Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-01-14

Mr.. OpELL hoped the Committee would insert ten
cents five are to educate the poor children it would
be- curious way Of doing to make the poor man pay
heavy poll tax to accomplish that very object
Mr.. MARTIN was in favor of increasing the school
fund, but be would tell the gentleman that if ten
cents poll tax were inserted, he (Mr. Martini could
not vote for the bill ,t.2.l :
Mr.. BAILEY followed, and after some remarks sug-
gested poll tax of forty cents. Mr.. Bailey ably
defended his views on the question: at some length.
He did not come here to represent class of the
community at the expense of another. He did not
represent either the rich or the poor, but both-he
did not represent property or persons, but both
he would not countenance tie gross injustice of
throwing the Who'll. burthen on property and none
at al on persons He moved to insert forty cents
poll tax.
Mr.. WINCHESTER stated why he could not support
the last proposition. Having rejected the one dol
lar poll tax he could not vote for any poll tax at all
Mr. w offered some calculations showing the amount
that would be raised by Mr.. Thompson's bill-the
whole of which would not exceed $l50,000 which
paltry sum added to the present fund would only
afford about fifty cents additional to the present
amount, making only ninety three cents per annum,
to each scholar Is it not plainly inadequate? 'You
might as well, said Mr.. W., Athrow the money in
to the street" 1t would do no good, and the people
would cry out against such system. Mr.. w. went
on to show the amounts paid and received by the
different sections of the State Mr.. w. was opposed
to the bill because it was unequal in its operations.
The proposition of the gentleman from Montgom-
cry, (Mr. Bsley,) is wholly inadequate-better re
peal even the existing laws the subject and let
the fund accumulate in the Bank until it becomes
large enough to do some good. The present is
wholly worthless, and is worse than throwing away
the public money.
Mr. HARRINGTON moved to insert 81 25
Mr.. MORRIS moved that the Committee rise and
report progress, which was agreed to, and the
committee rose and reported progress to the House.
Mr.. BUFoRD moved to concur in the report.
Mr.. HOLMES moved to strike OUT the word "pro-
gress and the question being on concurring in the
report it was concurred in,
Mr.. ODELL. moved to fill the blank with II 2
cents.
Mr. THOMPSON hoped that that gentleman would
act He replied to the remarks of Mr.. Winchester
made in committee of the whole. He thought
these various propositions were made in bad faith
by pretended friends of the bill in order TO defeat
ii. ID ...a.. ..-
Mr. Hem offered proviso that poor men and
widows who could not spare their children to &C
to school be exempt from school tax. Ruled out O.
orderly the chair.
The discussion was continued by Mr.. Bailey
who said he would vote a tax on property, and al
| so a tax on persons in Just proportions; but he
thought it would be grossly unjust. He appealed
to the generosity the sense of justice of those wht
were in the majority here, not to throw the who'll
| burthen on one class of the community alone. lie
the burthen be equalized, or, at least, much a
possible fairly proportioned amongst all.
Mr. STEELE did not wish to take part in this dis
| cussion.
| He acknowledged and appreciated the benefits o
| our education This bill would not meet the appro
: - g Cd 10 n f1ron
tax, which would be unequally distributed. e
therefore moved to indefinitely postponed the bill
Mr. Brown, of Monroe, had not expected to sa
any thing on this batch of bills. But he deemed
his duty to defend the section Of the State whic
he represented from nsinuations which he though
unjust and injurious. He deprecated all such invd
ious distinctions, and all nsinuations calculated +
generate bad feelings between different sections
the State. Such things should be buried so dee
that they would never be resuscitated.
Mr.. WINCHESTER explained, and disclamed an
intention to rasei nvidious distnotions-he mad
no injurious insinuations-he had only stated fact
and figures from authentic records, and until thes
could be disproved, they must stand as true. Nj
| W. continued in beautiful strain of remark t
claim kindred with all parts Of the State, Eas
West and Middle All were Tennesseans, and
was proud to say that he too was Tennessean.
Mr.. WooD, of Cannon, being a member of til
Buncombe committe, would like to say somethin
on this subject, contrary to his first intention. Nj
W. spoke of the exeellencies and advantages of ed
| ucation a subject in which he felt deep interes
and in which he yet hoped to see some advance
ment He then discussed the present system, whc
he pronounced useless and an incubus on the Gauss
Under it we have only little old field school, aboU
three months in the year, under the charge of som
itinerant pedagogue. He was opposed to the cour
! ty system, and lie in favor OF general tal
believing that to be the most efficient, well q
the most economical system He was prepared {
vote for any reasonable amount to carry out TIL
| system. He surprised to see gentlemen shrin
from their duty for fear the people should cry OIL
against taxation. He would proclaim it bold
that he would represent no constituency who re
| fuse to sanction the course which he was prepare
to take on this subject Mr.. Wood continued in hi
remarks on the general subject, and concluded b
hoping that this Legislature would yet dosomethin
to wipe out the stain now resting on the State
which, while fifth among her sisters in wealth an
resources, is yet last in point of education.
Mr. SYKES merely wished to state that he shoul
vote against the indefinite postponement in tn
hope that some friend of the bill may offer a
amendment requiring the counties severalIy to rails
an amount equal to that received from the genera
| fund.- IF that be not done he would be compelle
to vote against the bill.
| The question was then taken on Mr. Steele
motion to indefinitely postpone the bill, which wa
rejected; ayes, "a; noes, 80.
And the House adjourned until o'clock.
CoRRECrIoN.-The speech on the school question
as reported yesterday from Mr.. HARRINGTON, wa
| in reality delivered by Mr.. HOLMES, of Shelby, VIII
was the author of bill No. %, and whose nam
should be substituted for that of Mr.. FARRINGTo
throughout the report The reporter regrets ex
ceedingy this untoward mistake, which was occa
stoned by some one near the desk calling the NAM
of Mr. FARRINGroN at the time that Mr.. HoIAlE
rose to speak
| 1t was Mr.. HOUSE, notMr. BAILY, who moved
| for the Buncombe committee on yesterday.
sen ATE-AFTERSooY SESSION.
FRIDAY, Jan. Is
The Senate resumed the consideration of the re
port of the Committee Of the Whole or the bill t.
reorganise the Judiciary of the State of Tennessee
the question being on the motion by Mr. Nixon to
non-concur in the recommendation to make eacf
county in the State soicitorial district. The re-