Thomas Dickens Arnold
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dickens Arnold was an American politician that represented Tennessee
's second and first districts in the United States House of Representatives
. He was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia
on May 3, 1798. He moved with his parents to Knox County, Tennessee
in 1808. At the age of fourteen, he enlisted as a drummer boy
in the War of 1812
. He taught school in Knox and Grainger Counties. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1820, and commenced practice in Knoxville, Tennessee
.
He was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian by Tennessee's 2nd district to the Twenty-second United States Congress, which had lasted from March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1833. In 1836, he was made a brigadier general
of the Tennessee Militia. He moved to Greeneville, Tennessee
and was elected as a Whig
by Tennessee's 1st district to the Twenty-seventh Congress, which lasted from March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843. During the Twenty-seventh Congress, he served as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Claims. He was not a candidate for re-election to the Twenty-eighth Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Greeneville and died while attending court in Jonesborough, Tennessee
on May 26, 1870. He was interred
in Oak Grove Cemetery in Greeneville.
Thomas Dickens Arnold was made by Morgan A. Heard on May 14, 1832, as he descended the west steps of the Capitol
.
According to the book Journal of a Residence and Tour in the United States, U.S. Representative William Stanbery
wrote to the Speaker of the House
that fellow Representative Samuel Houston had attacked and severely wounded him, confining him to his bed. Sam Houston, being brought to the House to be reprimanded by the Speaker, sent a letter stating that he thought it was a "mode of punishment unknown to our laws," and that "if he were to "submit in silence to such a sentence, it might imply that he recognized the authority of the House to impose it."
Upon Houston being only lightly reprimanded after being found guilty for assault
, Thomas Dickens Arnold commented that "he believed the letter and the threat preceding it, were intended to overawe the House, which had, by its own act, virtually invoked insult and outrage from every ruffian in the land; and that the decision in the case of Houston amounted to a call, an invitation to all ruffians and assassin
s that could be collected, and were propelled by a secret power that was irresistible."
In May, Morgan A. Heard assaulted Thomas Arnold, intending to strike a blow to his head with a large stick. Several days before he had threatened to "whip
" Thomas Arnold for his comments on his friend, Samuel Houston. When Thomas Arnold dodged the blow, Morgan A. Heard withdrew a large duelling pistol
and lacerated his arm. Thomas Arnold knocked Heard down several times with a light sword-cane before Heard ran off. Both Sam Houston and Morgan A. Heard were afterward indicted by Washington County for assault with attempt to kill.
Thomas Arnold Road in Salado, Texas
is named in his honor.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
's second and first districts in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
on May 3, 1798. He moved with his parents to Knox County, Tennessee
Knox County, Tennessee
Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Its 2007 population was estimated at 423,874 by the United States Census Bureau. Its county seat is Knoxville, as it has been since the creation of the county. The county is at the geographical center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee...
in 1808. At the age of fourteen, he enlisted as a drummer boy
Drummer boy (military)
Drummer boys were children recruited as military drummers for use on the battlefield.Armies regularly recruited young boys for this service, well into the nineteenth century...
in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He taught school in Knox and Grainger Counties. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1820, and commenced practice in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
.
He was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian by Tennessee's 2nd district to the Twenty-second United States Congress, which had lasted from March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1833. In 1836, he was made a brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of the Tennessee Militia. He moved to Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville is a town in Greene County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. The town was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. It is the only town with this spelling in the United States, although there...
and was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
by Tennessee's 1st district to the Twenty-seventh Congress, which lasted from March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843. During the Twenty-seventh Congress, he served as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Claims. He was not a candidate for re-election to the Twenty-eighth Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Greeneville and died while attending court in Jonesborough, Tennessee
Jonesborough, Tennessee
Jonesborough is a town in and the county seat of Washington County, Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. The population was 4,168 at the 2000 census...
on May 26, 1870. He was interred
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
in Oak Grove Cemetery in Greeneville.
Assassination attempt
During his first term as a U.S. Represenatative, an attempt to assassinateAssassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
Thomas Dickens Arnold was made by Morgan A. Heard on May 14, 1832, as he descended the west steps of the Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
.
According to the book Journal of a Residence and Tour in the United States, U.S. Representative William Stanbery
William Stanbery
William Stanbery was a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1827 to 1833.Born in Essex County, New Jersey, Stanbery received an academic education and studied law in New York City. He was admitted to the bar and moved to Newark, Ohio in 1809 where he started a law practice. He was elected to the...
wrote to the Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
that fellow Representative Samuel Houston had attacked and severely wounded him, confining him to his bed. Sam Houston, being brought to the House to be reprimanded by the Speaker, sent a letter stating that he thought it was a "mode of punishment unknown to our laws," and that "if he were to "submit in silence to such a sentence, it might imply that he recognized the authority of the House to impose it."
Upon Houston being only lightly reprimanded after being found guilty for assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
, Thomas Dickens Arnold commented that "he believed the letter and the threat preceding it, were intended to overawe the House, which had, by its own act, virtually invoked insult and outrage from every ruffian in the land; and that the decision in the case of Houston amounted to a call, an invitation to all ruffians and assassin
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
s that could be collected, and were propelled by a secret power that was irresistible."
In May, Morgan A. Heard assaulted Thomas Arnold, intending to strike a blow to his head with a large stick. Several days before he had threatened to "whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
" Thomas Arnold for his comments on his friend, Samuel Houston. When Thomas Arnold dodged the blow, Morgan A. Heard withdrew a large duelling pistol
Duelling pistol
A duelling pistol is a pistol used in a classical duel. As a general rule, they are single-shot flintlock or percussion black powder pistols which fire a lead musket ball...
and lacerated his arm. Thomas Arnold knocked Heard down several times with a light sword-cane before Heard ran off. Both Sam Houston and Morgan A. Heard were afterward indicted by Washington County for assault with attempt to kill.
Thomas Arnold Road in Salado, Texas
Salado, Texas
Salado is a village in Bell County, Texas, United States. Salado was first incorporated in 1867 for the sole purpose of building a bridge across the Salado Creek...
is named in his honor.