Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-19

4
have said ON former occasions, that if there
was any fraud practiced in the issuance of
the State bonds, am the last man that
will assist in paying for them, and am
not willing to pay any debt for which there
was no valuable consideration received by
the State. But those for which valuable
consideration was received, want paid.
Those debts which were improperly Gre
ated, will never pledge mysylf to pay I
| viii be the last man to assist in repudia-
ton. want the matter left open for in
vestigation
| Mr.. Etheridge said that he regretted that
his brief but earnest protest against the res
olution being committed to the judiciary
Committee would have elected anything
which might have seemingly demanded
| reply from him Nothing could be truer
| than this. II any securities were issued by
any public functionaries of the State
without authority, they do not con-
| stiute any part of the public debt
| The resolution has no reference to
| any bonds that may or may not have been
issued contrary to law. He did not know
whether such was the case or not. The
common law which applies to property be-
ing fraudulently obtained would apply to
the issuance of bond contrary to law, The
resolution says the public debt shall be paid
at the earliest practicable moment. What
ever that practicable moment may be the
Judiciary Committee have nothing to do
with it. THIS is grave subject, and re-
quires practicable legislation to devise ways
and means to make the revenue available
for our wants. doubt very much whether
it cam speedily be done. That is an open
question, and he hoped the Judiciary Com
mittee would not be burdened with the
subject
Mr.. Nelson: concur with the Senator
from Bedford in any policy looking to re-
pairing and Strengthening the State credit.
The resolutions say that reckless extrava-
gance on the part of those who have here
tOfore controlled the State government in
the issuance of bonds, has tended
greatly to impair the public debt.
1t is likely that previous legislatures
did issue bonds very literally, but 1 think
the Legislatures that, ISSUED those bonds is
sued them in good faith. They might have
been misused by parties obtaining the
bonds afterward, but those Legislatures are
not responsible for, the abuse resultingfrom
the issuance of those bonds Instead of
using the term reckless extravaganza pro-
pose to amend theIresolution by using the
term previous legislation.
The amendment was accepted by the in
PRODUCER of the resolution.
The ayes and noes were called for by Mr.
Nelson upon the adoption of the resolution
with the following result:
AYEs-Messrs. Bryant, Cooper of Bed
ford, Cubbins, Eason, Etheridge, Greene,
Hall, Halves, LuttreI, Martin, Millsaps,
Morris, Wilson, Palmer. Pearson Self and
Speaker Thomas-17.
NoEs-None
NEW BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr.. Halves: A bill to ratiy the acts of
Commissioners of Registration in this State,
Passed first reading and referred to the
Judiciary Committee.
By Mr.. Hall: A bill to repeal section of
an act passed March Is, 1868, to change the
Eighth and Second Chancery Divisions.
Past first reading and referred to the Judi
ciary Committee.
By Mr.. Self: A resolution directing the
members to select two Of the city papers,
the same to be paid for out of any money
IN the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Laid over under the rules.
By Mr.. Greene A resolution calling for
a Joint Select Committee to investigate the
school fund frauds, with power to send for
persons and papers. Laid over one day
under the rules.
TIE PRESS
House bill, on its third reading, to re-
store justice to the press was passed over
informally, as there was a Senate bin
passed which would have the desired result.
SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
To repeal an act to preserve the public
peace, commonly known as the Ku-Klux
bill. Passed, and ordered to be trans-
mitted to the House.
To amend the criminal laws of the State.
To amen. sEdered to be transmitted.
To amend an act to make rules of evi-
dence in the Federal and State courts uni
form. Passed and ordered to be trans
mitted to the House.
The Senate then adjourned until 10 A. NJ.
tomorrow.