Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-02-02


neither the conference bill. the pill as It came
from the Senate, should have the appreciation ofthe
Legislature; and We gave our reasons. But now,
/ when the Committee come TO make their report 1t
could not be expect ed that our views would be rep,
| resented-eomposed as that committee was, OF i've
democrats Of the msiority division upon this ques-
/ ton, aud those OF the opposition. No member Of
this minority of the democratic party has been con
suited IA this report Of them we're called upon
! TO advise and give their opinion to the committed
which have result ed IN bringing about recon-
Citation iu such manner that bill might have
/ been reported which would have better subserved
/ the interests Of the country.
/ Mr. ROWLES. Il is notorious, that the main
points Of difference between the House and the
senste were first, with reference 10 the time when
there should be q resumption Of specie payments:
and secondly, when We should commence the coun-
ter note system. The case was this: The Senate
sent down the bill the other day with tn sir action
upon it. What then was the vote Of the House
The Senate had fixed the first Of july 1853, for the
day Of redemption. The House fixed the 6rst day
| OF January, 1859; and subsequently the House in
sisted on itsaraendment, substituting January, 1859
for July 1855 In regard to the eouuter note pro
position, the House directed modification, but the
Senate insisted upon its going iato operation imme
diately after the passage OF the bill, These were
the points Of difference between the two Houses
which The committee were to dispose Of. do not
understand that any gentleman on this side Of the
House has been opposed 70 the counter note system
upon principle; but the objection TO it has been,
that if ID went into operation now. it would be
to produce and hrog disaster upon the business Of
the country; but that if there we're delay, the
banks might have opportunity TO accommodate
themselves the state Of things which that system
would bring about. | think the House has gained
for the country by this conference, than could
have resulted from cur former amendments
Mr. Speaker DONELSON. mir Davidson in the
/ fTr I ho1 n n int cd IN
word in this debate, nor would I now, but for the
intimaiOn which the senior gentleman from Shelby,
iMr Dunlap) mas made in relation to the formation
Of the Conference Committee. InoW deem it due to
myself aud the House that I should make some ex
PLANTATION. Il becomes my duty to do so.
Mr Speaker, 1 have witnessed, with 10 ordinary
degree Of interest, in the position which have
cupied before you the progress Of this debate in
Iation to the present absorbing question Of banking
in the State Of Tennessee. Every gentleman must
be aware, that common constituencies have been
on the Uus ever since We have been here apon this
grave question. and yield to man in my desire
to have this mooted question settled. have seen
bill after bill introduced and defeated, and very FREE
queutly have my own views and wishes been thEart-
ed by the decision Of the House. l cherished an
ardent desire TO have this action consUmmated before
the HOLIDAYS; and the bill did pass this house; but
it went to the Senate and was amended there. A
conference committee was asked and agreed TO, and
it became the duty of the Chair the part of the
House. to appoint committee TO settle the question
Of the disagreeing votes. l was charged with this
duty and 10 the performance thereof took the full
responsibility; and say it here, that desire now to
be fully ansWerable for what l have done in this
matter.
What was the complexion Of that committee2 It
was constituted in strict conformity with parlia-
mentary usage. I ask, what had been the previous
course of the gentleman from Bradley MIR RoWles)
on this subject? Did ne not 60 for the amendment
r IL O. - 4 =
relation to the counter note system? and in conse-
quence Of that, l deemed it proper that he should
be named as the chairman of this committee. The
gentleman from Maury, Williamson, and Lewis (AIr
Thompson and the gentleman from Haywood (Mr
Bradford l believed 10 be true upon this great
question, and still l cannot cOnceds that l did
wrong in selecting them. The other two, the gen.
tleman from Davidson, Mr. Vaughn and the gentle
man from Williamson, Mr. Beale,) were appointed,
not because [ looked upon them as hards or SottS,
but because courtesy required that should appoint
two members from that side Of the House.
/ consulted man in these appointments My
taken with an anxious desire to subserve
the best interests Of the State upon this great ques
tion Of a circulating medium for the country. If |
did wrong 1t was an error Of the head, and not Of
the heart; for, although have consumed no time
in this debate, repeat that yield 10 no man in
the srdor and earnssness of my desire to have this
question settled.
