Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-02-28

governors OF that institution as well as 10 the
patients, yet its means of usefulness are too
restricted aad inconsiderable TO justify the
State in suffering an expense of fifty 1iosfsand
doliars in its maiutcnance. The gentlemen
who have it temporarily in charge are all res
idenes of this city. and the comparatively few
inmates who receive attentions within its
walls, are all. or nearly ALL from this city and
its immediate vicinity. The property was
purchased by general tax levied upon all
the citizens, and justice would require that
it should be either sold and the tax returned.
or that some disposition should be made of
it by which its benefits should-b as general
as its ownership.
9Th. That the legislation by which this
property came into the hands of its present
g6vernorsbip, was ill-advised and hasty, and
that the bill now in the Senate, is most jul
dicious and proper mode OF retrieving its coz
sequences.
This is brief summary of the considera-
tons which are urged in favor of the meas
IRE. 1t is not true, as has been intimateG,
that it is a private act for the benefit OF
spectators in corner lots, or that it is blow
aimed at the Medical d partment OF the
University of Nashville. 1t may be PROBABLE
that the conversion Of the building now
used as a Hospital, into an elegant and
commodious Governors mansion, would APP
preciate the value OF property IN the vicinity.
But pray. it that reason why gentlemen
should be charged with urging the passage
of the bill3 Or more than that, should the
incidental benefits which may accrue to a
few by chance, deter sensible Legislators from
tie enactment of laws which have great
public good for their objccr? Certain not.
There is no point in these frivolous objec
tions, and we trust they will not weigh
feather in determining the question.
II is respectfully submitted that such OBJ
jections come with an ill-grace from those
who are to-day, the private beneficiaries Of
the State, in the occupancy of the property,
and who are comp He'd 10 use it, for their
own private emolumcnt. because. from the
nature Of The care, it is susceptible of none
other The friends Of the measure, however.
have no wish to retort this charge. They
are not enemies of the c0terie of gentlemen
who oppose this bill, but they cannot per-
C. i've the justice or propriety of public
educators enjoying an exclusive monopoly
OF the advantages of State property. Schools
of all kinds are proper institutions, so are
manufactures and so are printing presses
There is just as much propriety in companies
composed Of gentlemen proposing to carry
on the latter branch of business,
pctitioning the legislature, and inducing that
body to give property to the value of .ftty
thousand dollars as there is in the faculties of
med cal or any other class of schools. 1t is
wrong, however, in all instances and should
not be done, and if we mistake not, there
was memorial presented to the legislature
of 1S57-S in which this policy of aiding
medical schools was most eloqucntly and
successfully iuveighcd against by the same
gentlemen who are now memoralizing the
legislature TO continue them in the use of
State property worth thousands of dollars.
One more objection is also urged. 1t is
said that those in present control of the pro
perty hold it by law and possess vested
rights till the expiration of the period for
which, in the language of their late memo
rial, they "were constituted It's governors"
This may be so, though we have not exam
ined the act. Admitting it. however, we
presume that if the present bill should pass,
these loyal and publc-spirited gentlemen
would have no hesitation in acceding to the
wishes Of the people, and delivering the pro-
perry over to the commissioners die pro-
motion of a great public Object, they would
not Tor a moment We suppose. permit their
private interests to inteTpOse an obstacle.
However, should they resist or demand con-
pensatiou for thei. loss, the latter would we
Judge, be bat a trifling consideration. as ac-
cording TO their memorials, they have only
expended five hundred dollars in repairs, an
the whole sum would not be more probably
than q thousand dollars-their damages
could not indeed be very large for hey say
their governorship is unnecessarily great pc
cuniary disadvantage.
But there is no danger of difficulty on this
score. for in the memorial to the Legislature
of 1878 before adverted TO. a committee of
them say If hereafter. the State Sdouid conclude
TINT He SHE Of tie Fr,Periy may be adriyable 10
isSssn tie STATE deLt. lCH be The first to y,ed to
as riaies.'
Il is earnestly hoped that all objection to
this wholesome mrasurc may be Withdrawn.
and this valuable property be made OF "some
service to the State LEGISLATOR.