Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-02
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE
SENATE.

SENATE.
MONDAY, Feb I, lS69.-The Senate
met at ii O'Clock, Speaker Senter in the
Chair There being no quorum present
the Senate adjourned until tomorrow al
10 o'clock, I'd (
HOUSE
The House was called TO order at 10 A
NJ, Mr.. Speaker Richards in the chair and
fifty six members present.
TIE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
MENT.
House bill proposing an amendment To
the Constitution, compelling negroes to
pay poll-tax, which was under debate
when the House adjourned last Saturday,
was taken up.
Mr.. Roach attempted to raise the point
Of order that the House having adjourned
for the want Of quorum, before final &C
ton was taken on the bill, the demand
for the previeus question last Saturday
could not operate tosday to cut off de-
bate or amendments, as, by reason OF at
least day having elapsed and other
business having been considered, the pre-
yious question could not be renewed.
The Speaker, however, decided that
the previous question still operated from
last Saturday, and that even point oil
order could not now be raised.
Mr. Roach appealed from the decision
of the chair, but the decision was suss
tanned by the House. eF
The vote was then taken on the final
passage of the bill and resulted ayes 81,
noes 5.
A motion to transmit the bill to the
Senate was earnestly opposed by Mr..
Roach, who contended that the bill had
been forced through the House contrary
to parliamentary usage, and that the OPP
portunity had been purposely denied him
of introducing an amendment, which he
read as follows.
Whereas, We highly commend the
spirit of magnanimity and forbearance
with which men who served in the rebel
lion, but who now frankly and honorably
co operate with us in restoring the peace
Of the country and reconstrueting the
Southern State Government upon the
basis of impartial justice and equal rights,
are received back into the communion Of
the loyal people; and
Whereas, We favor the removal Of the
disqualifieations and restrictions imposed
upon the late rebels in the measure as
the spirit of disloyalty will die out and 3
may be consistent with the safety Of the
loyal people; therefore
Be it resolved by the General Assem-
bly, Of the State OF Tennessee, That the
Legislature shall have power to remov g
such disqualiications and restrictions
whenever it may be thought consistent
with the safety of the loyal people of the
State. -
The bill was finally ordered to be
transmitted to the Senate by an almost
unanimous YOte.
NEW BUSINESS.
By Mr.. Mckinley Bill to make eight
hours legal days work. Passed first
reading and referred to Committee on
Judiciary.
By Mr.. Baker: Joint resolution 10 ad-
journ on the 18th. Adopted.
By Mr.. Mckinley Bill to protect the
tax payers of the State by making it the
duty of Judges to require bonded officers
Of the court to take an oath to the effect
that they have not been gambling in any
way since the last term OF the court, and
making it a misdemeanor for such officers
to gamble. Passed first reading and re-
ferred to Committee on Judiciary.
SELLING DELINQUENT ROADS.
On motion OF Mr.. Prosser, the bill for
the sale of the Nashville and Northwest
ern road was taken up. A bill in lieu,
embracing the most important points of
the original bill and the amendments
heretofore offered, was reported from the
Committee on Finance and Ways and
Means, which was adopted.
Mr.. Roach moved to amend the second
section by requiring the Attorney Gen
eral of the State to file bill against each
and every road that fails to pay its iE-
terest for twelve months, in the Chancery
Court of the county where the principal
office of the road is situated.
Before any action was taken on the
amendment the House adjourned to P. NJ
Afternoon Session.
The House resumed the consideration
Of the Railroad Bill, the question being OF
the adoption of Mr.. Roach's amendment.
Mr.. Singletary offered the following
amendment in lieu.
Be it further enacted, That the AttOr.
ney General of the State is hereby direc-
ted to institute suit in the proper Chan.
Gerry Courts, for the sale OF all railroads in
the State that have failed to meet theil
Indebtedness to the State for twelve
months past; and it is furthermore OF.
dered, unless otherwise directed by leg.
iSlative enactments, to institute suits Of
similar character against any and all rail
road companies for the sale Of their roads
who fail for the period Of twelve months
to meet their Indebtedness to the State
Mr.. Roach was opposed to the amend,
ment in lieu, cOntending that only those
roads in the hands Of Receiver should b
affected by the bill.
Mr.. PrOSser moved to lay both amend
ments on the table. Lost, ayes q noe
so.
Mr.. Richards offered the followin;
amendment in lieu Of all others Provide,
that it shall be the duty of the Governo
to Immediately appoint Receiver OF
any finished or unfinished road that ha
failed, or may hereafter fail, to pay it
interest as provided by law.
Some discussion ensued, after Whicl
Mr.. Richards amendment was dopte,
by ayes 43, noes 13.
The previous question on the passag
Of the bill as amended was put and car
ried, and the bill passed its third readin!
by ayes "A, noes ii.
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Bowles offered q resolution, whic
as laid over under the rules, providin
that when members absent themselVe
without leave, so as to leave the Hous
without quorum, said members shal
forfeit their pay for the days they are S
absent.
THE PENITENTIARY BILL.
The bill authorizing the canceling {
the contract with Ward & Briggs, lessee
of the penitentiary, was taken up on thir
reading.
Mr.. Singletary offered an amendmen
which was adopted, that nothing in th
bill shall be so construed as to release th
lessees from any obligations they ma
have contracted before the passage of th
bill.
The bill then passed its third readir
| by ayes 30, noes u.
| The resolution authorizing the AttOl
ney~G General of the State to Withdra
the suit against Ward & Briggs, provide
that the difficulties between the Lessee