Mr. DUNLAP. Any man vhO has been as long
engaged in political life 1 have must know that
all persons thus engaged apt 10 feel very sens-
tive in relation to the manner in which they are
treated by others l have effected every object l |
had in view in making this statement of facts ] |
stated the fact thai member Of the minority Of
the democratic party upon this question on |
that committee If that fact went Tito the country
alone, what would be the consequence Why, the /
inference would be, that the presiding officer Of tins
House hal treated our minority with dIsrespeCt. |
tut now 1 have attained my object, in giving the |
Speaker 8u opportunity Of showing that Il was not |
for want Of respect toward the minority that none /
Of US were appointed. Now, it goes TO the country /
fairly; and acQuiesce cheerfuy, after hearing the
Speakers reasons for appointing the committee
be did.
MrROWLES. Perhaps it would be as proper for me.
Is for any other member TO state that during this dis
,usson there we're three parties There was one party
IN favor Of doing nothing whether majority or
minority yet does not appear Another party
we're in favor OF adopting extreme measures-mak
ng nearan approach 10 metallic currency as pos
5ibe. meutionno names Ileayeevery gentleman to
make his own classification. l take the middle
ground.
Mr.. THOMPSON. I am glad, sir, that the minor
ty-those who say they the mnOrty-are sat
sled l think really by referring to the morning
paper and examining The vote this question, il vii!
De found that the minority had two representatives
IN that committee What was the difference between
ION. Upon the counter note proposition, find the
gentleman from Bradley and myself acted with the
minority. You Will find that A. opposed the Senate
amendment, and - were for it. 1 maintain, that, /
pom tins only point Of difference, the minority had
wO upon the committee of conference. l will Just
emsTk, that the action Of the conference committee
vas without regard to Democracy, or opposition.
c was perfectly harmonious. We were not 50 long
u agreeing upon our report as it would take q man
o state what that agreement was. We give the
anks the benefit Of two crops before we compel them
o come UD to the counter note proposition.
Mr. DAVIDSON said: l may vote for the bill,
u if do, il shall be in the belief that it will not
ford immediate relief alleged but immediate
distress; although hope and trust that the benefits
Ultimately to be derived from 1t will more than over
balance the prOximate evils
Mr. BULLOCK Mr. Speaker, have felt myself
n the minority, and p0werless upon this question.
have f0reboTne TO take any part in the debate hith
rJo for this reason; but l am now called upon to
id, one way another, in concentrating this work,
md before casting the vote which shall cast upon
desire that the reasons for shall be fully stated,
md 20 forth to my constituents and the world The
i'll sets out to reform the banking system, for which
am in no wise responsible have never voted for
bank, and l never expect to vote for One-While
here are some gentlemen on this floor DESTROYS Of
trIkiug down the banks who cannot say as much as
can. / have never voted for a Slate bank, or any
Their bank and, unless my opinions change, never
tands. Ia the first place. 1 believe 1t will strike
low at cur constituents. believe the member from
lincoln Is not mistaken That, to me, sir, has been
il along sufficient reason for not giving my sane
oE 20 this bill. But have another objection. The
ill goes on to restrict our banks a certain des
ripuon Of issues alter given time. It says I
hat after given time they shall issue bills Of
less denomination than fve dollars. Then, after
mother given time, they shall not issue bills of
sss denomination than ten dollars. But, in all the
al, there is not one solitary prohibition against
Ooding the state Of Tennessee with circulation Of
mes, twos, threes, and all manner Of small notes
rom other States.
Mr. THOMPSON, interposing. There is an express
revision inthe bill that bauk or broker shall cir
uate notes Of other States Of any denomination }
taking 10 a misdemeanOr
Mr. BULLOCK. Mr. Speaker. The gentleman /
eed not tell me that the bill prohibits bankers and
rOkers from paying out the OF other States for
irCulsion; because all the people Of Tennessee are
OF bankers and brokers 1t just prohibits banks '
,om payingOut such notes, aud brokers from specu-
lting in them, and there is an end Of it, Every G
rOker in Tennessee may bring in as many small
otes Of the banks Of other States as be may think
roper but he cannot speculate in them in the way 6
8 brokerage business d
Mr. THOMPSON. He cannot pay them out