Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-01

payer breathing spell, and infuse new life
and vigor throughout the length and breadth
of our State and cheer the hearts of our OPP
pressed people, and enkindle life and ac-
tivity in trade, invite immigration
and capital into our borders, and
soon lift US to that proud position
of wealth and prosperity that we occupied
before the war. Thus, sir, from the above
statements of facts, am satisfied that we
can reduce the State taxes fifty per cent,
carry on our school system, diffuse the
blessings that flow from liberal system of
free schools, and leave a surplus in our
treasury of 81, 900, 600, to be applied TO
the payment of our bonds that will soon
fall due. But, sir, we must not stop here
in our system of retrenchment, if any
thing further is needed to be done to re-
heve the people. Before | will vote to
increase their burdens, will commence at
the executive and run through the several
departments of the State government, and
reduce the salaries of all the officers
of State, and by this means try to prevent
an increase of the taxes. Why should we
not let our bonds run, if We can meet the
interest, without the people having to
suffer. Pennsylvania and Illinois adopted
this policy. But another Objectionable fea-
ture in the bill is that it proposes to repeal
the school law; that law, sir, that permeates
the homes of the poor and unfortunate,
and enlghtens the dark and gloomy abodes
Of Ignorance and uperstitution-e
ennobles and exalts a large number who
Otherwise would forever remain in intel
lectual gloom. Now, sir, while 1
should not hesitate for mo-
ment to suspend the operations of
this salutary law for the purpose
of giving relief to an oppressed people.
Never will give my consent to close the
hundreds of places of learning that are
being reared over this entire State. and
thereby stifle the hopes and generous I'M
pulses of the youth of the country. No,
sir; let Mr.. Bondholder bide his time
He was aware of the condition of our State
when he made his purchase; he was aware
of the fact that the great bulk of the peo-
pie had no voice in the government that
signed his bonds; he knew all this. Now,
sir, let him remain quiet yet a little
while, until our people have time to recu-
perate, end all will be well
Now, Mr.. Speaker, have only this to
say in conclusion: hope that Senators
will give this subject their dispassionate
consideration the people demand this
much, are expecting it at our hands, and il,
III your wisdom, you think it unsafe and
unwise to lessen the taxes, feel confident
that all our liabilities can be met by an
economical administration of our affairs at
existing rates. Remember your constitu-
ents, recollect how they are toiling, how
submissive they have been, how they have
i IL IL
of the necessary comforts of life to re-
spond to the demands of the tax gatherer.
and, in Gods name, if you cannot relieve
them of these burthens, do net increase
them. They can not and will not longer
submit to it. There is Just one other thing
| have to say in reference to the argument
of the Senator from Bedford While l adj
NIT that his figures are correct, that his
statements are true in relation to our in
creasing liabilities, there is one very i'm
portant fact that he overlooks, the great
fact that all of the roads to which State aid
has been extended are worth five times the
amount we have invested in them
and if We will but protect our
interest, we can secure ourselves against
loss at any time; and the interest
that he counts as constantly accommodating
Can be made out of the roads without in
creasing our taxes for this purpose. Then,
Sir, If this be true, our present rate OF taxa
ton will more than meet all demands. The
notes on the Bank of Tennessee, l feelcon-
tident, can be 50 arranged that We can re-
deem them without feeling any great in
convenience, and rather than increase the
taxes at this time, We had better re-chartcr
the bank, pay the Federal Government
ten per cent, and put them in circulation.
Let us pass a law requiring our tax col
lectors to receive the notes Of the Bank Of
Tennessee as i'll fact they are bound to do
under the late decision of the Supreme
Court in payment of taxes; let the Urea
surer pay out these notes on any indebted
ness that may be, with the exception
of one-ffth or one-tenth (as may be agreed
upon TO be destroyed each year until the
whole amount is redeemed. By so doing
we will not violate the law of Congress in
reference to banking. and in a very few
years we will be relieved of the difficulties
growing out of this matter without any one
feeling any inconvenience whatever
Now, Mr. Speaker if l am mistaken in
the suggestions l have attempted in my
feeble manner to make to the Senate, it is
I.
! for l assure Won, sir. | have no mOtive'tO
subserve that would afford me so much
pleasure as to be made feel that my feeble
efforts contributed in the least degree in
relieving the people of poor, bleeding and
down-trodden Tennessee from the most in
tolerable and damnable oppression that
was imposed upon any people.
On motion of Mr.. Hall, the further con-
/ sideration of the matter was postponed I'M
| til I l o'clock tomorrow.
THE PENITENTIARY CASE.
The instructions made in the House to
the Judiciary Committees of both Houses,
to ascertain and report all the facts bearing
on the Penitentiary arbitration case, were
laid on the table.
INCORPORATION.
House bill to incorporate the Haywood
Mechanical, Agricultural and Horticultural
| Society, passed its third reading.
MARKETuoUsE COMPANY.
House bill to incorporate the North
Knoxville MarkethOuse Company, passed
first reading
SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
To amend an act permitting railroads to
select new name. The bill allows rail
roads consolidating their interest and fran
chises to assume different name.
1 Mr. Cooper, of Davidson, offered an
amendment that said consolidation shall
not operate so as to abate any suits pend
ing against said railroads. Adopted and
bill passed.
To incorporate an Italian society Of
| Memphis. Passed
To abolish the seventeenth Judicial dis
| trict Of Tennessee. Passed.
TO reduce the tax on farmers, merchants
and polls A bill was offered by the Finance
Committee, which was adopted in lieu and
made the special order with the other bills
for tomorrow morning
The Senate, then, after dispOsing of
some Senate bills on their second reading,
| adjourned until tomorrow at 10 NJ
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVE
TUESDAY, Nov 3O-The House was
called to order at . O'Clock, Mr. Speaker
| Perkins in the chair.
| THE CINCINNATI sOUTEEN RAILROAD.
| Mr.. Fleming from the Judiciary Com
mittee, submitted report recommending
| the rejection of the Cincinnati Southern
| Railroad bill, of which the following is an
abstract:
In the view your committee have taken,
| it would be useless for them to suggest
amendments to the bill. As they conceive.
| the objections to the measures proposed
are so numerous and of such eharac-
ter that anything short of an entire re-
modelling of the bill, in all its essential
features, SO that it would cease to express
| the wishes or purposes of its authors,
would not remove the grave constitutional
| difficulties which exist to its MASSAGE and
such a remodeling would be tantamount to
rejection altogether
In the opinion of the committee, the
Legislature of Tennessee has no constitu-
tional power to pass this or any precisely
similar bill, and, in their Judgment; if the
Legislature had the power to do so, it
would be eminently unwise and impolitic
to exercise it in the mode and to the ex