The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-11-01
THE EAST TENNESSEE UNION FLAG

ductor of u railroad car can de-
signate o box for ladies, and you, Mr..
Speaker, would 60 with your lady
into that car. A man Of color and
his wife would claim the same priv
iIegc; the conductor could not object;
hence, in nine cases out of ten, dit
iculties would arise which would be
traced alone TO the passage of this
bill. 1t is already Il law of the
United States that no difference shall
be made on account of race, color, or
former condition. Then, iE the name
Of common sense, let us cease to dab
BILE in making laws looking to the reg
~ulation of society, For my part, |
shall vote against the bill upon these
considerations.
Mr., Carey said he did not desire to
go into q. general discussion of the
bill, but opposed the amendment If
the amendment was rotained,it would
defeat the very object sought to be
accomplished by the bill. The amond-
ment provides that special accommo.
dations may DO set apart "GS hereto
FORE" The railroads had heretofore
excluded, unjustly, colored citizens
from the privileges for which they
had paid their money. The same prac,
tice would be continued under this
amendment, and the object of the
bill be defeated.
Mr. Smith repeated his previous
argument against the amendment.
He was satisfied the bill would amount
to nothing, if it was retained. Every
cor duotor was the master of his own
train, and under the provisO for "spec-
ial accommodations" they would say
to any one, "yOu cannot go into this
or that car" He hoped the bill would
not pass in that shape-and he was
sure it would not, if the Senate would
obey the dictates of equal justice to
all men without regard TO race, color
or previous condition.
Mr.. Nelson hoped the bill would
not pass, either with or without tho
amendment. Railroad companies had
vested rights under their charters,
and this Legislature could not in
fringe those rights without it is shown
that they had forfeited those rights
by a violation of their charters. He
thought the bill was unconstitutional,
and hoped it would not pass.
Mr.. Frierson said he hoped the bill
would not pass. He concurred in the
views submitted by Mr., Lyle and Mr..
Nelson. The sooner we cease 10
lcgislate on the conditions of society,
the sooner society will regulate itself.
Mr.. Carey again stated his objeo.
tions to the amendment, and referred
to instances of unjust determinations
on the roads between Nashville and
Franklin, and between Nashville and
Louisville ; and concluded by moving
to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was adopted. The mo-
ton prevailed, and the amendment
was then rejected by the following
vote /:
Ayes-Messrs. Fuson, Henderson,
Keith, Lyle, Nelson, Patterson and
Wilson,.
Noes-Messrs. Aldrldge, Carey
Eaton. FriersOn, Garner, Mccall,
Norman, Parker, Rodgers, Smith,
Wisener, Wyatt and Speaker Senter
ii.
The bill was then passed as it came
from the House, on third and last
reading, by the following vote:
Ayea-Messrs. Aldridge, Carey,
Eaton, Elliott, Frierson, Fuson. Gar.
ner, Henderson, Keith, Mathews Nor
man, Parker, Rodgers, Smith, Under.
wood, Wisener, Wyatt, Wilson and
Speaker Senter-l9.
Noes-Messrs. Lyle, Mccall, Mel.
son and Patterson-4.
After considering and passing a
number of private and local bills, the
Senate adjourned till 10 A. NJ. Monday