Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-10-11

Referred
Mr. Goodpasture, bill to amend and regulate fees
of county officers, sc. Referred.
The bill to amend the usury laws referred.
The Senate then went into convention TO elect a
Public Printer after which the Senate adjourned
until Monday, 81 o'clock.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SATURDAY, Oct ~.
The journal of yesterday was read and authenti-
| cats1.
Mr. Bate presented the petition of $50 citizens of
Upton county, fer law authorizing vote for the
removal of the county seat, which read and
| referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Ewing presented the petition of II Towns,
| Josiah Ferris, and Others representing the County
Court of Davidson, for retaining the county Judge;
| which read and referred to the Committee on
! the Judiciary.
| CREDIT OF THE STATE.
Mr. Row'es submitted the following:
ResoLUed By the General Assembly of the State of
Tennessee That the State pledges herself to full and
/ prompt payment of all bonds issued by her. and
that she will faithfully abide by and redeem all OBJ
| legations she has incurred by the endorsement of
bonds for corporations internal imprc vement com
| panies of this State
ResoIUed By the authority aforesaid That not only
| in view of the present financial condition of the
country, but a measure OF State policy all further
issues Of State bonds to internal improvement COM
panies corporations or Endorsement of the bonds
| Of internal Improvement companies corporations
by this State, shall cease except where the State
under legal obligation by the existing laws to
| issue endorse the same.
RssoIged By the authority aforesaid, That in case
where, the law now stands, corporations on COM
plying with certain conditions laid down in the law
were authorized to call upon the State to endorse
her bonds or lend her aid to the prosecution of the
work Of said corporations, that IN such cases no
| bonds shall be endorsed or aid advanced to said
/ fT,v, ,1a1zTF
time Of the passage of these resolutions with the
condition imposed on them a condition precedent
| to such State aid or endorsement of their bonds.
Mr. ROwles moved suspension of the rules to ad-
nit Of the immediate consideration of these resolu-
tons, and upon that motion demanded the yeas and
! nays.
Mr. Dayie inquired if these resolutions would not
off from the aid of the State every railroad which
] has not yet completed its so miles?
! MrROwles MrSpeaker, l donot know that itWould
| be proper for me to make the explanation before
the House has determined consider the resolutions
! [Go on, 90 on. The proposition is simply this:
that where the State is under legal obligation, as
! the law stands, to lend her aid or to endorse
the bends Of any railroad corporation such aid
or endorsement shall not be extended. As under
stand the law unless the requisite number of miles
| shall have been completed the State would be IN
der obligation to extend her aid bnt that would
be question for Judicial inquiry-nOt to be settled
| by resolution.
Mr. Savage: If l have understood the reading of
theresolutiOns should perhaps be in favor of them
But, as their adoption would effect, in greater or
less degree, the interests of many chartered COM
panies IN different sections of the State as it is an
attack what may be esteemed their rights would
suggest to the House, whether it would not be best
to refuse to suspend the rules and still give time
for information and refection-he should vote that
/ way. If the question were upon the passage
! Of the resolutions, he might be induced to vote
| for it.
! Mr. Rowles: Perhaps l had better state the sea-
son why have introduced this matter at this time
It viii be remembered, that yesterday the honor
able member on my left Mr. DavieI introduced
| preamble and resolutions bearing upon the same
subject. did not think his proposition sufficiently
broad and explicit, and did not think at that time
nor do think at the present time, that the House
! has sufficiently matured the subject to authorize
| any final action. But on looking the morning
papers, find that attack has been made upon the
Democratic side Of the House, as being disposed to
extend the credit of the State because they prin-
cipaly voted against the consideration of the reso-
! lutions Of the gentleman from Montgomery, Mr.
