Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-01-26

ADJOURNMENT HOURS.
Mr. STANTON submit ed 8 resolution amendatOry
TO a resolution TO FIX the times for adjournment,
namely: The House to meet daily at A NJ, and
adjourn at T. NJ; meet again at and adjourn al D
J.. VI.
The resolution lies over.
AMENDMENT OF RULES.
Mr. KEENEY submitted the following:
RssoIrsR &C., That from and after the first day Of
February next, no member shall be permitted to in
troduce any bill unless the same shall be based on
petition or memorial, and recommended by one Of
the standing committees
REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATURE.
The House now took up Mr. DOBSON'S resolution
ameudatory of the Constitution. 1t was read by
the Clerk as follows:
Be rssolUad By the General Assembly Of the State
Of Tennessee, That the fifth section Of the second
article of the Constitution Of the State Of Tennessee
be- and the same is hereby, so amended as to read
as follows: The number of representatives shall at
the several periods Of making the enumeration, be
apporiOucd among the several counties or districts
according the number Of qualified voters in each,
and shall not exceed eighty, until the population of
the State be one million and half and never there
after exceed one hundred Provided that any county
in the State having eight hundred legal UotsT shall
be entitled to one member.
Mr. RICHARDSON. Although he might be in
of action upon 1t here might be superseded by Mr.
Bu0cks bill 10 authorize the people TO call q con-
stituii0nal convention.
MIR DOBSON. If that proposition should pass,
he might be content; but If 1t Should not pass, he
desired TO be still on the safe side in regard TO the
discrepancies in representative system which he
sought here TO correct He continued and said:
Mr.. Speaker: The resolution under consideration
proposes a change in the Constitution of the State
Of Tennessee, for the benefit Of small counties. 1t
does not propose to interfere with the rights or in
eress Of larger counties, in any manner whatever.
Il does not propose TO take from Shelby Davidson,
Wilson, any part Oftheir representation although
they day entitled to two representatives each,
upon this floor and, in addition to that, sir, be
Ieye they have a voice in the election Of hOater,
or Joint representative who no less represents their
interests than their immediate representatives.
OF all this Mr.. Speaker, l do not neither shall
ever complain. It, sir is their right under the
sliutou. All ask, sir IS, that the small counties
those having say eight hundred legal voters-shal
be allowed a representative Of their own, and for
their own immediate Interests representa-
tive taken from their midst, and to represent
their immediate and local interests upon this floor
10 guard and protect their rights; to redress their
wrongs. Surely, sir, one could be injured by
such an act.
When the constitution, under which we are now
acting, was framed, there we're provisions made for
counties having two thirds the ratio; so that they
should be represented in the Legislature by Que of
rheiruwu citizens Now, alive ask is, thatyou extend
the same Fuuciplc-gIve TO the small counties for
which the resolution asks relief, the rights
the same privileges that we're originally granted to
counties having two thirds the ratio which then en-.
titled county 90 q representative.
Some of these small counties pay more tax, per.
laps, than counties entitled TO a representative
Take, for example, the county Of Polk, in which ]
live and which am proud to have the honor to re-
present upon this floor, in the capacity Of joint
representative.
The county Of Polk pays more tax upon lands
than other counties adjoining, and which are ell
uHel 90 % member each upon this floor. In fact
she pays more tax upon her lands than any county
ia The State, taking them upon an average. And
yet SIR under the Constitution Of Tennessee, sh,
has NOT the right to elect representative Of hel
own, with a voting population Of nearly fourteen
hundred population more than would have beer
required when our constitution was formed be
cause the population Of the State increases, The
ratio Of representation increases also; and we are
to-day far from having the requisite number o.
votes rs when the county was first Organized-htteeI
or twenty years ago.
BY increasing the number Of representatives il
This House 90 eighty, these small counties can b'
provided for, without an infringement upon tn
rights of any county or any person, and greatly
benefiting the small counties in the State.
As favor from this House, as well a matte
of Justice I ask you to grant US the privilege o
cectinE our own representative, and that you ALLOW
the county of Megs the same privilege well a
all other counties in the State, having eight hundred
legal voters.
But. sir it is said, If you increase the number o
REPRESENTATIVES in this House, that you must do tn
same by the Senate; AMI that you thusFinoresse tn
EXPENSES of the State. But l answer sir if this b.
a valid objection against the change sought by Thu
resolution them sir, third OF the counties in tn
State had better give up their right 10 eject member
I'd, all and We will surs quite large sum Of none
every session Of your State Legislature. But yol
would not like TO do this. you say that you hsv,
rights here that you should guard, and think so
TOO. hut do, sir extend TO me the same boon tina
YOU enioy-give these small counties q represents
tive in their w right.
After further debate
Mr. WOOD demanded the yeas and nays on the
adoption Of the resolution in lieu, and the SAM
bicnr ordered and taken resulted-yess ., nays 81
AS follow:
Trrs-Mossrs. Bentley, Bradford, Caldwell
COPELAND Davidson. Dohson, Dunlap, Estes, Frazer
Cannon Griffith, johnson, Lsckey, Maris, Newman
Raulstou, Roberts, Rose, BoWles, Saunders, Smart
Stanton, Thompson. Turner Of Rosne White o
Hamilton, White Of Knox, and Wood.
NgrE-Mcssrs. AgeC, Anderson, Bayless, Beae
Benton. BickncI, Blackburn, BraEeIton, Bullock
Cantrcu, Carter Of Hardin, Davie DodsOn, Ewing
Hamilton. Holmes, Ivie, kendriCk, keeney, Lamb
Lovd. Low, Newbern, Randolph, Richardson, St
John Schmiytou, Senter, ShreWsbury Stovall
Turner of Sumner, Williams, Wilson, Vaughn, anl
| Speaker DOnelsOu-35.
So the resolution 10 lieu was rejected: and theI
the question REQUIRED on the adoption Of the origin
al resolution; which was also rejected-yess 10
nays IS.
CONGRESSIONAL CONVERSATION BILL.
Mr. STANTON'S joint resolution against the Con
gre.sional compensation bill next coming up II
order for confederation
Mr. WILLIAMS moved the indefinite postpone
ment OF The resolution
Mr. STANTON demanded the yeas and nays, ane
the same being ordered and taken resultsd-yeas 80
nays 34-as follow: