Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-08
House of Representatives.
NEW BILLS AND -RFSnIUTIoSs.

BY Mr.. Bean A bill to regulate and
protect the interest of the State in internal
improvements. The bill provides that it
shall he unlawful for anv one 10 levy exe-
cution or any legal process upon the prop.
erty of any railroad to which the State
has given aid, and upon which the State
has lien.
By Mr.. Agee A bill to amend an act
entitled an act to increase the fees of Reg
listers, and for other purposes.
BY Mr.. Kerchival: A bill to incerpo-
rate the Widow and Orphan Fund Life In
suranee Company.
BY Mr.. Cordell: A bill changing the
name of Gilbert Monsieur Marquis de La
fayette Sproul, to that of Lafayette Sproul,
and alsodo change certain other names.
BY Mr.. Singletary; A resolution ap-
pointing n committee to investigate into
alleged frauds in the management and sale
of coin and other assets Of the Bank of
Tennessee. Adopted.
By Mr.. Woodcock A bill to amend the
school law passed March 5th, 1867, so as
to provide that the first election for County
School Superintendents shall be held on
the second Saturday Of August, 1869, in
stead of the first Monday of March, 1865.
By Mr.. Brown; A resolution appointing
an additional standing committee, to be
known az the Committee on Immigration.
Adopted.
By Mr.. Hammer: A bill to incorporate
the Sewer County Farmers Club.
By NJ. Faulkner: A bill to extend the
corporate limits Of the town of McMinn-
Vile.
By Mr.. johnson A bill to amend sec
tion ll66, subsection 8, and to repeal sec4>
lions ll6S, ll67 and 1869 of the Code of
Tennessee.
Mr.. Bosom A bill to amend section
22SS of article Is of chapter 2, and section
22Sl of article IS, chapter 2, of the Code
Mr.. Reeves A bill to set apart home
stead for heads of families.
By Mr.. ---: A bill to amend the
repIvine laws Of the State. Fs-
By Mr.. Prosser A bill providing that
no person shall be disqualified from testify
ing as witness, by reason of being party
interested in the suit
House resolution No. SO: To purchase
one thousand copies of Rev. Herman
Bokum's book on the resources of Tennes-
see, was adopted,
BILLS O4N oLNOND nGADlINds
House bill No. 2, repeating the 16tA
section of the franchise law. The special
joint committee reported a bill in lieu,
which, in addition to the repeal of the 10th
section, repeals all other laws and parts of
laws disqualifying persons of color from
holding Office or sitting on iuries, and pro-
vides that all persons, without distinction
Of race or color, who are otherwise suali-
| fed, shall be eligible to any Office ofhonor
or profit in the State. tE
Mr.. Williams moved that the bill be
made the special order for the first Monday
| in December
Mr.. Hamilton was ready to vote on the
| bill at once. He thought there was no good
reason for postponing the consideration of
| the bill for 50 long a time, and wished the
| gentleman from Smith would state his
reasons for the motion to postpone.
| Mr.. Williams in reply to the inquiry,
/ stated that his object in postponing the
consideration of the bill until the first Mon
| day in December was, that the House might
give it that thorough investigation which
| its importance demands. When the time
comes for action, the gentleman would find
| him ready to meet the question squarely,
and decide on it as promptly as any mem
ber of the House; but he was no friend to
hasty legislation on laws of general ma.
ture, much less on 6 measure involving a
constitutional question. His constituents
were not pushing him TO action on this
| question, and if they were, he would dis
regard their wishes until he could inyesti-
| gate the subject, for he was not made of the
| stuff to yield TO popular clamor. An in
yestigation, thorough, exhausting, and can
did on this question was demanded by the
beat interests of the people of the State, and
| if he found that the law was constitutional
and for the hest interests of the people, he
would cheerfnlly support it. But il it did
not meet there requirements, he should nm
hesitatingly oppose it.
The delay would not iniuriously affect
the interests of that class of our citizens for
| whose benefit the bill was brought forward
and careful deiiberation would add moral
force to the measure if it became a law.
Mr.. Ryder moved TO amend the motion
to postpone by making the bill the special
order for next Monday He was willing
that few days should be given for investi-
CATION, but he could see no good reason for
deferring the consideration of the measure
for so long time. The question was not
| 4 new one.
The convention which met at the capitol
on the 22d of February, 1867, and nomi.
mated Gov. Brownlow, unanimously re-
quested the Legislature to repeal the 10th
section. This convention consisted of del
erates from all parts of the State, and the
subject was fully discussed, so that men,
bers conld not plead ignorance Of this sub
! a. = r. L Il.
this bill was presented had been introduced
by himslf on the first day Of the session,
and had been in the hands of the Judiciary
Committee now nearly four weeks. The
subject was one which had occupied the at
tention of ofmembers even before the meet
ing Of the Legislature, for it had
been made a point in the can
vass for the election Of delegates
to the Assembly, and he thought members
generally were ready to vote on the ques-
ton. But there were positive reasons why
the measure should be considered at an
early date. The delay was interpreted TO
arise from an indisposition on the part Of
members to meet the question. A political
canvass was now in progress in Memphis,
and the opposition candidates were attempt
ing to poison the minds Of colored voters,
telling them that the Legislature had done
nothing on the subject of the 10Th section
and intended to do nothing. He wanted
the House to take action al once and si-
lence those charges. He was ready 20 meet
the question squarely, and at once.
The subject was discussed BY several
other members after which the motion to
make the bill the special order for the first
Monday in December, was carried By the
following vote
Ayes-Messrs. Agee, Baker, Bean, BoEles,
Bloom, Carter, eagle, Cason, Cordell, Dow
dy, Dyer, Faulkner, Graves Griffith, Gil
meF, Hale, Hodges, Hewatt, Hamer
Hacker, Inman, of Knox, Meyers, McFall
Mason, Pickett, Pitts, Reed, Singleiary