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


Gus imagination. And, Mr.. Speaker, while
l say this in respect to our cO-adiutOrs- on
this floor and in the other branch Of the
legislature, it affords me peculiar pleasure
to extend the observation 20 the distin-
gnishei gentleman in the National Senate,
who IS also implicated in the injurious
charge. 1t Will be remembered that
in the recent pr0tracted struggle which
resulted in his election, / persistently with
held my vote from him; but will here say
ID It if anything could have attracted me to
bis support, it would have been the absO-
Lutte confluence which his friends and his
enemies alike feel in his unimpeachable
and incOrruptible public character. The
faults ascribel TO him by his bitterest Op-
ponents do not include Yenality or political
simOny, or corruption in any form.
Through long and stormy public life he
has preserved his ermine as unspotted as
the snow upon the mountains Of his East
Tennessee.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
What the House Did.
Immediately after its adoption, the resO-
luton was transmitted to the House,
which body at once took it up for consid-
Grafton.
Mr.. Gates said he was opposed to the
resolution. The House was called upon to
spend time and money in making an in
vestigatiOn in which it had no concern.
While he appreciated the situation Of the
gentlemen thus accused, and wanted to see
them placed fairly before the people, yet he
was opposed to making any expenditure
for that purpose.
Mr.. Harris remarked facetiOusly that be
was in favor of letting the gentleman from
Marion, Sequatehie and other counties,
(Afr. Spears,) give the lie to the whole
thing, and then pass it over.
Mr.. Mcmillan considered the investiga-
ton very important, inasmuch as it in
volved the character of their fellow men,
bers, by whose sides they sat while acting
in the capacity Of legislators. He did not
believe that there was one word Of truth in
the article referred to, but thought it a fab
ricatiOn from beginning to the end. The
public mind should BE- satisfied as to the
guilt or innocence involved Of the members
from Shelby. II maltered not as to dollars
and cents when the reputation Of the peO-
pies represent atives was involved. JUS
tice to them, Justice to the State and JUS
tice to the cause Of truth demanded the
appointment Of a committee Of inyestiga-
ton.
MIR. Cooper said that the Shelby county
delegation would be foremost in demand
ing this investigation. He did not believe
that there was one particle Of truth in the
charge; bat the Democratic party could not
decline to investigate it, and, in this con-
nectiOn, he wanted a report from the COM
mittee appointed to investigate the action
of the 3Sth General Assembly. He did
not want to see the public prints occupied
with reiteratiOns Of the charge that the
Democratic party had used the Whitewash
brush in these matters.
Mr.. Galloway did not know whether he
was concerned in the investigation or not;
but, as he was half-Shelby, he was very
anxious to have the whole thing investi-
gated, for his own individual advantage.
If his colleagues had received anything
they had not "t0tsd7 fair with him, as he
did not get any share of the ''swag.n
Mr.. East suggested that it would be best
70 appoint the committee and let any one
who had charges to make appear before
them with the proof. They could do moth
ing outside Of the State towards the inves-
tigatiOn.
Mr.. Cummins favored the adoption Of
the Senate resolution. The character OF
these gentlemen would give the lie to such
a charge.
Judge Lea said it was bad judgment for
this thing TO have been noticed at the other
end Of the capitol; but, as it had gone so
far, he thought it was proper 70 have the
committee appointed.
Mr.. LedgerwOOd was Of the opinion that
it would be Of great advantage to the par
ties who had trumped up the charge, as
they would draw their per diem and mile
age as witnesses.
Mr.. Rice. Of Madison, was opposed to
incurring any expense by such an in7esti-
CATION. Every man on the floor believed
these Representatives Innocent Of the
charges preferred against them.
Nj. JamisOn SAID that every person who
had voted for the gentleman elected to the
United States Senate was open 70 the
charge; it came indirectly as a charge
against majority Of the House.
Mr.. Spears had hoped they had done with
these newspaper articles, and he did not
think that they ought TO be given so much
consideration. he did not know whether
there was any truth in the charge or not,
and if these men were proven to be guilty
they would look very bad.
Mr.. East offered the following amend
ment, which was adopted:
Resolved further, that the committee tel
egraph to the editor Of the Nelg Orleans
Times, informing him Of the appointment
Of the committee, aud request him to lay
before the committee the names Of Wit
nesses aud the evidence upon which the
editorial in question is based and the
charges therein made are founded.
The blank in the resolution was filed
with five, and the resolution adopted as
amended.
The Committee OF Investigation.
The resolution went back to the Senate,
and the House amendment was promptly
cOncurred in. Speaker Paine appointed as
members of the committee on the par-Of the
Senate, Messrs. Quarles, BLIZZARD and Wade.
The House members Of the committee viii
be announced By Speaker Bond this morn
ing.