Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-09
direct, so that the same shall be equal and

1 IL
uniform throughout the State.
No species of property from which
tax may be collected shall be taxed highe
than. any other species of property o
equal value. But the Legislature shall
have power to tax merchants, pedlar'
and privileges in such manner as they may
from time to time direct. The Legislature
shalllevy aspecialtaxupon incomes derived
from stocks and bonds exempted by The
laws of the United States from taxation
All male citizens over the age of q
years shall be liable to poll-tax of not
less than fifty cents nor more than one
dollar per annum until such age as may
be fixed by law.
Mr.. Carter said he had followed pretty
closely the old Constitution. He had
placed the poll-tax so low that hardly any
white men would be disfranehised by Che
qualification embodied in the franchise
amendment.
Mr.. Gibson proposed to amend the first
paragraph so that the property excepted
shall be held and used exclusively for pub
lie and corporation purposes, etc. The
amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Gibson further proposed to amend
the first paragraph, by inserting $500, in
stead of 81, 600. He thought the except
| ing of 81, 900 worth of property would go
long way in throwing the burden of tax
alton upon real estate. Taxation was the
price of protection, and if there was any
discrimination, it should be on the side of
personal property, which needed the most
protection.
Mr.. Gardner supported the report of
the committee, giving the reasons which
had weighed with him in framing the sec
ton as they had done.
Mr.. Thompson, of Davidson, proposed
to amend by making the paragraph read:
''But the Legislature may except such
(property) as may be held by the State, J."
etc.
The amendment of Mr. Gibson exempt
ing only $500 worth of personal property
instead of 81, 900, was rejected by a vote
of 4S to %.
Mr.. House, of Williamson, thought tax
alton should be uniform, that there should
be general basis. He was in favor of the
section as reported by the committee.
Mr.. Fentress proposed to strike out the
words "cxcept 81 900 worth of property
in the hands of each taxpayer" If
there was any exemption he thought it
should be in favor of real estate. 1t had
been calculated that the exemption of this
81, 900 of personal property would, in the
aggregate, amount to nearly two hundred
millions of dollars.
The hour of adjournment having ar
rived, Dir. Jones of Giles, moved to adj
jOurn, but Withdrew in favor of Mr..
Stephens, who wished to read letter and
present a resolution.
INVITATION.
Mr.. Stephens read the following:
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Feb. 8, 1870
Hon. John G. Brown, President: DEAR
SIR: The merchants of Nashville, desiri-
GUS to testifying their high appreciation
of the manly, conservative and patriotic
action of your honorable body upon all
questions of public interest upon which
you have been called to deliberate, have
unanimously resolved to tender to you,
and through you to the members of the
Constitutional Convention, a compliment
airy dinner. You are, therefore, most
cordially invited to be present at the Mer-
chants Banquet, to be given in this city
on next Tuesday. The exact time and
place will be indicated in the cards of in
yitation, which viii be presented to each
member of the Convention as soon as
they can be prepared. We have the
honor TO be, very respectfully.
MATTHEW MCCLUNY,
JOHN P. WHITE,
JOSEPH B. O'BRYAN,
Com. of Invitation.
Mr.. Stephens offered the following
resolution, which was unanimously
adopted:
Resolved, That the Convention return
their thanks for the invitation so kindly
given, and viii accept the same as ten
dered.
2. That the Secretary of the Conven-
ton furnish copy of these proceedings
to the Committee of Invitation.
Adjourned.
ADDRNDA.
By an oversight the amendment of Mr.
Gardner on the proposition of Mr.. Porter,
of Henry, providing for the vacation of
Judicial offices, was omitted yesterday.
The amendment referred to provides that
all officers shall hold their places thirty
days after the general election provided
for in the amended Constitution. AS this
election has been fixed on the last Thurs
day in July, the present incumbents will
hold their places until the 9th of August
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