Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-15
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
senate.
senate
MONDAY, Oct. 14th, Settle Senate
met pursuant to adjournment.
RESOLUTIONS.


Mr.. Rodgers offered resolution COM
mending Gen. Grant to the National Re-
publican Convention for nomination for
the Presidency. Lies over.
Mr.. Elliott offered joint resolution in
structing our Senators and requesting our
Representatives in Congress to use their
best endeayors to abolish or 50 modify the
present tax on cotton az TO place it upon
an equitTble basis with other products.
A Joint resolution was adopted directing
the Comptroller to issue to the Doorkeepers
of each House a warrant to the amount Of
SO for each officer and member for the
purchase of postage stamps. swAT
A Joint resolution appointing Commit
tee on Immigration was adopted, and Messrs.
Carey and Echel were appointed on the
part Of the Senate.
NEW BILLS.
By Mr.. Elliott: A bill to regulate the
rate of interest. The bill fixes seven per
cent. as the legal rate, but provides for as
much az twelve per cent. when the parties
contract in writing for that amount. All
higher rates, either direct or implied, are
denounced az unlawful Referred to the
Committee on Judiciary.
LOYAL INDEMNITY.
Mr. Aldridge introduced the following
bill, which passed first reading, and was
referred to the Judiciary Committee
An act to indemnify loyal citizens for losses sus-
tanned in putting down the rebellion.
Section /. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That
the State of Tennessee assumes and under
takes to pay the loyal citizens Of this
State
First, All claims for property, Except
slaves taken, used, destroyed, occupied,
or injured by the national forces, during
their occupancy of this State in waging
war in putting down the rebellion.
Secondly. All claims for property, lex
cept slaves, taken, used, destroyed, occu-
pied, or injured by the Rebel forces, in any
part of the State during the war.
Sec IL. Be it further enacted. That it
shall be the duty of the Governor to APP.
point three experienced and competent
Commissioners, in each of the three grand
divisions of the State, whose duty it shall
be to hear proof and adjudicate said claims,
and to certify the s8me to the Comptroller
for payment. Said Commissioners shall
hold their sessions in each county town in
the State, and give public notice for at
least twenty days, of the time of holding
their sessions, in some newspaper at or
near each of said towns. They may also,
if they believe the interest and convenience
of the people require it, after a like notice,
meet at any other place for the discharge
of their duties.
Sec. III. Be it further enacted, That
said Commissioners shall each take an
oath, that he will faithfully and impartial
ly, and without favor, discharge the duties
of his Office; which oath shall be filed in
the Office of the Secretary of State, and no
person shall be eligible to said Office of
Commissioner, unless he shall have been
throughout the rebellion, uniform and
consistent friend of the national govern
ment, and opposed to the rebellion, and no
claim shall be allowed or paid unless the
testimony shall show that the claimant,
and each of his witnesses, shall have been
throughout the rebellion, in like manner,
uniform and constant friends of the general
government and opposed to the rebellion.
Sec ". Be it further enacted, That
before any claim shall be presented to the
Commissioners, for adjudication and pay
ment, the claimant shall make out an ac-
count in duplicate, setting forth the nature
and amount of said claim, and how much
of said property was taken, used, or de-
by the United States army, and
how much thereof was taken, used, or de-
stroyed by the Rebel army, and file the
same with the County Court Clerk of the
county in which said claimant resides, to-
gether with the following oath.
|, - --, do solemnly swear
or affirm, that | have never voluntarily
borne arms against the government of the
United States, that have voluntarily given
no aid, countenance, counsel or encourage
ment 10 persons engaged in armed hostility
thereto, that have neither sought, nor ac-
cepted, nor attempted to exercise the f1nc-
tons of any Office whatever, under any
authority or pretended authority in hos
tility to the government of the United
States that l have not yielded yolun-
tary support to any pretended govern
ment, authority, power, or constitution
within the United States, hostile or mimi
cal thereto. And do further swear, that
to the best of my knowledge and ability, |
will support and defend the constitution of
the United States, and the constitution of
the State of Tennessee, as amended, and all
laws made pursuant thereto, against all
enemies foreign and domestic, that / will
bear true faith and allegiance to the same
and that the account as stated is Just and
true, and. that the prices charged are
reasonable and not above the market value
when taken, and that l have received no
for the same from any source
whstever, nor is the same now pending for
payment before any authority whatever.
So help me God.
Sec. V. Be it further enacted, That the
County Court Clerk shall certify that the
claimant has filed in his Office duplicate
of the account, with the oath attached, and
that he has recorded the same in a well
bound book in his Office, and for which the
claimant has paid fee of one dollar.
Sec. VI. Be it further enacted, That any
person guilty of presenting claim for col
lection, and taking said oath falsely, or any
witness swearing falsely, to aid disloyal |
person in obtaining payment for any claims,
or any person prosecuting or aiding in
a claim for disloyal person
under this act shall be deemed guilty of |
felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall |
undergo confinement in the penitentiary of |
he State, for period of not less than three |
nor more than ten years and the Judges |
Of the several courts shall give this act in
charge to the grand jurors of the State.
Sec. VII. Be it further enacted, That |
said Commissioners shall have power TO |
send for any witness who may have been
examined, and compel said witness 10 attend
for re-examination, and shall have all the
powers of a court of record in similar cases,
and it shall be their duty upon sufficient
cause appearing to them, to rehear any case
they may have decided, and upon addition
al proof to reverse former decision; and
if they shall iud any claim to have been
improperly paid, they shall enter up judy
ment against the claimant, and each of the
witnesses Jointly, who aided in procuring
the same, and shall have all the powers of
a court of equity to enforce such judg-
ment.
Sec. VIII. Be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of the Governor TO cause
10 be engraved certificates of Indebtedness
of the State of Tennessee, of the denomi-
nations of l, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, so, 100 dollars,
and that the date, number and letter, together
with the name of the Comptroller shall be
thereon, and that the Governor
deliver said certificates of Indebtedness TO
the Comptroller, and take his receipt for the
same. Said receipt shall be filed in the
a. ~ tl,a Caoraforv of State