Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-02-01

ject of private and local legislation. Mr..
Brown has given this subject thorough
investigation, and mas presented the evils
growing out of this class Of legislation in
clear and forcibIe manner, and we commend
to the people of the State careful perusal
of the speech. This class of legislation has
grown to such proportions that it over
shadows the legitimate subjects which
should command the earnest and careful
consideration of the members, causing, In
too many instances, such matters to be
hurriedly passed through each House, or TO
be neglected entirely. We think Mr.. Brown
has clearly shown the proprety and utility
of transferring this class of legislation to
the Courts of the State, where the inter
ests of all can be properly guarded and pro-
tected, while it would stop heavy drain
on the Treasury of the State. We desire to
call the particular attention of the people
of the State to the following statement in
Mr.. BRowN's speech
'Mr. Speaker, at the session of the Legisla-
ture of 1854, land who can n0ao say that the
present will not exceed that sessionO the laws
passed numbered about three hundred and
twenty, and cover about nine hundred pages
of the printed volume; and journals Of the Sen
ate and House about twenty-five hundred and
eighty pages Of these laws, some taOo hundred
and forty are local and priUate, and some eigb-
ty are general. The general laws number about
one fourth of the whole; but the private laws
cover much greater number of pages in the
volume, as they average more in length. In
the same proportion, there are nineteen hun
dred and thirty-fve pages of local and pTaDate, |
and six hundred and forty five pages of general
matter in the journals. The cost of printing |
for that session would be about sixteen thous,
and dollars. charge three tourths of this sum,
or TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, to the local &C
count. The session continued over FIVE months, |
and the pay of members, and the incidental
and necessary expenses of the session, amount |
ed to about eighty thousand dOLLGrs-ttree
t0urtbs of this sum, or SIXTY THOUSAND DOL
LARS charge to the same account, making the
biennial expenses Of priDdte and local LegiStG
ton, about sEvENTY-Two THOUSAND DOLLARS.
These amounts may vary from a strict calcula-
ton, but TO include every item properly charge
able, the total would exceed this amount"
When it is considered that the legiti-
mate business of the Legislature should
not occupy exceeding forty days, as Mr..
Brown argues, at cost to the State of
about twenty-five thousand dollars, the
great propriety and utility of transferring
oil ,,y.voto ond Ioool Jor;cIo +ion to tha
Courts of the State, will at once be seen,
and be demanded by those who have, in
the end, to foot the bill. The taxpayers
have this heavy burden to bear, and yet
they derive no advantage whatever from
this species of legislation. BY transferring
this business to the Courts, those who re-
ceive the benefits will have to pay the ex-
penSeS, and thus relieve the Treasury of
the State of heavy drain.
In the early part of the session, on mo-
ton of Mr. FLETCHER Committee on Pri-
vate Corporations was appointed in the
Senate, of which that gentleman was Chair
man, for the purpose of ascertaining wheth-
er, by existing laws, the Courts of the State
were not fully empowered to grant all the
rights and privileges Of incorporation to
companies making application, and if not,
to report what changes were necessary to
confer upon them that power This COM
mttee, after thorough investigation Of
the subject, reported that, from the for
nation of our State Government to the
present time, the business of creating,
amending, and regulating private and local
corporations, has been one of the most la
borious and expensive branches of legisla-
tion," aud express the "opinion that the
Incorporating power may safely be vested
in the Courts of the country, and in the
companies themselves, under proper restric-
tons aud reservations, and that an adhe-
renee to this policy will be the commence
ment of an important legislative reform. "
To carry out these views, the committee re-
ported bill amendatory of the general
laws now in force regulating the incorpora-
ton of private companies. This bill is still
before the Senate, and we hope its provi-
sions, or something of the kind, will be
enacted into law The Legislature could
scarcely do anything of more substantial
advantage to the people-the taxpayers
of the State-than to transfer this class of
legislation to the Courts of the country.
We again beSpeak for the speech of
Mr. Brown careful perusal, satisfied that
the facts and arguments set forth by that
gentleman will convince the people of the
Importance of the change proposed.
ELEoToR FOR THE 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DIS
TRIcr.-We give place this morning with pleas
ure to brief communication recommending
W. II. DEWITT, Esq, as a suitable nominee for
the post of American Elector Of the 4th Con-
gressional District Mr.. DEWITT, we are fully
persuaded, would discharge the responsible du-
ties of the station, with a zeal and ability
worthy of the glorious cause of Americanism
For The Daily Patriot.
American EIector-4th District.
The time has come when the American Par
ty of our State should commence the prepare
ton for the great Presidential struggle. Our
opponents have gone to work, and We must be
up and doing
4 Col. WILLIAM Fl. DEwIrT, of Macon, is sOg-
gested for our Electoral candidate in the ath
Congressional District. lie Is bold, fearless