\ Davie. 1t IS alleged that the Democratic members
in favor Of extending the State credit notwith-
standing 1t was expressly stated here, by several
gentlemen at the time that all we wanted was time
! for consideration. Perceivng that we were thus
attempted to be placed in false position was in
dUCed to submit these resolutions that it might be
what is the of the House upon this deli
cate question, if they have come to any mature
judgment upon it, and if not to let the matter take
| the usual course.
Whilst I am up, will state that did not consid-
! er the resolutions of my friend from Montgomery
sufficiently broad and explicit. l did think that if
his proposition were 60 forth in the shape in which
1t offered, it would tend to impair the credit of
the State. instead of helping it. 1t gave no plege
that the State Of Tennessee will stand by and per-
form all her existing agements-no pledge that
/ her npODlp WOud fulv rpdppu oil har OhliOatioDe
As far as am concerned, believe that no further
issuance of State bonds should be made except in
those cases where there may be legal obligation to
issue believe, and shall so act, that we should
endorse no bonds OF any corporation now in exist
encC, except where they have strictly complied with
the conditions imposed by the law and placed them
selves in condition in which they can legally call
upon the State to endorse. If they have complied
with the requirements of the law then it stands in
the nature of a contract, and must be fulfilled
If they have done all the State required them to
d. the State must comply with the obligation to en-
dOrse. My friends proposition did cover this
point.
Mr. Golladay; Mr. Speaker: These resolutions. it
seems TO me- can have no force whatever. No man
doubts but that the State bonds will be redeemed at
their maturity. But then if they should not and if
it should be the determination of the people re-
pUdiate them, do not how these resolutions
could prevent such thing. The gentleman says the
morning papers place him in a false position.
Mr. RowIes; One of the morning papers-the Re
publican Banner.
Mr. Goaday; Mr. Speaker: When the resolution
was introduced yesterday from our side, and when
the vote showed that every member on this side
voted Tor II, with two exceptions, ask, what is the
matter? Does the gentleman suppose that We are
disposed TO extend the credit of the State? does
he propose TO relieve himself from his position by
introducing other resolutions and taking the ground
that the former resolutions were not sufficiently ex-
picit? and does he suppose that all the wisdom of
this question of State policy is contained in his reso-
luton? However that maybe, desire to ask wheth-
er this body is prepared TO determine what shall be
done with the scheme of Internal Improvement in
which we have embarked? have no doubt but that
it would be the part of prudence to that the
State be not involved by future liabilities but is this
body prepared at this early period Of the session TO
say at that the State shall issue more bonds?
Can we determine now, in advance, that will
positively support no measure of Internal Improve
ment? If we pass these resolutions, they become
virtual declaration that the State of Tennessee will
not extend her credit for any such purpose. think,
cir, that the resolutions of the gentleman from
Montgomery give more just expression of the mind
of every member Of this House, to-wit;
That we will not involve the State by embarking
in any future work of Internal Improvement do
not see what value there is in pledge and decla
ration to the country, that intend to do what
are already bound to do. l have no apprehension,
sir that the State of Tennessee will repudiate
any of her bonds. In view oil the hourlshIng con-
ditiop in which she now stands, can have no fears
about that For these reasons shall vote against
suspension of the rules, as involving the House in
vote for which they are not now prepared
Mr. Rowles, If the rules were suspended that
would not necessarily involve final vote. might
be the pleasure of the house to designate some tu
ture dav for the consideration of both these sets Of
resolutions, or of others that might be offered IN
lieu of them
Mr. Davidson submitted point Of order, that the
resolutions could not be before the House on their
merits, npon a motion TO suspend the rules.
Mr. Newman; Is motion to suspend the rules de- /
baeabe?
The Speaker 1t is not debateablc.
MIR ThompsOu Having voted yesterday against a
suspension Of the rule for the consideration of the
resolutions Of the gentleman from Montgomery, |
shall vote against suspending now, for the same
reason; although wthreference the resolutions of
the gentleman from Bradley, (Alr Rowles) can say
that they embody nv views vsct1v eboI, he found