by reputation the honorable
| Senators, approaching their high character,
| knowing that in their lives they have il
Illustrated every quality Of true manhood,
| Indignantly refused a committee to inves-
| tigate, but instead appointed a committee
| to give expression TO their Just cOndemna-
tiOn of the slanderous charge. Since that
time, the same paper, in referring to that
action, taunts this body and those gentle
men with the want Of opportunity afforded
it, by and through the instrumentalily Of
a committee, with power TO send for "per-
| sons and papers," through which it pro-
| poses to prove the charges made. now, sir,
| at the request of these Senators, take up this
| gUage of battle so boldly thrown down,
and, giving the committee asked for, dare
him TO the contest, Sir, these gentlemen
stand where they are known on a pedestal
of honor too high to be reached by darts
hurled by arms stronger than the one hurl-
ing this, poisoned though it be; but this
matter, like the poison sometimes in the
air, will 20 everywhere with the wild wind
Of TumOr, and where these gentlemen are
not known it may leave its whitening
blight.
Again, Mr.. Speaker, this charge refe-s to
and embraces in its conditions the charac-
ter of one who now represents this State in
the highest place, in my estimation, on
this eaFth-the Senate of the United
States. That distinguished gentleman has
many friends and many enemies, but in all
his eventful and romantic life, in all the
roll of his calumniatOrs, none of them have
ever charged him with dishonesty; his
bitterest foe has even awarded to him In
tegrity, hOnesty-perfect purity from cor
rupt devices and practices in public life.
Mr.. Speaker, my resolution provides for the
raising of committee, with full power to
send for "persons and papers," to investi-
gate these grave charges, and l ask those
who are so ready with their accusations to
be as ready with their proof.
THE RESOLUTION OF INVESTIGATION.