Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-22
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER q, 1859.

The Speaker called the Senate to order at ten
o'clock.
| BEPORTs FROM STANDING -CoANITTEEs.
Mr.. HILDRETH, from the Committee on Private
Interpretations, reported back the bill to incorpo-
rate the German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Con-
gregation of the Unslcred Augsbergian Confession
of Memphis, and recommended its passage after be-
| ing amended.
| Mr.. PAYNE, from the Committee on Internal In
provements reported back the bill to amend the
charter of the Memphis, Clarks7ille and Louisville
| Railroad Company, and the bill for the benefit of
the holders of State Bonds, and recommended their
passage.
| Mr.. MIENIS, from the Committee on the Judi
cisry, presented the following report:
The Committee on the Judiciary have had under
consideration Senate resolution, No. a. to amend
section g. article H. of the Constitution. To amend
! the Constitution as proposed by this resolution
would require large increase Of Representatives,
and would make representation very unequal TO the
ratio of voters. The Committee, for these and other
reasons, recommend that said resolution be ject-
ed
They have also had under consideration Senate
resolution, No. 10, to amend section g. article 2 of
the Constitution. This resolution proposes tc amend
The Constitution tbat the Legislature shall meet
the first Monday next RfJ e- the election. This
your Committee believe ingrsctic2ble; and second
h. it proposes TO 60 amend the Constitution as TO
allow members to receive per diem for sixty days
Cor the whole session. This your Commi tee believe
unWise, and therefore, recommend the rejection of
this resolution.
They have also had under consideration Senate
bill, No. Is, to require urie5 in SANDER suits to
explain Ihsir verdictS As the law now is. juries
in all cases under tie direction Of the Court, may
render special yeriiets To require jlries TO give
the reasons of their verdics, in tbs opinion of the
Committee, would bring iuries into continual con-
with suitOrs their friends and
often leave the verdic's of jures to rest upon the
given for the verdict instead of the verdict
itself; would have a tendency - impair cent ience
in jEFy trials, Without at oil assisting in the further
attainment Of justice. They, therefore, recommend
its rejection, believing il an unsafe experiment
They have had under consideration Senate bTil
No 20, entitled ian act TO amend the stay laws Of
Tennessee" This bill, in effect, requires a man.
before be can become the stsyor of al execution
to make a schedule of his property, and show that
he has enough, free from liability to pay said Debt
and TO file this schedule With the JUSTICE and then
gives lien the property for the debt, and makes
It misdemeauor % make a false statement. This,
in the opinion Of the Committee, would almost if
not entirely, destroy the laws for the stay Of exc
cution. If it did not, it would then greatly lie up
the property in the country, Toe Committee,
therefore, recommend the reg ection of this bill.
They have also had under consideration Senate
BILL No. 26 entitled "a bill to better provide for the
payment Of witnesses in certain cases. This bill
provides that in cases Of misdemeauors, where de-
PENDANTS acquitted the State shall pay the cost
Of two Of DEFENDANTS Witnesses for each charge.
There are, unqUestiOnably, the Law stands iud-
yidusl cases of hardship where innocent men have
been prosecuted and acquitted, and still have to
pay their own Witnesses but it is equally certain
that many offenders who really guilty, are often
acquitted. This bill does not and cannot discrim-
mate, but makes the State, or rather being INSIDE
meauors the county, pay the costs of Witnesses in
all Gases Of scqUjttRl. The Committee recommend
that the bill be rejected.
The Committee have also had under consideration |
Senate bill No. 80, entitled, "a bill to amend the
criminal law of the State" This bill proposes that
wagers on equestrian riding st Fairs, shall not be
indictable The committee are of opinion that this
would be encouraging species of gambling, the
example and tendency of which would be injurious
TO society, and therefore recommend the rejection
Of said bin. --sE--+'-tas 'ssts' So" L
The committee have also had uader consideration
Senate bill No 90 prevent the annoyance Of free
negroes travelling on railroads in this State, and re
its passage. -''. /
A GENERAL BANKING LAW. --, -'-.s.g
Mr.. THOMPSON introduced bill to establish
general DanAlng law IN this State, which passed
ts first reading, and was referred to the Committee
IN Banks
On notion of Mr.. srovALL, it was ordered that
one huEored ana hlty copies Of the bill be printed
or the use Of the Senate,
fs DRUNKENNESS
Mr. HILDREFH introduced a hill IN rro-ort in
lictmenls sLd presentments in certain cases.
Provides that no person shall be subjected 10 i'm
iictment for any single act Of drunkenness and M
person shall be subject to indictment or preseptent
or being intoxicated or drunk, provided he commit
10 other offence against the law. Passed on its
rst reading.
r |
-.., AMENDMENT OF THE CODE.
On motion Of Mr.. RICHARDSON, The vote 70
Getting Senate bill TO amend section 3,OOS of the
ode on yesterday, was reconsidered, and the bill
gain put upon its passage
The bill provides 81 that Justices Of the Peace ,
hall in all cases Issue execution within five DAYS
fer the time allowed for stay of execution if il be
emanded by the plaintiff, his agent or sttoraey."1
Mr.. MlNNIS proposed TO amend the bill bv in |
ertiug after the word execution, 'unless other
Tise directed by theplantif his agent or attorney
Pending the consideration Of the amendment
was ascertsined that q. quorum was not present q
CALI OF THE SENATE.
On motion of Mr.. RICHARDSON call of the
enate was had, when it appeared that the following
epators we're absent.
Messrs. Allen, Boyd, Horn, Jonson, Mickey. q
IeClellan, McNeilly, Peters, and Wood.
There being no quorum present, s.s ..as5,sH | q
On motion Of Mr.. PAYNE the Senate adjourned
! MondRV morninV at 10 oicloek -