Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-21
TENNESSEE LECISLATURE,
senate.
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 1S6S.-Prayer
the Rev. Mr.. Campbell.


the Rev. Mr.. Campbell
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
Mr.. Smith: A memorial from DIR. W
II. White, with bill to the same effect, fol
services at the county iaiI Of Shelby county
The Senate Committee TO whom was re-
ferred the question OF publishing the geo.
logical report Of Prof Stafford, reported by
resolution in favor Of its publication, the
State TO pay Prof Stafford $500 for its
preparation. The resolution was laid over
under the rules for one day.
Mr.. Norman called the attention of the
Senate TO card from Mai. E.. ]. Brooks,
late Paymaster of the militia, in which the
said Brooks denounced the Hon. John
Norman for remarks made by him some
time since, 10 the effect that there was a
rumor outside of the Senate that Major
Brooks had not settled with the State, and
had several thousand dollars in his pos
session belonging to the State, and was alb
sent in the State Of New York.
Mr.. Norman read the paragraph referr-
ing to himself, and denounced Brooks az
having published a tissue of falsehoods,
and denounced him as a liar and destitute
q tfuth sad ,5satac,5i, ani Jlien read the
statement he had made in reference to
Mai. Brooks, and called upon Senators to
say whether or not it was not substantially
the same that drew ont the bitter and ma
lignant assault.
Senators Rodgers and German testified
to the correctness of Mr.. Norman's state
ment.
The report of the Committee on the
Penitentiary, reported in favor of abating
the Indebtedness of the lessees to the
State, for the time Of unemployed con-
victs, after the fire of last summer, to the
first of January, which was discussed by
Senators Garner, Keith, Lindsly, Rodgers,
Elliott, Aldridge, and Mr.. Speaker Senter.
Mr.. Elliott was in favor Of the commuta-
tion of the time, on the ground that in the
original contract between the State and the
lessees, the State was to furnish shops and
rooms for the convicts, and that the failure
of the State, occasioned by the fire, to fur
nish space for the profitable employment
for the convicts, releases the lessees from
the obligations to pay for labor, which they
could not employ for the want of room.
Mr.. Elliott said the lessees were now
willing TO give mp their control, if the State
will pay them all the money they ex-
pended, without interest and payment for
services during the time.
Mr. Senter contended that the lessees
had more room after the FIRE than they had
when the contract was made, as there had
been considerable additions made to the
buildings after the contract was made, and
that the lessees, who are now working the
convicts in the quarry because of the high
price of some of the materials used in car
rying on the shops, might have worked
their convict5 in the quarry from the time
of the fire up to the time the buildings
were repaired. He said he would not i'm
pugn the character or motives of any one,
but the fact that the lessees had an in
surance of $4,000 on the wing which was
burnt, and the State none, and that the
lessees felt assured the Legislature would
award them the contract for rebuilding the
burnt wing, made the circumstantial evil
denoe against them, though he would not
insinuate shat they knew anything of the
fire before it broke out. s#
On motion of Senator Wisener, the whole
subject was recommitted to the Committee
on the Penitentiary, with instructions to
investigate the cause of the fire, and every
thing connected with it.
Adjourned TO A. M. to morrow.