Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-03-13
DEFERRED DEBATE.
HUUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
ErnRrLRr OE 1888
CRIMINAL COURT AT
Mr. WHITE of Knox. said /:

February 20, 1858.
CRIMINAL COURT AT KNOXVILLE.
Mr.. WHITE Of Knox, said:
Mr. Speaker, desire to make few remarks, be-
fore the motion to recede, is put to the House. 1t
will be remembered by the members Of this House,
that several days SINCE bill originally introduced
into this House. was returned with a Senate amend
ment providing for the establishment of a ChanceTy
Court at Chattanooga, fer the trial and determine
ton Of causes arising in the 4th and l4th civil dis
tricts of Hamilton county. proposed an amend
ment drafted by the representative from Hamilton,
INF White and myself which provided for the es-
adjustment of a Criminal Court at Knoxville, aud
a Common Law and Chaneery Court at Chattanooga,
to be presided over By judge, to be elected by the
qualified voters Of the 4h and l4th civil districts Of
Hamilton county, and the qualified voters Of Knox
county, who should after election reside at Chatta
nooga. The House, after hearing our arguments in
favor of the amendment, pleased to adopt it in
lieu of the Senate amendment The bill, as amended
was Immediately transmitted to the Senate for its
sction thereon. To my great surprise, the Senate
has refused to concur in the House amendment;
and sir, what surprises most is the course pur-
sued by Mr. Burch in opposing 1t.
Applications have been made to the last two or
three sessions of the Legislature for 8 Criminal
Court at Knoxville. The criminal docket having
been so great as to materially interfere with the
civil business and at the same time make il impOs-
sible to dispose Of the criminal docket two years
since a bill was introduced into the Senate by the
Senator from Knox, which provided for a Criminal
Court ct Knoxville. About the same time, Mr..
Burch, then the Representative from Hamilton, in
troduced bill looking to the establishment Of
court at Chattanooga The bill provided for sepa
rate courts with distinct judges. Mr. Burchs bill
further provided that part Of the revenue Of Ham
ilton county, which would otherwise 60 into the
treasury of the State, should be appropriated for
the benefit of the court at Chattanooga. Mr. Rogers
bill passed the Senate, and Mr. Burch's the House.
Fears were entertained by the members Immediately
interested in the success of said bills IL either end
of the capitol, that as distinct bills, they would
both be lost; and frequent propositions were made
to Mr. Burch to join the members from Knox IN
bill in lieu providing for the creation Of court at
Chattanooga and another at Knoxville, to be pre-
sided over by one judge Mr. Burch absolutely re-
fused to entertain this proposition, stating at the
time that he was induced to do so because the cit
zens of Chattanooga desired judge who should
reside at that point, were every day arising
calling for information, &C., which subjected them
to great inconvenience
Mr. Burch' bill was lost in the Senate. Mr. Bog-
ers' bill passed the House its third reading with
a handsome majority of u votes. Mr. Ha.ton, one
of the Representatives from Wilson, moved a re-
consideration of the vote passing the bill alleging
his for doing so, that he thought one Judge
could very conveniently preside both at Knoxville
and Chattanooga; and if the House would recon
that effect. A majority of the members took the
same view Of the subject as Mr.. Hatton, and the
motion to reconsider prevailed. The contemplated
amendment was proposed and encountered the bit
ter opposition Of Mr.. Burch, mainly on the ground
that such an arrangement would not secure the
Judge to Chattanooga. The amendment was lost,
and the vote recurring upon the passage Of the BILL
it was lost by one vote. Mr. Burch, mortified and
chsgrined at the defeat of his darling project, saw
proper to disregard agreement entered into by
himself and the Representatives from Knox, which
have been faithfully complied with by Mr. Arm
strong and myself; and so failed to get a Criminal
Court at the last session Of the Legislature
Well sir, to meet the objection Of Mr. Burch, the
bill presented at this session of the Legislature con-
ceded the Judge to Chattanooga; having thus met
the only objection publicly urged by Mr. Burch
to joint Judge, confidently relied on his support
of the bill Strange as it may seem, however, Mr.
Speaker Burch is found opposing it for the avowed
reason that the Office is uncslled for, and would
involve the State in unnecessary expense; such fact
need no comment. As 1 have no disposition to con-
sumo the time of the House in advocating PROPOSE
ton which have no hope Of getting through the
Senate, and as the representative from Hamilton,
Mr. White-Our joint amendment having failed-de-
sires the concurrence Of the House in the Senate
amendment, l will iRterpOse no objections 10 the
motion to recede.