Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-03

more tnan the othGe pays nAthJ anu nc " INC hooo
! he would as soon be militia captain or country
| SQUIRE The growing interests Of the country de
| manded more legislation at each session, ana IL wa
! impossible TO tell what the next session would b
| called upon to d. and what tins would be absolute
" necessary for the transaction Of the business.
| Mr. STANTON thought that il the members
the Legislature knew when they took their seats
that at the end Of ninety days the session was L
terminate. they would go to work at once and trans
act the usiaess for which they met, and be ready
adjourn at the time fixed by the constitution. The
second session of Congress was limited to ninety
davs and about as much business was done at tbs
short as the long session, Much of the time ol
the early part Of the sessions Of the Legislature
was spent in visiting agricultural fsiFs, and nC
business of consequence was transacted until thE
members should think of adjourning During the
present session he recolleeted number Of time;
when the Senate had remained in session but about
one bour each day for the want Of business 10 trans
act Had the session been limited to ninety days,
he contended this would not have occurred.
He thought there was too much legislation In tins
State The Legislature met too often, and the con-
sequence was the enactment of great many laws
which resulted in no coed whatever. He desired
to obviste this state of things and wthths view, ne
offered al amendment to the original resolution,
providing that the Legislature shall meet once IN
every four years, unless convened in extra session
by the Governor.
The question recurring upon the amendment Of
fered By Mr.. Peters, it vas adopted without q d.
vision.
The question was then upon the adoption Of the
amendment offered by Mr.. Stanton,
Mr.. MeNEILLY offered an amendment 10 lieH,
providing that the members Of the Legislature,
Governor and all State officers shall be elected once
in every three years.
Mr. McNEILLY said one object he sought to ac-
complish by his amendment was that the Legisla-
tnre would at each session elect United ates
Senator. Under the present system, the Legisls-
ure was compelled to elect too Senators at time,
or the State would not be fully represented in the
Senate of the United States. His amendment would
obviate this difficulty entirely, as Senator would
be elected at each session of the Legislature.
He thought the Legislature met too often. The
peopIe did not have time enough to become aequaint
ed with the laws Of one Legislature before another
was in session He ventured to say that there we're
very few Of the people who bad made themselves
familiar With the laws of the last Legislature. In
deed the lawyers, whose busiaess It was to make
themselves familiar with the laWs had got had time
since those of The last Legislature we're distributed
to do So He was also in favor Of limiting the ses-
sions of the Legislature to ninety days not only as
a matter cf economy to the State. but 1t would
bring out the best talent IN the State Men quail
fed for the position of legislators could be induced
to lose ninety days in three years. while they
would not waste six months In every two years In
making and unmakng lsws. A short session once
in three years would cut off great deal Of useless
legislation snd result in the enactment Of such laws
only as were wise and proper.
Mr. STANTON hoped the reporter would state
that he voted against the amendnent TO increase
the pay of members to the Legislature.
Mr.. PAYNE did not desire it. but the reporter,
if he stated any thing in regard to his vote upon
the amendment might say that he voted to increase
the pay of the members, and that he dd not con-
slider that it was half enough.
Mr. STOKELY desired the reporter to state that
he had voted against the amendment to increase the
psy Of the members.
The question wss further discussed by Messrs.
STANTON. MoNEILLY, ALLEN and HORN.
MIR. STANTON said that 80 the amendment Civ
ing the members $500 Rad been adopted he should
be compelled to vote against the resolution, and he
would withdraw his amendment and offer it as an
independent proposition at some future time.
Mr. MoNEILLY offered his proposition as an
amendment to the resolution.
Mr. STOKELY asked leave to withdraw the reso-
luton for amendment, s1d demanded the ayes and
noes upon his request which was taken and resulted
ayes g. noes 13, as fJlloWsi
Ayes-Bradford, Hldreth, Horn, Nash, Santon,
Stokely. StoVal and Speaker NeTDan.-S;
Noes-Messrs Allen, Boyd, Hunter, johnson,
Lane, Mickey Mcclellan, M;Neilly, Payne, Peters,
Richardson, Thompson and Wood.-lS.
So lesvc was refused.
offered by Mr.. MoNeilly, it W adopted upon g
division.
