Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-17

The Tennessee Legissafure.
This body has now been in session for two
weeks. Much of that time has been occupied
in receiving the reports of the various State
officers, in fixing rules for the transaction Of
business, the appointment of committees, and
..cutling out work. for future consideration
and action. Dui.g the last week the Fair OF
the State Agricultural Bureau was held. the
general disposition of the members to attend
which, oecasioned some additional delay OF
the regular proceedings of the Legislature.
Tomorrow will be occupied in the election
Of Secretary of State, Comptroller, Trea-
surerI, State Geologist, and Public Printer.
We understand that the dominant party has
already held caucus and determined the
gentlemen who are to fill these Offices respec-
lively, and these elections will therefore pass
of speedily. All these preliminaries being
settled, the General Assembly will proceed
regularly, and We trust earnestly to bust
ness.
We fear, from the indications, that the
session will be protracted beyond the period
which the people bad reasonable ground to
expect The session of the last Legislature
was unusually long, and was attended with
unusual expense. The multiplicity of laws,
and the length of time that had elapsed since
any digest had been made of them, and their
being scattered over a number of volumes,
rendered their general ascertainment by The
people difficult. The apparent confusion
daA n ha
and the Legislature, carrying out the policy
OF its two immediate predecessors, by the
assistance Of the able compiiers, hessrs.
AkIGs and COOPER, successfully codiied the
general statute laws of the State, and ordered
their publication in one volume. This
bound, and was published at heavy ex-
pense. Ii was to be hoped that these laws
should have been permitted to stand with as
few changes as the public good would allow.
The public good demanded this, for the GER
tainty and convenience OF all the citizens But
large number Of the bills which have already
been introduced contemplate change in
the Code. We have not compared these
proposed changes with the existing laws, but
we suppose that many of them are of imagin-
nry expediency. There are probably imper-
fections in the Code, some of which the pub
lie interest may demand shall be remedied.
But it is equally probable. If the present
Legislature should make it perfect in their
estimation, the next would find fully as
many faults in il as amended. are now
apparent. We therefore plead that the
necessity for all changes should be manifest
before they are made. The tendency of
modern times is to too much legislation The
spirit, activity and energy of our people lead
in the direction of change and experiment
Let the present Legislature, at ieast, be care
full in it's measures ard guarded in it's acts.
The people demand but little modification in
our general laws, and will be satisfied with
as little legislation as possible.
The most important measures that have
been proposed so far, are. in the Senate, an
amendment of the usury laws, and establish
ing q conventional rate of interest, and
proposed amendment of the State Constitu-
ton so as to make the Clerks and Masters in
Chancery elective by the people. Both
these have also been, in substantially the same
form, presented to the House. In the Senate
also bill has been presented to suppress the
circulation of the small notes of the banks
of other States.
In the House, amendments of the consti-
tuition are proposed making the official terms
of Governor. Comptroller and Treasurer,
continue for four years, instead of two; also
30 make the Secretary of State, Comptroller
and Treasurer elective by the people. Bills
have been introduced creating two new Chan
Gerry Districts; to reform the code of practice
in the Circuit Courts, substantially the same
"a was known the two past sessions as Law
Reform" to regulate the Free negro popula-
ton more stringently, and requiring them in
certain cases to select masters and go into
slavery, or leave the country; to remove the
restrictions from the Bank of Tennessee in
relation to the issuance of small notes. A
resolution is offered for adjournment SINE die
on the LIST day of January next.
In addition to these, there are numerous
proposed amendments to the Code, as we
have stated, and quite q number Of bills for
the incorporation of various companies. and
for merely local purposes. There is little or
nothing az yet on the subject of currency.
From this summary, which we will follow up
with others from week to week, and our reg
ular reports, which We hope to make full
enough for the generality of orr readers, the
public can form their own conclusions rs to
the energy. industry and fidelity of their
Representatives. H