Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-18


which it has extended aid in the sum of
So, s24, 600, thus forcibly taking away from
the State the entire amount invested IN
these roads, as well as all hope Of recover
hight.
That the United States has heretofore
frequently and wisely donated large tracts
of public lands in aid of internal improve
nents, in none Of which has the State of
Tennessee borne any share, or received any
benefits whatever.
That the RAILROADS of Tennessee would
have cost the United States. if operated by
their companies, several millions CT dollars
more than the actual cost of operation, and
that, from the nature Of the debt of the
railroads to the State, and the large in
terest of the State in those railroads, the
Stale has a just and equitable claim for the
use of those roads by the general govern
ment during the war; that at the close of
fhe war the railroads we're Without dep0is
scf haaehfne shops, soliang stock or equip
ments The same have been almost totally
destroyed during the war; that the pros
perity of the State being dependent largely
upon her railroads, their helpless condi-
ton has been a source of great loss to the
State. IL
Your memorialists would also represent
that, by the action of the Congress of the
United States, and the States of Tennessee
and North Carolina, certain portions of
the public lands in this State were reserved
for educational purposes; that, under the
fostering care of the State, the school fund
has reached the amount of $1,620,000;
that this sum, sc solemnly dedicated for
ever to the purposes of education, was
stolen from the depository and totally lost
to the State that the last Legislature
passed commoa school law, under the
operations of which all the educational in
terests of the State have received new
impetus; that schools are are now rapidly
organizing in every county of the State !;
that it is impossible that the school fund
! should ever be replaced in the ordinary
| course of events; that the general govern
ment has from time to time shown its lib
erality and fostered the cause of education
by munifcent grants Of public lands for
| the aid Of schools; that the amount of
Indebtedness Of the railroads to the general
| government will make good the loss of the
school fund and enable the State to COM
plete the work already inaugurated in aid
| of the schools.
Your memorialists, therefore, earnestly
request such legislation as will transfer to
the State of Tennessee the present indebt-
| edness of the railroads to the general gov
eminent, to be devoted to the dissemina-
ton of knowledge, by forming therefrom
a school fund. In further support of this
request we have to say that, although the
constituted authorities of the State went
into the late rebellion, yet 10000 of our
citizens entered the military service of the
Union, and fought to the close of the war
under the flag of our common country
that, before the close of the war, the loyal
people of the State had recognized the
State government, under the auspices oil
which slavery was abolished, all laws Gre
ating distinction on account of race or color
were wiped from the statute books. and
such other wholesome and useful laws were
passed as enabled the State once more tc
resume its relations TO the other States O
the Union.
The mass of the citizens Of Tennessee to-
day are and ever will be loyal to the gen.
eral government, and with the view ana
hos3e af aislissss in ttlas sassas 81 7@aaeatiss
and cosnfa0n schools, on which rests al
security for the perrnanence OF the repub
lie, this General Assembly, in behalf Of al
the people of the State, most earnestly
pray your honorable body to pass the &C
companying bill, az embodying the prayer
of your memoralists.
Be it enacted by the Senate and Hons,
of Representatives in Congress assembled
az follows:
Section /. That the bonds executed by
the following named railroad companiei
in the State of Tennessee, to-wit: TIL,
Edgefeld and Kentucky, the East Tennes
see and Georgia, the East Tennessee AM
Virginia, the Memphis, GAINESVILLE ant
Louisville, the Nashville and Chattanooga
the Nashville and Decatur, the Nashville
and Northwestern, and the McMinnvill,
and Manchester, and any and all othe
railroad companies in said State, to tn
Disbursing Quartermaster of the UniteC
States Military railroads, to secure pay
ment for purchases made, by said railroa'
companies from the War Department il
the year 1865, be and are hereby trans
ferred and assigned to the State of Tennes
see Provided, however, That the Seere
tary of War shall not transfer or assigI
said bonds to the State of Tennessee unit
said State shall, through its Legislature
enact that the amount thus transferre
shall be devoted to the aid Of schools, Q
other educational purposes, in said Stats
, BILLS ON THIRD READING.
Senate bill to incorporate the Overto
Hotel Company, passed third reading.
House bill TO amend the charter of ii
cambridge Railroad Company, passed thir
J reading.
House bill to incorporate the Sewans
5 College, passed third reading.
: Mr.. McNair offered resolution gran
: ing the use of the hall of the House 70 q
naturalized citizens of Nashville to hold
f mass meeting on the 9Th Of January, 1856
for the purpose of protesting against II
, | treatment of American citizens in foreig
2 countries. Adopted. 7e "a. q
The House adjourned to o'clock u
I morrow morning.