Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-15
OUR NASHVILLE LETTER.
From our Special Correspondent.
NASuyrTIr TrNN limo 1S

| thing. It is so necessary for some men, when
they get into the Legislature to at once be taken
with an intense desire to visit Washington at
the expense of the people; they become such
timid patriots; they are SO fearful that they may
! do or say something that will be used against
them when they run for Congress. We recol-
/ lect once to have heard one of these gentlemen
express himself thusly; IL could do very well
| in politics if it were not for those records they
! keep; one has to be careful, trim so nicely,
lest his record may be used against him. This
/ it il that makes timorous mortals u of many
| who, on the stump defed any one who dared
! do more than they; but let them once get warm
| in their seats where laws are made, and they be
come quiet, meek and apparently modest. Had
Hogarth lived in these days, what field for his
pencil would ate Legislature have afforded.
The work at the house on the hill goes brave
~ on. We have any amount OF bills to educate
the dear children, and they all have one object,
to-wit: to have the children educated at the eX-
pense of their parents, and the job supervised
by Il commissioner who is TO get nice salary
for doing-nothing. 1t is very apparent to the
casual observer that this great State is blessed
with few respectable, arstocratic paupers,
who are too lazy to work and can't get a good
chance to indulge in kleptomania Chats the
polite term; who being respectfully connected
with some of the very first families, with pedi-
grees at least two generations in length, who
seem to enlist the sympathies and occupy the
time of the august body who are shaping the
destinies of this State. Perhaps we may see
some of this poor, proud, lazy aristocracy pro-
vided for, TOR scarcely a day passes that some
scheme is not prepared to pension off these in
competents but so far they have failed Let
us all hope they may continue to do So
We have a gentleman in this city that is con-
sidered good ut fgures-his reputation as a ma
thematician is world-wide-but he came to grief
this morning, somewhat in this way: One of the
few Radicals who hold seat in the Legisa-
ture, consequent on the plsJian notions of East
Tennessee, met him and submitted the follow
ing problem fit took S., 600 to get control of
the Press and Times, and an unknown quantity
of lucre to gobble' the Wig and SIS, 600 to Sc
cure additional aid for the Knoxville and
Kentucky Railroad, how much will it cost to
secure the confirmation of q certain gentleman
as Director of, say, the Knoxville and Kentucky
Railroad ~ The man of figures looked aghast,
but, emulatng the fame of Bowditch, Calhoun
and others of that party who had figures on the
brain, he went for the problem. After eight
hours labor, he called on the Radical member,
and with tears in his eyes, he made the humili-
atng confession that the thing was too much for
him that the price of bonds was so uncertain,
and the number of embryo Congressman in the
Legislature so indefinite; that, in fact, there was
so much said about a speech made before the
Constitutional Convention, in which good Re-
publican proved he did much for the Confede-
racy-was the noblest rebel of them all, that he
must decline further work on that problem, un-
less he wished TO become an inmate of an insane
asylum.
That man had sense in him. He quit at the
right time. But, who can solve the problem?
Perhaps the future. Nous reIrons.
Several resolutions, providing for adjourn
rnent. have been introduced, hut none have
passed. The watchers, the headlights of Con-
atiye-rebel-Democracy, are afraid to adj
journ. They seem 70 be in doubt about some
body Who can it be2 They can't doubt the
| Governor. They can certainly trust him. He
did all that man can do for them. They make
laws for the State because he favored and helped
them; now to be afraid of him or doubt him.
| would be simply base ingmtitude. 1t is pre-
| sumed they will adjourn about the 10th of July,
| subject 10 the call of the Speakers of both
Houses. They have not much law for that, but
| then, you know, Congress did it-thats prece-
| dent enough. They don't seem to think the
Treasurer wants them there, or would be likely
| call them The reference of resolution to adj
| journ to the Ways and Means Committee looks
like business. We are left TO infer that it is sent
| there for the purpose of finding out how long
the State will be able to pay the per diem OF
members, and as a consequence, that Commit
tee can best fix the day for adjournment. Good
| reference.
The whole afternoon yesterday was spent in
discussing amendments to the bill to amend laws
governing the penitentiary. After large
amount of talk the bill passed into pigeon hole;
| it was lost-lacked the constitutional majority
| Bully for the New Constitution. By the BY nc
one viii suspect there is neat little ring form
| ing for raid on this magnificent institution.
| We don't want TO be premature, but if time
don't develop nice plan TO put money in some
| pockets, by scientifically manipulating the pen
itentiary, your correspondent has neither eyes
nor ears. We shall Keep you posted.
| There is an effort being made to establish an
| Inebrste Aysylum. This evening meeting
will be held at the Masonic Hall to inagurate
the movement The members of the Legisa-
ture have been specially invited to be present
Of course no reference is had TO 'the eterna
| fitness of things" This sort of asylums arc
good. They furnish safe retreat for the poor
inebriate where he can be aided and sustained
in his efforts TO keep from the greatest curse thai
now affiicts our country. The sum of all vii.
lanes having been wiped out how soon will
we be gratifed TO know that the great demon OF
strong drink is TO be laid low
| The Senate bill % aid the completion of the
| Knoxville and Kentucky Railroad, was read
the second time yesterday, in the House and re-
| ferred 10 the Internal Improvements Commit
| tee. No one will dare 10 suspect that the SIS
GOO has anything 20 do with the action
In moral legislation, Tennessee is a little gheac
OF other States, for proof of which, see bill
providing that insanity is sufficient cause fol
divorce and il will become law. Look out
girls, it is about time the Woman's Rights move
ment was commenced in Tennessee A mar
that tires Of his wife, need only commence
course Of mental torture That will soon in
sure a loss of reason, and presto divorce land
him where he can indulge his fancy. Talk o
Indiana or Chicago. They are far behind thu
great Volunteer State.
: few facts shedding light on the Schoo
Fund business, have coms TO our knowledge
which We propose to ventilate in our next
Watchiully yours, DAMON.
/