Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-07
rbe Tenne..ee Leci.Iature.

of which have finally passed, and DINERS re-
main on the calendar. Yet we are inclined
TO think that there might be greater CELEBRITY
In the dispatch of the public business Bust
ness still accumulates, the past week having
witnessed the introduction of upwards OF 81
new bills into the House and about bali that
number in the Senate. The whole NUMBER Of
bills brought before both branches up 10
this time is about 3lO
Notwithstanding the Senate has lost near
" three entire days of the week just passed
-one being in token of respect to the
memory of the late ExGov. JONES, another
in the Governors Inauguration, and another
nv adjournment over from Friday till Mon
day-this body seems to be pretty well up"
with its affairs. 1t has disposed Of the con-
tested election case from the 9Th Senatorial
District. between Messrs. MINIS and TrBBs,
the result being in favor of the former by a
strict party vote. Party feeling doubtless
had much to do in the decision, though from
the ouinions. solicited and obtained, OF emi-
men, legal gentlemen, it must be confessed
there was room for difference OF opinion on
principle. The people already have the pro
ceediugs before them, aud Will be able 10
;udpe of the correctness OF the Senate's &C
zion.
Some little diminishing and parleying has
taken place ON the subject OF Banks and the
currency-mainly however IN the committee
on Banks. On the bill to allow the banks to
pay out the notes of each other, that commit
tee. with a majority of democrats, was equally
/. lfuh
divided in its views. On the bill to establish
. General Banking law, the committee was
also equally divided. And the further con-
sideration of these propositions has been post
poned till the present week. Mr.. TRIhBLE'
of this CITY and county, has introduced q bill
10 renew and extend the charter Of the Plant
er's Bank of Tennessee.
At length the suspended debt of the Bank
of Tennessee and branches Is attracting the
attention Of the peoples representatives,.
measure has been brought forward TO sell this
debt. which seems to be generally admitted 10
be good policy by the Senator'S, but the dis
nosi,;on of the proceeds OF such sale when
made. appears TO give some embarrassment.
One opinion is that it should be gwen ior tue
supporl of the Memphis Hospital, the Insane
ASYLUM at Nashville, and the Institution ior
,be Deaf and Dumb at Knoxville others pro-
nose that it shall be disposed Of TO the various
county Academies in the different Bank dis
,ricts. No conclusion has been arrived At
ON the subject. Probably the best disposition
Of the fund. if the sale should be made'
would be TO allow it TO remain as part oil
the capital of the Bank, which it already is.
Propositions have been made in both |
branches TO increase Tie salaries of the Sec
rotary OF State and Treasurer, which are
deemed inadequate as at present fixed.
The Senate has taken no action on pro-
posed amendments to the State Constitution
the entire subject having been postponed
till the 10th inst. (next Wednesday,. The.
House has considered several Of those brought
before it. Those to make Secretary. OF State,
COMPTROLLER and Treasurer elective by the
people every four years, also fixing the term
OF Office of the Governor at four years, apd
TO make Clerks and Masters in Chancery
elective by the people; TO limit the session oil
the Legislature to sixty days, to make all
slaves under the age Of fifty years taxable
have severally been rejected. The otners
pending are postponed until tomorrow, Tues
dav. The prevailing sentiment of the House
appears to be against amending that instru-
ment.
A bill of some Interest to large number
of citizens has been introduced by Mr. PAYNE
of Shelby, late State Commissioner of Roads,
for the relief of Railroad Companies. II pro-
poses To repeal section 1l69 of the Code,
which is as follows:
"Where railroad company is sued for
killing or iniuring stock, the burden OF PROOF
that the accident was unavoidable shall be
on the company; and the engineer, agent, OF
employee OF the company shall IN no case
be witness tor 1t.
This subject has been previously before the
Legislature, and also before the Supreme
Court 1t is thought, ON the one hand, that
the law, as it stands, is too severe upon rail-
road companies, in effect rendering them la-
BILE tor the value OF all stock killed or injured,
whether in fault or not; on the other, 1t
is asserted that if the owner is forced to
prove the fact of the killing aud that II
might have been avoided. he would seldom,
IL ever, realize damages. The bill has passed
its first reading. Ia-ls
The State having purchased 500 acres OF
the hermitage tract, including the homestead
and tomb of Gen. JACKSON, and to
the Federal Government for the establish
m ,nt of a branch of the West Point Military
Academy, and the Federal Government not
having accepted it, the question has arisen
what disposition shall be made OF it! In or
Al
sented, aud the Senate adopted, resolution,
constituting the Committee on Ways and
Means in both Houses, joint committee TO
inqnire into the condition of that and the old
Lunaiic Asylum grounds in Nashville, and
to report by bill or otherwise, what ought to
be done with the same. The House also
adopted this resolution, and Mt. EWING. OF
Williamson, proposed another resolution. re-
auesting the Governor. with such military
c commission a. be should select 10 advise with,
to consider whether it would be advisable To
establish State Military Institute at the |
hermitage on the plan OF the Virginia Military
Institute, and to lay his views on the subject
before the General Assembly. This resoiu-
ton is in the hands Of the Committee on
Military affairs.
In the House of representatives Mr.. Ford. |
of DeKaib, has introduced bill declaring |
the adulteratlon, by poisonous ingredients
OF spirituous liquors, a felony. and the max |
ing such adulteration, or the sale OF sdultrrat'
ed liquors in this State, knowing them to be
no. either atwholesole or retail. punishable
by Imprisonment in the Penteniiary not |
less than one nor more than five years.
Mr.. wHrrTnoRNr, OF Maury, has drafted
bill, which has passed its first reading. Ia re-
lstiou to conspiracies, plots and insnrrec-
lions, &c, and deYOuncing The penalty Of
death or imprisonmet In the penit entiary, al
the direction OF the Court against white