Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-03-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, March s, 1853.


THE CODE.
The SPEAKER directed the Clerk to proceed with
the Code and the part Xxx of the Senate bill No.
So, to revise the statutes, Sc, being again read
through
Mr.. DAVIDSON proposed to amend, by adding to
the appropriate clause these words: Provided,
that no grand jury shall be authorized to send for
witnesses in regard 10 gaming if the same has been
DONE or is supposed 10 have been done, in a private
room Of q private house" He desired simply to
guard and preserve the sanctity of private house
MrBULLUCK. Pass that and your gaming laws
would not be worth a copper cent.
Mr. WILSON took a similar view, and moved to
| lay the amendment on the table-but withdrew for
Mr. DAVIDSON. Mr. Speaker have not offered
this prOyisO, with view TO foster or increase the
spirit or the practice of gambling ! have no de-
sire to see either Of them increase. am not ia the
habit Of induIging in such species Of amusement
myself, nor have l any intention of assuming it as
profession.
Mr.. Speaker, my sole object is, to keep up the
sanCtity OF a gentleman's private hOU5e-Which
ought TO be ''his caste'-aud to prevent the off,
cious and ntermeddling interference of grand juries
with matters which may occur in such privacy, as
in no way 10 affect public interests or public morals
How is II under the operation of the law as it now
exists? Why, sir, if three or four gentlemen are
seen on an evening, entering private house, an ,
the party who sees them, should happen 20 have
grUdge against either Of them, what can he DO and
q
jury in session, he 90 to of Them state his
suspicious Of gaming, furnish names, have one Of
them sent for, and make him swear as to what took
place in private parlor, where there is pretence
that the public morals have been IN anyway affected
that the public know anything about the circum-
stances. The party summoned, Is made to declare
on oath, that four persons played cards for trife;
and yet the proprietor of the house and his guests
under the operation of the law, brought to the
court house, subjected to public Odium, and fined
for the public benefit, when no proof shows pub
lie injury.
Is this right Mr. Speaker? Is it in accordance
with the principles Of a free government? Is it IN
keeping with true republican ideasz l deny that
1t is. deny that such a law ought to be on the
statute books Of Tennessee. l offer this proviso
therefore with view restrict the power Of grand
juries to The legitimate objects OF their attention
the violation Of private rights and Of public morals
and not with a view to foster or encourage gaming.
have no particular interest in this proyiso more
than other gentlemen, but a free man, and the
representative OF free people, wish 10 guard as
far can, the liberty OF the private citizen and
TO protect him in the sanctity Of his owe house. so
far as 1t can be done without injury to the public
This is free country Mr. Speaker, and So far as 1
can l wish TO keep it free.
Mr. WILSON now urged his motion-tLc vote re-
sulting-yeas A., nays Is:
So the amendment was laid on the table.
And then, under the force Of the previous question
demanded by Mr. TURNER of Sumner, this Part Xxx
Of the bill was passed the third and last reading in
the House Of RepresentatIyes-yeas 80, nays IL
PENNIES COVERT.
The House now returned to the consideration of
Mr. Dunlaps bill 1871 to limit the rights If action
in FemmCs Covert and certain Others-Jhe Question
being on the third reading,
Mr. BULLOCK being entitled to the toor. spoke
at length in opposition to The biz. The right of the
femme the infant the idiot and lunatic was tn he
F-.--. h-,v7 Ia -, fh-Dr
they cannot prove fraud in the sale in seven wears
lie objected because this the legitimate effect of
the first section, &c Il would leopard the rights of
these detenceless unfOTlUnates. Ii would work a |
cfecJual repeal Of the statute Of limitations which
this Legislature had revised with much deliberation
and thstnfracion Of the rule Of law by which it pro
poses TO authorize the married woman to commence
action independently OF the husband, &c.
Mr. WILLIAMS proposed to amend by adding a |
clause, the effect, that action 10 recover land
sod by order Of court by which order tie remainder
interest Is sold, shall be maintained against anv
purchaser after the FIRST of May next
Mr. DUNLAP opposed the amendment
Mr. WILLIAMS defended: and after further de-
bate
On motion by Mr. RANDOLPH, the amendment
was laid on the table
Mr. KING proposed sundry word and phrase
mendments-makIng exceptions as ID married
women, infants idiots and lunatics.
Mr. DUNLAP spoke again in reply to Mr. Bullock
BE spoke again at length. He submitted the bill
under a sense Of duty to his cOuntrymcn-feeling
hat he stood for last time in these halls; that
he was here as tenant at will with notice TO quit
and believing that he could not do higher service to
ais countrymen than TO insist on its passage
Mr. BULLOCK then moved to lay the bill and
lmendment on the table-the vote resulting-yess
H. nays "a: So the bill was laid on the table
CRIMINAL LAWS.
Mr. Hendricks bill (8s4) to amend the Criminal