Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-03

Into q common treasury q certain amount OF taxes,
the fund arising from which is disposed OF in dis
pensng charities among the poor and Tor the relief
of human suffering-a fund with which they pro-
pose to dry up the tears of the widow, TO hush the
cries Of the orphan 20 educate the destitute, 10 re-
eve the sick and afflicted, and when the spirit has
passed TO Him who gave il, 20 give the mortal re-
mains decent Christian burial. II is for purposes
like these that the orders mentioned in the bill have
been organized, and to which each member con-
tributes his mi,e-a charity without which the fate
of many a human being would be rendered hope
less indeed.
He desired to submit TO gentlemen who were OPP
posing the bill whether it is right for the State OF
Tennessee, with her boosted Justice, magnanimity
aud philanthropy, 10 demand of these orders any
portion Of a fund thus raised and consecrated? Is
it just that the State of Tennessee should thrust
her hand into their treasures and take from them
any portion Of this fund to enrich her own golfers.
Is the State of Tennessee object of charity, that
she should demand pro rata distribution of this
charity fund Is it right alter she has taxed the
members of these orders, in common with her
other citizens, that she should demand any portion
If their contributions for the relief Of the poor and
the needy, aud the widow aud the orphan, and
thUS prevent tn EN- dispensing amount of charity
md relieving an amount OF suffering which they
would otherwise be able to do? lie would repeat
the interrogatOry, is it right for the brave and
chivalrous State OF Tennessee thus to act? l. il
not burning shame upon the escutcheon OF this
great State that she has so long permitted herself
thus unjusty TO take from the treasures Of these
ndcrs any portion of a fund contributed by their
members Tor the relief OF those for whom she has
manifested any great degree OF conccrn-
over whom she has never extended any competent
protecting az rs, and around whom she has never
extended her guardian arms:
But it is argued by gentlemen that these orders
ought not TO be exempted from taxation, because
heir charities are rot universal. They extend CHAIR
ties as far their funds will permit-reserving to
The State, always, that portion which she SO ear
nestly yet so uujustly demands. Some of those who
oppose this BILL are voting almost daily TO exempt
from taxation institutions far crcumscribed in
he sphere Of their operations. Others oppose the
The passage OF the bill because il would reduce the
mount coming into the Treasury Of the State. Sup
Jose the members Of these orders were to cease
making their charitable contributions and the or.
ers were TO dispense no more charities in the way
# feeding, clothing and educating the hundreds and
thousands in Tennessee who are to day the reclp
nts of such bountes from these orders, would they
rpt at once become State and county charges, and
Constitute a heavy drain Oh our State and county
reasuries? This would be the inevitable result. The
'tate of Tennessee is thus occupying the remarka
lie attitude of taxing these ordcrs-cOmpOsed OF
irrtiOn of her citizens, who pay taxes as private
ltizens--fOr the privilege of contributing OF their
nds for the relief OF human suifeIng-fOr the priv
,.ge OF exercising the highest aud most GOd-llke
-,rrihute OF the human heart
He could see no goo reason why this bill should
0J pass. lie thought it unjust, unwise aud i'm
roper in the State to tax these buildings. IL is
culated 10 discourage the organization OF charita-
lie institutions, aud fails to express that just appre
1.tip 81 ,b. vi Of oh. IL
wells naturally and inherently ia the bosom of
very true Tennessrean He expressed the hope
the House would pass this bill, and permit these
rdcrs TO appropriate the whole amount Of their
contributions in the noble work Of drying the tears
{ the widow, hushing the cries of helpless and
st rving children, educating the orphan, relieving
h sick and afflicted, aud in giving 20 the dead
'eut christian burial, and thus relieve the State
Tennessee from the unenviabie attitude which
% now occupies, in wrestling from these classes
portion Of the only means now afforded them
" wa.ch to stay or avert the hard hand OF tate,
nd thus render life tolrrable.
