Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-22


r Laid on the table.
To repeal an act abolishin9 the sevan
a teeth Judicial District Rejected
To compensate Commissioners of Ragi4
tration.
+ Mr.. Greene offered an amendment fbat
where the county has paid the Cornmissiou
er, the State shall refund the amount Al
ready paid. Adopted, and the bill passed
To authorize townships and civil district,
, to tax themselves Rejected.
: The Senate then adjourned until to-mor
row morning at IL o'clock.
| HOUSE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
FRIDAY, Jan. 21.-The House was called
} to order at 9:35 o'clock, Mr.. Speaker Perk-
2 ms in the chair.
r NEW BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
! By Mr.. Rhea-A bill to authorize the IS
suance of duplicate bond to Thos. ].
Hough. Passed.
BY MIR. Jones-A bill to incorporate the
town of Cleburne, in Shelby county. The
bill was accompanied by petition. Passed
By Mr.. Colville-A bill giving the county
OF Van Buren, an additional civil district.
Passed.
By Mr.. Hornberger-A bill to incopo-
rate the Sons of the Union Benevolent So
ciety. The bill was accompanied by a pc
tltion. Passed
By Mr.. Tuoker--A bill to prevent the
payment Of ex-oficio services to officers.
Passed.
By Mr.. James, of Hamilton-A bill reg
ulating the fees Of the Comptroller and
Secretary of State. 1t provides that nei
Their officer shall receive any fee for siVn-
ing and afixing the seal of the State 10
any bonds issued by the State, and that the
Secretary of State shall not receive any
fees for afhxing the seal of the State to
Bny grant or commission to State or county
officers
By Mr.. Clark, of Haywood-A bill to in
corporate the Madison Presbytery of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Passed.
By Mr.. Rhea-A bill to incorporate the
Edgefeld and Broad Street Ferry, and the
Lick Branch and Spring Street Ferry Com
pany. Passed.
By Mr.. Cheatham-A resolution con-
structive of certain sections of the Code,
and directory to the Comptroller in rela-
ton to appropriations for the Hospital for
the Insane. Adopted under a suspension
of the rules.
BUSINESS CALLED UP.
Mr.. White called up House bill to amend
an act passed Dec. l, 1869, entitled an act
to amend the criminal laws of the State.
Amended by dismissing all prosecutions
now pending for violation of said law; also,
| to provide that the act shall not take effect
until after LIST NIdrch, 1870.
The bill, as amended, passed second
reading.
THE MASKED MARAUDRR BILL.
House bill providing for the punishment
of masked marauders, being the special or
| der was taken up.
Mr.. Townsend, while decidedly IN favor
of such bill, thought some Of the provi-
sions rather inconsistent with the crimina
laws now in force. A bill of such vast i'm
| pOrtance, he Judged, should be referred to
/ the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Hornberger also favored such bill,
but thought the penalties it imposed too
severe. Capital punishment should not be
inflicted, he thought, for the mere prowl-
ing around in disguise and ASSEMBLING
houses, etc. But while he thought this, he
believed in 50 framing the law that it would
strike terror to evil doors.
| Mr.. Neil advocated the passage Of the
bill. He depicted the enoruities of the
crimes perpetrated by the masked rufians
who are bringing disgrace On the State,
and thought that hardly any punishment
could be too severe for such cOld-blOoded
atrocities. The bill provided that the jury
could reduce the punishment to imprisOn-
ment in the Penitentiary, so that hanging
was not likely to be resorted to even in ex-
treme cases, if at all Still, he would pre-
fer to have the terrOrs Of the gallows en-
bodied in the bill, as a warningto midnight
maraUders.
Mr.. Warren was Of the opinion that the
provisions Of the bill were so unnecessarily
harsh that the bill would be practically IL
| operative. He thought it should be re
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
| Mr.. Agee favored the bill as 1t stood, and
| hoped the House would pass it.
| Mr.. Slack moved that the bill be referred
| to the Judiciary Committee.
| Mr.. Agee moved to lay the motion to
| refer on the table. Carried
On motion of Mr.. Fleming, the bill was
| taken up section by section.
| Mr.. Warren moved to amend the first
| section by giving One-half of the fine in
| fiicted-S5O-tO the informer and the 9TH
er half to the State. Adopted.
| The first section, as amended, was then
adopted
The second section was taken up and
adopted.
The third section providing for punish
ment by hanging or imprisonment for not
| less than ten nor more than twenty-one
years, for assault by maskers, was taken
up.
Mr.. Boyett moved to amend the section
| by striking out the word hanging"
Mr.. Neil moved to lay the motion to
strike out on the table Carried.
The section was then adopted.
The fourth and fifth sections were
adopted
The sixth section, imposing penalties on
| those having information IN regard to
masked providers, and refusing to give the
same, was taken up.
Mr. Rhea moved to amend by excusing
the immediate relatives of the accused
fathers, mothers, etc-from giving such in
| formation.
Some discussion ensued on the merits of
this section.
Mr.. Boyett moved to strike out the entire
section. Lost
Mr.. Neil moved to lay Mr. Rhea's amend
mendment on the table LOst-ayes 80,
noes 80.
The amendment was then adopted.
Mr.. Fleming said he considered the sec
ton as it now stood positive injury, and
he therefore moved to strike it out. Car
ried.
The 9TH section, authorizing the Gov
| erncr to offer a reward of $3.50 for the ar
rest of any guilty party under this law, was
adopted.
A motion to reconsider the vote adopt
ing the section was lost.
< Mr.. Enloe offered an amendment, that it
shall be lawful for law-sbiding citizens to
| organize themselves for ths purpose Of
suppressing lawlessness.
Mr. Steele said there was provision
already in our laws covering the case, and
moved to lay the amendment on the table.
Carried.
Mr.. Walker moved to amend, by provid-
ing that no court martial or military com
mission shall be authorized to claim or
exercise jurisdiction under this law.
Mr.. Steele moved to lay the amendment
on the table. Carried
Mr.. James, of Hamilton, thought the
passage of the bill was simply advertising
to the country that Tennessee was IN a
state of instruction. He would, there
fore, move to refer the bill to the Judiciary
Committee, with instructions to report a
bill in lieu.
Mr. Caldwell favored a reference of the
bill, claiming that its provisions were too
stringent. There were thOught'ess young
men who often go disguised, without any
design of committing murder or other
heinOus offense. The present bill was SO
stringent that its provisions would be sim
ply imperative.
MIR. Cheatham appealed earnestly to the
House to pass the bill as it stood. No pun