The QUESTION recurring upon the adoption OF the
resolution as amended,
Mr.. STOKELY demanded division of the ques-
ton, which was ordered.
The question was then taken upon the original
propositiop and tho ayes and being taken, re-
suited ayes IL, noes 10, follows:
Aves-MessIs. Bradford, Hildreth, Horn, Nc
Nelly, Nash. Richardson Stanton, Stokely Sloval,
Wood and Speaker NeWman.-1l.
Noes-Messrs. Allen, Boyd, Hunter, johnson,
Lane, Mickey, Mcclellan, Payne, Peters and
ThOmpson.-lO.
So the proposition failed. majority of all the
Senators not voting in the affirmative.
Mr.. STOKELY entered motion to reconsider
the vote.
The SPEAKER decided the motion was in order.
Mr. LANE moved to take up the motion to recon
slider, and to lay it upon the table.
Mr. STOKELY demanded the ayes and noes upon
the motion, which taken and resulted ayes Y,
noes 9, as follows
Ayes --Messrs. Allen, Boyd, Horn, Hunter, John
son, Lane, Mickey, Mcclellan, Payne, Peters,
Richardson and Thompson.-l2.
Noss-Messrs Bradford, Hildreth, McNeilly,
Nash, Stanton, Stokely StOyall, Wood and Speaker
Newman.-9
Mr. RICHARDSON said, when his name was
called that he should vote "sye," because he be"
lieved the proposition finally disposed of, when
it failei for want Of constitutional majority.
So the motion was taken up and laid upon the
table.
The SPEAKER decided that as the original prop
osition tailed, the amendments would 60 with it.
The next proposition to amend the constitution
was that offered by Mr.. Newman, AID was read a:
follows:
proposition TO amend the Constitution of the
STATE Of Tennessee.
The 9th section Of the llth article Of the const
tuition shall be so amended as to read as follows:
| SEC 5. The Legislature shall have no power t.
| grant or renew Bank charters, unless first submit
ting the same to a vote of the people, at their reg
| uar elections for members Of the Legislature; anC
no bank or corporation for banking privileges shall
be granted, until it shall have received the sppro
val Of majority of the legal voters of the State
large; nor shall the Legislature have power to au
thorize lotteries for any purpose, aud shall pass
laws prohibit the sale Of lottery tickets in tbi
State.
The 9th section of the I1th article of the con
stitution shall be so amended as to read as follows
SEC 9. The Legislature shall have no power t
issue the bonds of the State for any purpose what
ever: nor shall the credit of the State be loaned
given in aid of any person, association muncipalI
ty, or corporation, only under the following term
and conditions, to-Ht: The Legislature may con
tract debls TO meet casual dtslts failures in tn
revenue; but such deficit, direct or contingent
exceed four thousand dollars and the money srisin
from loans crssting such debts, shall be applied
the purposes for which they obtained, or to re
pay such deb; nor shall the Legislature authoriz
any debt to be contracted on behalf of the State
except for the above specified pnrpcse, unless pre-
visions be made therein to lay and collect an al
nual tax sufficient to pay the interest stipulated
and TO discharge the debt within thirty years; nc
shall such act take effect until it shall have bee
submitted to the people at general election, an
shall have received majority of all the votes cal
for and against it. Provided that the Legislator
may contract debts by borrowing money to ray an
part of the debt Of the State without submission
the people, and without making provisions 10 tt
act authorizing the same for tax to discharge I'll
debt contracted, or the interest thereon. Pr
Uidsd, further, that the State may contract debts
repel invasion, suppress nsurreclion, or, if hosti
tiles be threatened, to provide fer the public
fence.
Mr.. NEWMAN (Mr RICHARDSON in the chai
said he had presented this proposition because h
constituents, without distinction OF party, desire
thst the proposed amendment of the constitute
should be made He believed that nineteen twe
tiehs of them would vote for the amendment
] had been discussed during the canvass and
knew he was but carrying out the wishes Of tho
he Represented in presenting this proposition to Il
/ Legislature. He believed the people should ha
the right TO vote upon all propositions to chart
0 banks. If they want bsnks-if it is their intere
G to have banks-he believed they had good sen
enough TO vote for them, aud if they did not wa
+ | thev uould voia