Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-02-09
HOUSE-MoRNING SESSION.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8

HOUSE-MoRNING SESSION.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8.
The House met pursuant 10 adjournment, and
| the journal of yesterday was read.
| Mr. Chambss moved call of the House, which
| was refused
During the reading of the Journal, Messrs Bailey,
Hubbard and Hall asked leave to record their votes
in favor OF postponing the Law Reform bill and
Mr. Cummings TO record his vote against the post
| ponement of the same bill.
Mr. Chamberlain asked for the reading of the
proceedings had yesterday afternoon on the call OF
the House, and the absentees were read, which
gave rise to some sparrlng among several gentle
men whose names were recorded as ABSENT and al
ter some excitement the House proceeded to the
| morning business.
Mr. Harrington and Mr.. Richardson presented
reports from their respective committees which were
properly disposed Of
MIR. Wheeler introduced bill to grant titles to
| land and to legalize certain deeds. Passed first
reading, and referred
| Mr. harrington introduced bill to incorporate
| the Congregation of the Children of Israel at
| Memphis and then withdrew it on leave.
Mr. Smith Of Davidson, introduced bill to au-
thorize Commissioners to settle with g. A. Subett
| Passed first reading.
| The House then proceeded to the unfinished bu-
sness of yesterday, being the bill to establish a
| Criminal court at Chattanooga question being
toieconsider the vote rejecting Mr.. Cowart's amend
ment,-and the motion to reconsider was with
| drawn; and the bill was rejected. Ayes 81;
| Noes Al.
| Mr.. Cooke entered motion TO reconsider, which
motion was taken up; and Mr.. Cooke urged re-
consideration, both in view of the utility of the
measure, and also for the purpose oil increasing the
salary of the Judge-the pitiful sum of $500 could
| not secure competent Judge-and he believed
many gentlemen voted against the bill on that very
| ground.
| Mr.. Hebb replied he could not see the necessity
for this court: the object seemed to be to create
offices for the special benefit of certain individuals
Mr.. Brown OF Monroe, thought the gentleman
from Lincoln had morbid fancy foc looking at the
| worst side of every measure in which money was
| involved: and in every such case, he (Mr. Hebb)
seemed disposed to impute selfish and improper mo-
tives to the advocates of the measures. He would
advise the gentleman to cultivate more charitable
sp nit. Mr.. Brown continued to argue the neces
sity Of the Court asked for, at some length.
Mr. Cowart thought that this bill had been fairly
and fully discussed ON its second readng,-but the
gentlemen seemed TO have forgotten all about it.
The gentleman from Lincoln seemed to have
antipathy to every thing that had a dollar in it.
He would tell that gentleman; that if he persisted
in that course, he would keep his county Of Lin
con-now fifty years behind the times still further
from Mr. Cowart Mr.. Maxwell called the previous
question: which was sustained, and the main ques-
ton being put, the vote was reconsldered,-and
them the question being on the passage of the BILL
Mr. Chamberlain gave his reason for voting again-t
the bill, viz: the smallness of the Judges salary
No gentleman Of competent legal requirements
would accept that small sum, for duties important,
and involving questions Of life and liberty. Mr.. c.
argued strongly IN favor of the court and hewoud
rather have the court with that salary, than not
at all.
Mr.. Chamblss called the previous question: which
was sustained, and the main question being put,
the bill was rejected. Ayes 80; Noes 36.
Mr.. Hubbard asked leave to change his vote
Granted
The House then took up the bill regulating the
tax on Merchants LIcense-the question pending
being the amendment offered by the Committee on
Ways and Means, in lieu Of the original bill
Mr.. Sykes explained the effect Of the amend
ment and
Mr. Buford hoped the recommendation of the
Committee would be adopted; it would be unwise
at this time, to adopt any measure which would re-
duce the amount of revenue. He thought that the
real question here was, not whether we should
change taxes to favor any particular class, but
whether the effect of this bill would be to increase
or diminish the revenue. -.
Mr.. Lamb replied to the remarks of Messrs. |
Sykes and Butord. He was opposed to the recon-
mendation of the committee He stated that the !
merchants of the State paid into the treasury $751;
900, whilst property holders paid 100000, whilst
the capital Of the former was not more than ten,
and that of the latter was two hundred millions.
The disproportion was enormous and unjust
Mr.. Sykes replied that the disproporton spoken
Of was not onerous ON the merchants because the
tax was in fact on purchasers and CONSUMERS as had
been concusvely shown by the gentleman from
Giles He also alluded to the condition of the rev.
enue-there might be surplus in the treasury at
he next General Assembly, bat debts were falling
lue which would have to be met and which would
absorb all the surplus.
Mr. Steele called the previous question, which
was sustained and the main question being put, the
dill was rejected; ayes 36, noes 81.
Mr.. Patton moved q reconsideration, which, on
notion of Mr.. Steele taken up and agreed to-
Ayes 80; noes, 50.
And the bill being again before the House, the
question pending was the amendment offered by
ne Committee of Ways and Means: and discus
ion again sprang up, IN which Messrs. Lamb, Tenn
lie, Cheatham, and others participated.
Mr. Temple opposed the bill; it was only partial
egisation in favor of the merchants-but not a |
word in favor of the farmers, whose taxes no one
bought of reducing.
Mr.. Cheatham replied with caustic irony to Mr.
'emples remarks He thought that the last speech
must have been made by some gentleman from
anu MT u lhen proceeded 10 discuss =
he merits of the bill, and showed its operation on
be mercantile community.
Mr.. Temple rejoined, and said it was easier to
dicue than to refute. His positions had not been
tackled and he still maintained them He felt
nat he was in the faithful discharge of his public
uty, and in that course he feared no ridicule Mr.
empe continued with much earnestness to discuss
re principles involved in the question q
Mr.. Sykes explained the action of the Commit ST
ee of Ways and Means this subject, and the eff
cts which would result from their amendment if :
lopted As to what had been stated by Mr. Lamb )
regard to the surplus in the Treasury, and that
o State bonds would fall due before 1S6l-if that u
ere so, that was the very reason why we should
egin low to make provision to meet those bonds. lii
Mr. Bullen moved TO amend by making the tax P
venty five, instead of twenty cents which was
id on the table.
Mr., Hebb called the previous which was sus-