Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-04
Friday evening. April 4. 1879.
xLIst GENERAL E NJ Y.
Nashville American Report.
SENATE.

TUESDAY, April /, lS79,-The sen
ate met at 9 am, Speaker Neal in the
chair. Prayer by the Rev. {. D. Ell
lott.
The senate proceeded to discuss the
protest entered by Messrs. Savage,
Lands and others.
Mr.. Smith, of Davidson, moved to
strike from the protest its fourth
clause in which occur the words an
due influence
Mr.. Grove said he did not believe
actual bribery had been resorted to,
but that the Hobbies during the debate
in the senate on the debt question
we're filled with agents, bankers and
others who doubtless used all the un.
due means they could to influence the
votes of the members.
Mr.. Smith, of Davidson, said that
no undue influence had been used
but that the wording Of the protest as
it appears ON the journal was certain
~ a slur upon the senate. If any
gentleman knew of any undue infu-
ence, let him point specifically TO it.
Mr.. Wilson said that, though he
did not sign the protest, he held it to
be a constitutional %prerogative of the
gentlemen to offer a protest.
Mr.. Clapp said that it was to him a
subject of sincere regret that such a
question should arise. Every member
had unquestionably such a right, UNI
til he impeached and ~encroached upon
the rights Of others. He held il a
right to protect himself against what
ever aspersed his motives or character,
whether it be done 10 deliberate
malice or otherwise. The gentlemen.
in the language Of the protest, had
thrown a fire brand into the senate.
When a member aSsailed his chsrac-
Ter, not directly but by inuendo, and
entered that protest with its original
phraseolog upon the journal, where
be could not defend himself, it was a
stab in the dark. If there had been
any undue influence brought TO bear
upon the senate, those who signed the
protest owed it 20 themselves and the
senate TO bring to the bar Of justice
those who had basely yielded to 0
rupt influences.
Nj. Savage said that senators were
making too much fuss over this qucs-
tiOn. He and the other gentlemen
clearly had a right to enter their pro.
test, and might use in it whatever
language they chose.
Mr.. Beckerdite said he was not
afraid the protest as wordcd should
20 on the journal. He did not take
any imputation to himself. He had
voted for the fifty cents and four pei
cent. proposition but there need be
no surprise if he should be found
taking the stump against il.
Mr.. Bib charged that bondholderJ
had been in the senate Hobbies clec
pioneering with the members. Eve,
old citizens of Nashville had said tho,
had never seen such lobbying.
Mr.. Hanson asked Mr.. Bib u
state who had been lobbying senator
On the floor?
Mr.. Bib said he could not stat,
who had done SO. but it was q well
known fact that 1t had been done. II.
explained that no iuputation upo.
the motives or character Of gentlemet
had been intended in the use OF th
words undue influence in the pro
test.
Mr.. Hanson asked that it be 5
qualified. There certainly was an in
putation in the protest, an imputatio
basely impugning the motives am
character of gentlemen. and, as one ,
the majority, he regarded il as a pei
soHal reflection upon himself, and
intended to deal with the matter an
the slanderers as they deserved.
Messrs. Tolley and Savage held til.
Senator's made more meaning out
the protest than there was really
it. They believed that the kind
undue influence - used was the il
fuence Of outsiders, the influence
the press, and especially the inauenI
Of the late meeting Of Democrats
the Maxwell House. That meetil
had even threatened the low tax me
aud, therefore. was " undue inf.
ence brought 10 bear upon the le
iSlature.
Mr.. Smith, Of Davidson. renew,
his motion to expungc the obuoxio
clause. The motion was rejected.
Mr.. Clapp then offered the foliowil
protest, to be entered upon the iou
nal
The undersigned, members of 1
senate, who voted for senate bill \
:Ql, in reference 10 an adjustment
the State debt, feeling gross iDjusti
has been done them in the protest
tho following members Of senate. Vi
Senator'S Bib, Bledsoe, Grove, la
dis and Savage, in that portion of "a
protest which impugns the motives
the majority and charges their acti
was the result Of undue infueue
avail themselves Of their privilege
protest against the language employ
by said senators aud denounce (
imputations upon their characters q
motives as a gratuitous calauiny wit
out any foundation whatever, and th
protest against the action and resol
Of the senate refusing TO strike IN
the Journal the words objected TO, a