N Nixon opposed the passage of the bill lie
vas opposed TO exemptDg the property OF these or
RS from taxation, because be believed the princl-
lie wrong. IL was species Of class legislation
u ic should not be encouraged. lie belonged TO
ne Of the orders to be brehtted ny the passage Of
is bill, and he regarded it as a noble instluhon-
epping stone 10 higher aud purer order,
Ut its charities were not uIlversal-they were con
ued 10 its own members, and this was true OF the
her orders If their charities were universal, he
ud favor the proposition to exempt them from
KAT OF. But as such not the case, he should
ole for the nd, finite po,tponement Of the bill
Tn, bill WAS further discussed by Messrs Cook
nd Cox 10 favor, and Runnes and Upton in Oppo-
alton.
Mr.. Upton then demanded the previous question,
which Was sustained, and the bill was indefinitely
,,stponed, ayes SO, uOes 25.
HOlse Bills on Third Reading-T amend the
ct of 1913, chap. 81, more efectually to secure
he common school fund passed
To incorporate the Tennessee Female College at
franklin; passed.
Free Blinking La,O-On motion of Mr. Davie, the
'ouse took mp Senate Till repeal the act OF 1882,
, authorize and regulate the business Of banking.
Mr. Dlyie stated that from facts which had re
pUtly been developed. he thought the Legislature
ught TO take immediate action upon Thu subject.
To- has been ascrrtaned that capitalists M other
'tates are sending their means to tennessee to rs
absh a large number of wild cat banks 10 90
INTO operation under the provisions OF the Free
Banking Law, and il was the duty Of the L"gisla.
TO protect the people ag inst the operations OF
these capitalists whose OBJECT was TO prey on them.
Mr. SnOdgrass opposed 10 the passage OF the
,tnks have been established, with capital OF 81,
81 997 and il ten new banks should 20 into oprr-
,tiOn under the law, as stated 10y the GENT man
rom Williamson, (Mr ook } il would increase the
inking capital OF the ouly $500, 900 more than II
is, aud all together, il would not he much ior
tennessee. He saw no obi .con to northern cnpi-
aliSts who had purchased State Bonis when
thrown ito our markets. employing them ia tho
BUSINESS OF banking under our law. That law guard
ell strictly the interest Of the people, aud affords
them better protection than any other banking sys
TEN ia operation ia the State. Even the Bank OF
tennessee is authorised to issue three dollars of its
notes Tor each dollar of its capital, and if it should
fail there is no law 10 compel the State 10 redeem
its notes. The Free Banking Law requires those
engaging in the business OF banking under its pro-
vision, 10 depOsltc with the Comptroller dollar Tor
dollar IN State Bonds for all the notes they may -
sue; and hence IL atinrds the holers at The notes
Of the Free Banks hc't,r protection than Is thrown
around the holders oi the notes ol the stock Banks.
No body has lost, is any body likely 10 lose any
thing by the Free Banks, while the holders Of the
notes OF the Stock Banks have suffered, an IL
able still TO suffer heavy losses, aud this fact is
powerful argument against a repeal Of the law.
lie thought the Free Banking Law nigh; be
amended aud perfected, but he could not see the
propriety Of repeating the law for the purpose Of
perfectng the system. II the law should be re-
pcaled il might be difficult to enact new law even
though il should be decided improvement upon
our present law. Exp rirnce has shown that the
Free Backs have furnished us the safest and most
reliable circulating medium and the introduction Of
this bill into the Legislature would exert an irju'i
Gus influence upon the credit OF these Banks. II
the holders OF the notes Of the Free Banks had
sustained losses in consequences Of failure on the
part Of any OF them, this step would be right aud
proper but the contrary is the fact this Legsla
ture should have attempted nothing more than to
amend the law lie would chreriully 20 for any
amendment OF the law that would improve and per
feet the system but he should oppose is repeal for
the reasons stated lie threw out these suggestions
that members might reflect upon the subject aud