Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-02-20
FROM NASHVILLE.
The House Refuses to ceasufe the State
Convention.
Probable Early Adjournment Of Both Bodies.
The csnysHiion Makes a Musdls Of the
MERCHANTS Tax.
Important Constitutional Proyision Affect
ing Amendments.
sEEcIAL ro 1lE,lPH1s APPEAL.

NASHVILLE, February 19.-Senate.-
Proceedings in the Senate were barren
Of interest.
John Overton, Michael Burns, and
Gen. Nancy, all Of this city, were
confirmed as Directors Of the Peniten-
tiary.
House resolution providing that
the Legislature adjOurns to the first
Monday in May, was adopted, but
was subsequently amended in the
Senate by fixing the time of adjourn
ing for 28th inst.
The House refused to concur in the
amendment, and postponed its con-
sideratiOn until the 2Sth.
1t is pretty certain that the Legisla-
ture will adjourn about the It'll Of
March, if not sooner.
The House resolution denouncing
the poll tax provision amendment to
the Constitution as an outrage, was
tabled by vote of IS to 10.
The House resolution providing for
employing an attorney TO protect the
States interests in Shelby county, was
discussed at some length, and finally
recommitted to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
C0aUe'atiOa.-A resolution was intro
duced that the Convention adjourn
sine die next Tuesday.
An appeal from the merchants Of
West Tennessee was read in regard to
the merchants tax.
On motion Of Mr.. Stephens, the
Convention ree0nsidered its action on
leaving it to the Legislature to tax
merchants, and the following amend
ment offered by him was adopted:
"The portion of the merchants capi-
tai used in the purchase Of merchan-
disc sold by him to non-residents, and
such beyond this State, shall not be
taxed at a rate higher than the
ad valOrem tax on property"
The Convention refused to suspend
the rules for the purpose Of taking up
the following proposition offered by
Mr.. House:
" Nor shall that portion of a mer-
chants capital used in the purchase of
merchandise sold by him to resident
citizens of the State be taxed more
than double the rate OF ad valorem on
property"
A proposition was introduced, which
les over, that white men shall be tried
by white jurors.
A proposition reported by the Judi
ciary Committee was adopted, that no
Convention or GeneralAssembly of the
State shall act upon any amendment
of the Constitution of the United
States, proposed by Congress to thesev-
eral States, unless such Convention or
General Assembly Of this State have
been elected after such amendment is
submitted.
The Convention adopted an amend
ment that no bonds shall be issued
to railroads which have failed to
pay interest on bonds previously
loaned, or that should. dispose of bonds
loaned at less than par.
The ConYention viii adjourn on
Tuesday or Wednesday. It is in se5-
sion tonight.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH.
NASHVILLE, February I9.-The
House Of Representatives to-day re-
jected by large majority the resOlu-
tion declaring the provision of the
Constitution adopted by the State
Convention, requiring q prepayment
of the poli-taX before exercising the
right of suffrage, an outrage upon the
voters of Tennessee. It was this pro-
vision that caused Geo. W. Jones to
secede from the Convention, and to
declare that he would oppose the rati-
ficatiOn of th6 amended Constitution.
The Convention adopted the amend
ment providing that no Legislature
shall i4tltY an amendment proposed
TO the Federal Constitution unless said
Legislature shall have been chosen
subsequent TO the submission of the
amendment by Congress.
The protest Of the merchants Of
Shelby, against the amendment Of the
Constitution leaving the subjecto Of tax
alton on merchants TO the Legislature,
was read, and the vote adopting said
amendment was reeORsidered.
The Convention then adopted the
amendment declaring that the portion
of merchants capital used in the pur-
chase of goods sold to nOn-residents
shall not be taxed ct a higher rate
than an 0d g,Z5oreHl tax on property.
It refused TO consider the proposition
to include the capital used in the pur-
chase Of goods sold to residents.