The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-09
TENNESSEE LEGIsLATURE.


SENATE
SATURDAY, April s. 1865 Senate met
pursuant % a5journmept Prayer By
Rev. Mr. Huntington.
The Speaker announced The intro
duotlon Of bills and resolutions ia or
der.
Mr. Smith introduced Senate bill
(No. 81 70 incorporate the Memphis
Savings Bank Passed It's frat readipg.
Mr Smith introduced Senate Iii
90 y to repeal Section 1910 OF the
Code Passed its first reading.
Senate bill No Z, introduced sly
AIr Peart, was taken up, and put on
its second reading This bill i 10 re.
peal sections 3S0S aud 3Os9 of the
Code of the State, the lsfst ~ Fssict,
reads as follows "A negro. unlatto. or
person Of mixed blood, descended from
negro OF Indian ancestors, 10 the third
generation inclusive, though an ances>
tor Of each geneIa ion may have been
y white person, either bond OF free. is
incapable Of being 8 witness IN any
case, except for or against each other.
The author of this bin endeavored 10
urge the Senate 10 take sction on Il
st once, when a spirited debate ensued
in which Senator Butler, OF johnson.
opposed It, as a premature step foward
regulating the status Of the negro
The gentleman saidsthat, coming from
q District with fewer slaves than any
IN the State,-a District fhst has sent
more soldiers 70 the army than any
other IN the State--a District which has
never been questioned Tor its loyalty,
and deFotion,to lhe United States Gov,
ernments be felt it his duty, knowing
as he did, the sentiments Of his con-
stItuency, to oppose its passage. had
hoped that we would pass through the
session without touching that subject
but since it has come up, we rnust meet
it, and dispose of it IN such manner,
as in our best judgment viii be for
interest Of the State. In the last four
years a great revolution has taken place
IN public sentimentin this State on the
slavery question. The negro has been
made free, not gradually, but as it were
in twinkling Of an eye. It has been q
great shock 70 the people, and it il not
wise or prudent 70 progress TOO rapidly
IN liking the Status Of the negro. +
the black man prepared 10 exercise the
duties conferred upon him by that bill2
Is II justice to the waite MANI Isit for
the best interest OF the negro these
are questions that should be carefully
weighed by Senators before taking this
great leap in elevating the negro. This
bill proposes 70 make witnesses of ne
igroes against white men. and that is
not the most objectionable feature x
makes them qualified voters and the
repeal OF those sections ID the code
| viii be 50 construed BIZ the Jurists and
| Courts of the State.
Dir. Peart asked leave to make re-
mark, which was granted by the
Speaker. He did not understand the
bill 10 confer the elective franchise on
the negro, and he maintained that it
did not invest him with that right
Mr.. Butler continued We have
done enough for the negro for the
present etus walt, and see what he
win do for himself Let US see wheth
er it is a curse or a blessing we have
bestowed upon him. Tennessee is not
prepared for this great stride in eleYat-
ing the NEGRO He does not expect ID
Of this Legislature The men of the
mountain Districts, who have left their
families and perilled their lives for the
Union, will be shocked by tais hasty
legislation, which sets up the lives OF
white men 10 be sworn away BY ne
groes. They will not approve it, and
knowing their honest sentiments re-
garding DIS subject, feel it my duty,
N justice ID my constituency, 10 record
my vote against the passage of the bill
mr.. Senter thought It would be the
best policy to refer the bill to the ap
propriate Committee We are Just re
organizing the State, aud it was pre-
mature subject to introduce at this early
day. He thought il would be better,
both fer tue friends and enemies OF the
bil,, TO refer it TO the Committee Oh
Freedmen.
Mr. Trimble proposed TO refer it to
the Committee on the Judiciary, and
desired 10 make a few remarks on the
subject. He did not thinl the Senator
from Johnson { Mr.. Butler) fully com
4 pretended the effect of the bill Il
certainly did confer the rightof voting
on the negro, and the only question in.
yolved was that of bearing testimony
| against white men. IL was only doing
simple Justice 10 the negro, and advan'
cling The interest Of the law The
Courts should avail themselves of the
testimony they can bring to bear on the
trial Of casea The negro is q human
being endowed with all the instincts
of the white man, aud it does not
follow that the Courts are compelled 10
lake the testimony Of negroes for more
than their value. They were entitled TO
this right, and it was the duty OF
/ this Legislature 70 confer il upon him.
! He was not afraid 10 boldly meet this
question, and it was expected OF
as by the people of the state, He
| would, as matter acouFse. vote fer
the passage of the lbili when IL came up.
| For the present, however, 30 would
move TO refer il 10 the COMMITTEES on
Judiciary.
The question was submitted and ca, .
ried Thebill was referred.
| Senate bill'(No y introduced by Mr.
| Butler, was taken up and passed It's
second reading.
senate bill (No b was taken upand
passed its ses0nd reading Referred 10
] Judiciary COMMITTEES.
Senate bill (No A. introduced by Mr.
Smith, was taken mp, AID passed It's
second reading Referred to the Judi
ciary Committee.
Senate bill (No y introduced BY Mr
Cate, was taken up, and passed It's sec
ond reading Referred 10 Committee
1 on Banks 50 asit 81. "a.
Senate bill (No o. introduced by Mr..
Smith, passed its second reading, and
was referred 20 the Committee ON Ways
and Means - ~
Mr.. Wisener offered resolution re-
ferring the Governors Message 10 al.
propriate e0mmftteeA Accepted and
referred.
On motion, adjourned to 10 o'clock
on Monday.