Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-04
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.


SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 3, lS69.-The Senat,
met at 10 O'Clock A M, Speaker Senter, il
tho chair and nineteen members present
WARREN COUNTY.
Speaker Senter submitted paper
from citizens in Warren county protest
ing against the repeal of the County
Commissioners law. Referred to Judi
ciary Committee.
EDGEFIELD AND KENTUCKY RAILROAD
The committeeappointed to settle with
the Receiver of the Edgefeld and Ken
lucky Railroad, reported that they failed
to find any law authorising or empower
ing said committee to make such settle
ment
The committee reported resolution
directing the Comptroller to demand OF
K Il. Cheatham, former Receiver Of the
Edgefeld and Kentucky Railroad, all
books Of account, records, vouchers,
correspondence, contracts, and other
papers relating to the business of the
road, and make if possiblea final settles
ment with the former Receiver, and res
port the same to the Legislature within
ten days in detail
The resolution authOrises the Comp
troller to employ the services of COM
petent engineer, who shall examine the
contracts for work done on said railroad.
The provisions Of the above, resolution
apply to all other railroad receivers in
the State who have failed to make satis-
factory statements. The resolution was
adopted under suspension Of the rules
AMENDMENTS TO TIE CONSTITUTION
House bill proposing certain amend
ments to the constitution by imposing
poll-tax on negroes, was taken up on its
second reading.
Mr.. Wisener offered an amendment to
the bill by inserting "who are not legal
voters" proposing to exempt the disfran-
chised people from the payment of polls
tax. The amendment was lost.
Mr.. Patterson then offered in lieu Of
the bill, the following:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of the State of Tennessee, That the fols
lowing proposed amendments to the con-
stitution Of the State of Tennessee be
published six months next preceding the
next election for members Of the General
Assembly, and il the same shall be
adopted by two thirds of each branch of
said General Assembly and ratified by
the legal voters of the State as prescribed
by art Xl section 3, of the constitution
of Tennessee, shall become a part and
parcel of the same
Art l. Every male citizen Of the age
of twenty-one years, who is a citizen of
the United States and a citizen of the
county in which he may offer his vote
for six months preceding the day of elec-
ton, shall be entitled to vote for Cover
nor and members OF the General Assem-
bly, and other civil officers of the county
or district in which he resides Provided,
that no person shall hold any Office, civil
or military in this State who, having pre-
yiously taken an oath as a member Of
Congress, or as a member of the LegisN
lature, OF as an executive or judicial Off
Ger OF any State, to support the constitu-
ton of the United State, shall have en-
gagged 10 instruction or rebellion against
the same or given aid or comfort to the
enemies thereof, unless such disability
shall have been removed by Congress as
prescribed in sec. Ill, art IA of the con-
stitutioR Of the United States
Art .. No person shall be disqualified
from holding Office, acting as jurors or
be exempted from military duty or from
the payment Of poll tax on account of
race and color
Art 3. That every free man shall have
the right to keep and bear arms for the
common defense.
Motions were made to reconsider the
action Of the Senate in passing the bill on
its first and second readings, it not having
been done in accordance with the cons
stitutiOn which requires the ayes and
noes to be taken on such bills Carried
The bill then, after some discussion
passed It's first reading and on motion
the amendment offered in lieu by Mr.
Patterson, and the bill was referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
SPECIAL ORDER
The confirmation OF w. A. Bayless as
one Of the State Directors for the Peni-
tertiary, was postponed until tomorrow
at II o clock
SALE OF RAILROADS.
On motion Of Mr.. Eaton, House bill No.
500 providing for the sale of the Nash
vile and Northwestern railroad and all
other unfinished railroads that have
failed to pay their interest, was taken
up and passed first reading and referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
THE FRANCHISE
Senate bill proposing amendments to
the constitution in regard to the limita
ton of the elective franchise, was re-
jected.
SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
For the protection of stockholders in
railroads in certain cases. Passed
To change the time of holding court in
the first judicial circuit Passed
Adjourned until tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock