Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-06
TENNESSEE LEGIsLATURE.
Senate
THURSDAY, Dec. 9th, lS67.-Prayer b
Rev. Mr.. Huntington. l.

THURSDAY, Dec. 9th, 1867.-Prayer by
Rev. Mr.. Huntington. j.
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
Two memorials from the colored ciii-
zens of Hamilton, praying the removal of
all disabilities abridging their rights,
were read and transmitted TO the House.
A memorial, accompanied by bill, ask
ing an appropriation of 100000 10 the
Nashville University and the University
of East Tennessee, in lieu of all lands now
belonging to said universities. Referred
10 the Committee on Common Schools and
Education.
A bill incorporating the Knoxville Iron
Company, was passed.
The Executive message in reference TO
the Warden of the penitentiary, was re-
ferred to the Select Sefiate Committee on
the Penitentiary.
The House bill Incorporating the Eagle
Mining Company, was amended by striking
out thirty~three years and inserting ninety
nine =.
Tine ffonse joint resolution TO pay Capt.
Heydt $95 for the transportation of the
committee to the Hermitage Concurred
| in.
The House joint resolution instructing
our Representatives in Congress to vote
for the impeachment of the President, was
referred to the Committee on Federal Re-
lations.
The House resolution instructing our
Representatives in Congress to vote for the
confscation bill of Thad Stevens, came
up for adoption.
Senator Nelson moved that il be passed
over informally. Lost.
Senator Elliott moved to lay the resohls
tion on the table, which was lost by the
following vote: ID
Ayes-Messrs. Eehel, Elliott, Tyler, Nc
Call, Norman, Wyatt and Wilson. /.
Noes-Messrs. Aldridge, Cate, Cary,
Frierson, Fuson, German, Henderson,
Keith, Mathews, Nelson, Patterson, Un-
derwood and Mr.. Speaker Senter-15.
A motion was then made to refer the
resolution to the Committee on Federal
| Relations.
The House joint resolution adiourning
the General Assembly from the 10Th Of
December to the Sth Of January, 1868, was
| passed overinformally.
The specifications and charges of J. S.
Hull, late Warden of the penitentiary.
against ]. S. Hare, for malfeasance in Office
as one of the lessees of the penitentiary,
] were referred 10 the Joint Select Commit
tee on the Penitentiary.
The House joint resolution asking the
general government to pay the expenses of
the militia, incurred during the last sums
mer, was concurred in.
The amendment proposed by Senator
Frierson, extending the elective franchise
to all those not excluded by the Congress,
sional amendment was then taken up.
| When this amendment was under con,
sideration, Mr. Elliott said, in order to de.
fine his position on the amendment pro-
posed by the Senator from Maury, it would
be Necessary to discuss the merits of the
| original bill He was ready to meet the
whole question and to discuss it as great
| question of state. When the convention
which assembled to reorganize the State
met in this city, chaos and confusion
brooded over the debris of shattered re-
public, and we had to lay again the foun-
dation on which to rear the temple of civil
liberty. The great principle of equal
rights was the ruling idea of that copven-
ton. The franchise law was the outgrowth
of the wisdom and policy of that conven-
tion. The convention, with the lights it
had before it, felt that the great duty OF
selfpreservation, as well as justice, re-
quired that they should enfranchise the
colored man and .disfranchise large por-
ton of the whites 1t was not questiea
of hatred to the white Rebels, for many Of
them had been dragged into the rebellion
contrary to their judgments, and for those
he had no ill.feeling The times have nov
changed. A brighter era has now dawned
upon us. The harsh asperities of vindic
tive civil war are fast being smoothed dowI
by the gentle hand of peace, and the hatred
and evil passions, engendered by strife snC
contention, are disappearing from among
the people.
The time for change of policy has ar
rived We must arise to the majesty O
the question now presented for considera
ton. In it is embodied the germ of re
| publicanism. We should array ourselye
on the side of equality and Justice to al
men alike, regardless Of color or condition
Those members who represent the eastern
3 portion of the State can have no fears Q
the effect of the passage of this amendment
In the eastern part of the State there ar
! but few white Rebels, and very few colore
! voters. We, in the middle and wester
f part of the State, are to be more directl
> affected by its operations. The people {
. the district he had the honor to represen
were ready to meet the question; the
4 thought the time had come when the elet
o tive franchise might be opened TO thos
\ excluded by the franchise act, with sue
/ exceptions as are specified in the amend
? ment. We have given a mere skeleton
!. Senator Elliott's remarks; his whole speec
1 was logical and Eorcible, evincing tho
I rough understanding of the subject as we
!. az an elevation Of patriotism truly con
> mendable in these degenerate times.
4 Adjourned till 10 o'clock A. NJ. to-mo
! row.