Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-12-12
Tn. tennessee Legi.lature.

The tenth week of the session, closing on
Saturday, was characterized by greater ac-
tfvity in the business OF Legislation, than
several Of its predecessors have been. At
length the Senate has summoned fortitude to
encounter the currency question in earnest.
The various bank bills pending in that body
were trotted out in the early part of the
week, and for several days have been under
discussion in Committee of the Whole and in
the Senate. The principles and points of ex-
pediency involved have had a thorough
ventilation, and general law containing
certain restrictions and certain penalties to
: which all banks now in existence and here
after to be created, shall he subject has been
passed. This bill, ii is supposed, will meet
the favor of the existing banks, and received
portion of the democratic support on the
ground that it is salutary reform. 1t is
quite lengthy, and as il may be materially
modified before ii passes through the House,
we refrain from its present publication. 1t
IL, however, made on the basis of the bill in
troduced some weeks since in the House by
Mr. CAN'T, of which we gave synopsis at
the time. In addition 10 this, the ill to re-
charter the Union 'and Planters Banks has
passed its second reading by the decided vote
of Is to Z. As it may be of some Interest to
the public we give in this place, the yeas
and nays on this bill:
AYr.-Messrs, Allen, Boyd, Bradford, Bumpass,
Horn, Johnson lane Mnnis, HcNeilly, Nash, Peters,
Richardson, Stokes, StOvalI and TrimbIe is.
NoEs.-Aessrs. Hildreth, Hunter. Mickey, Nc
Ciellan, stokely Thompson, and Speaker Newman
-.
Mr.. PAYNE has a bill to charter the Peo-
pies Bank of Memphis with large capital,
which has also passed its second reading.
There seems to be little doubt but that these
bills will all pass the Senate.
Mr.. RICHARDSON introduced q resolution
requiring the Comptroller to issue bis war
rant on the Treasurer for notes of the Ex-
change Bank (Spence's), which have been
issued according to the requirements of the
Free Banking law of 1872. A bill has
already been introduced into the House of
similar purpori, but not finally acted on.
The Senate has passed bill to authorize
Notaries Public to take dispositions of wit
ncsses, and rejected the bill prohibiting the
marriage of first cousins 1t has also passed
. number of bills of local interest for which
we refer to our regular reports.
Both Houses have agreed by joint resolu-
tion to adjourn over from the 2lst of Deem
Der to the End of January for the Holidays.
In the House the Senate bin to authorize
all specie paying Banks in this State to pay
out the notes Of each other in the regular
course of their business. was considered and
amended so as to restrict such paying out
TO the notes of branches by parent banks,
and making the notes so paid out redeema-
able by the parent bank, and so amended the
bill has passed to its third reading. That
body has passed bill making tax collectors
elective by the people. The subject of
amending and extending the list OF articles
and property included in the exemption laws
was considered. and bill on this subject has
passed a second reading, after considerable
discussion, by a large majority. There is an
evident disposition to shun the last wedge,
bob-tail pony &C., issue in future contests.
The bills to limit the sessions Of the Legis-
iasure to one hundred days aud to regulate
the pay of members were both rejected.
Several bills on the subject OF illegal voting
were introduced in the early part of the SEES
sion, and one of these has been rejected,
pointing to the fate of its companions, and
evincing a disposition to permit the law to
remain as it is on this subject.
On the subject of private interpretations
there appears a disposition in the House to
take departure from past custom. A bill
with various amendments by which num-
Der of interpretations for Spring Companies,
&c. were sought, was considered during the
week and rejected. This may be regarded a
wholesome movement Our statute books
for years have been filled with speculative
charters which contemplate no general or
public good, but having reference to small
individual enterprises, which generally
amount to nothing. There is portion of
the members of the House, respectable in
numbers, who are DESTROYS that all incorpo-
raiions shall be subject to the individual liza
bility and repealability notions which were
urged during the last canvass on the subject
OF Banks. But the efforts that have been
made to this end indicate that majority oc-
cupy the other side.
Mr.. BUTLER, of Carter, proposed resolu-
ton directing the Committee on the Peniten-
tiary to inquire into and consider of the pro-
prieiy and expediency of instituting branches
Of the State Penitentary, one for the East
and the other for the West. The resolution
assumes that the present building viii require
enlargement and extension, aud ii Is sug
gested that branches be erected instead OF
that course. The resolution also directs
that the same Committee consider of the pro-
priety of combining the convict labor to the
manufacture of rope aud bagging, &c.
The bills on the subject of our free negro
population have been partially discussed,
but no definite action taken.
Though the number of bills are slowly IN
creasing, reaching $40 in the House, quite a
number have been rejected, and their num-
Der is now on the decrease.
sa Congress.