Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-14
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

II A. NJ, Speaker Thomas IN the chair.
NEW BUSINESS.
By Mr.. Nelson-A bin providing that th
State capitol building hereafter shall b
rsed only for meetings Of the General As
sembly, general State Conventions, ST.
preme and Federal Courts, executive an
other State purposes. Passed first readin
and referred to the Committee on Publ
Grounds and Buildings.
By MIR. Luttrell-A bill to amend the &C
incorporating the Knoxville Bridge Compa
ny. Passed first reading and referred Z,
the Committee on interpretations.
By MIR. Peyton-A resolution invitin,
the members of the Constitutional Con
vention to seats within the Senate Cham
Der.
BY Mr.. Etheridge the following:
Whereas, for four years immediatel,
preceding the Inauguration of Gen. GRIM
as President of the United States, q large
majority Of tins people Of Tennessee wer.
taxed to the utmost possible extent. with
out the privilege Of the elective franchise
and Whereas, during that period large
bodies of Federal troops were quartered
throughout the State, under false pretext
that their presence was necessary to the
enforcement Of the laws; and Whereas.
during these four years the people OF
the State were often insulted and
oppressed by an irresponsible State militia
quartered upon the people; and whereas,
six months after the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Grant the people of the State were
permitted, peacefully to regain their pub
lie liberties within the Constitution Of the
United States; and whereas, since the in
kauguration Of Gen. Grant as President, he
has eVinced no disposition to Cypress us
by the military power under his control or
otherwise or to prevent the people of the
State from regaining their liberties peace
| fully and within the limits of the Constitu-
ton; therefore,
Resolved, by the General Assembly Of
the State of Tennessee, That the thanks of
the people Of the State are eminently due
| President Grant for his refusal to adopt the
| counsels OF those who have so long resisted
our attempts TO secure equal and impartial
| freedom to all the citizens of the State
without regard 10 color, former political
| opinions, race or previous condition.
The resolution was adopted by unani-
nous vote.
PERTILIZISG COMPANY.
House bill to incorporate the Pamela Oil
and Fertiizing Company Of Memphis, was
passed on its third reading.
HOUSE BILLS on FIRST READING.
The following bills passed their first
reading and were referred:
To regulate the pay of railroad tax col
lectoTs.
To authorize the erection Of fish trap
IN Clinch river
For the relief of the citizens of Clai-
! borne county.
SENATE BILLS on THIRD READING.
To renew and amend the charter of the
Masonic Temple of Memphis. Passed.
To incorporate Fire Company No , Of
Knoxville. Passed
To incorporate the Wilson County
Sorgho, Syrup and Sugar Manufacturing
Company. Passed.
For the benefit of the taxpayers of Nash
vile. Passed.
ON SECOND READING.
Senate bills incorporating the Memphis
Ice Manufacturing Company, and Cooke
vile Steam, Saw and Grist Mill, passed
their second reading.
The Senate then adjourned till to-mor-
row at 10 o'clock
HOUSE5 OF REPRESENTATIV
THURSDAY, Jan. 13.-The House was
called to order at 81 o'clock, Mr. Speaker
Perkins In the chair.
TENNESSEE AND CONGRESS.
Mr. Caldwell introduced the following
resolution:
Whereas, The present condition of the
State, the opinions of the people and the
character and objects of our legislation
have become the subjects of gross and
unworthy misrepresentation by hireling
press, by resolutions of partisan assem-
blages; and more recently and notably, by
memorial presented to the Congress of
the United States, by certain persons re-
cognized as being the Representatives of
the people of Tennessee in the National
Congress, though accredited to that body
by a popular minority insignificant in num-
bers, and entering upon the high trust in
disregard of the wishes and in defiance
of the well known will of a disfrsn-
chised ba submissive majority; and
Whereas, In the opinion of this General
Assembly, these willful perversions of
the late history of the State, and these
persistent misrepresentation of her
present attitude are calculated, as they
are no doubt designed, to mislead the
Congress of the United States, and excite
distrust and prejudice In the minds of our
fellOw-citizens of other States; and,
Whereas, We regard it as a solemn
duty to the inhabitants of Tennessee, who
yearn for peace, order and equality under
laws passed, administered and executed by
public agents chosen by the governed,
irrespective or race, color, previous con-
dition OF former political opinions, that
the truth. of history be justified by an
authoritative presentation to the national
government and to our fellow citizens of.
other States of the facts which have been
with such ingenious malice tortured into
evidences of disorder and disaffection to
the Federal authority therefore,
Resolved, That joint a committee, con
sisting of = Senators and three Repre-
sentatives, be appointed by the Speakers
or the respective houses, who shall be
charged with the preparation of an ad
dress to the President and memorial to
Congress, in which shall be set forth the
late political history of the State Govern
ment, and the present disposition of the
people and their agents, TO the end that
their attachment and respect for law and
order, and the character and purposes of
their legislation, may be indicated from
the aspersions to which they have been
subjected by those whose claims to the
public confidence rest mainly upon de-
feated effort to perpetuete the political
enslavement of their countrymen.
Resolved, That said committee be in
structed to report said address and me-
mortal at an early day for the approval
of this General Assembly.
Mr.. Caldwell, in supporting the reso-
luton, said that it must be evident to
many, if not all the members of the
House, that some notice should be taken
oft persistent effort TO place the people
of Tennessee and this Legislature in a
false attitude before the country. He
referred to the resolutions adopted in this
hall by the colored men, on the Sd inst,
and to the memorial of Maynard, Brown
low, Stokes, Smith and others, and char
acterized them as scandslously false and
calumnious. He did not doubt their sin
cerity of purpose, and was at no loss for
a motive. A free ballot is fatal to their
ambition, and as a last, desperate resort
they are seen to present the pitiable
spectacle of Tennesseeans appealing 10
Federal power for the reinstatement of
their countrymen, just as they are about
to assume their lost political rights after
long and weary years of misrule and
oppression. While the motive is sin
Gle and not to be mistaken, the pretexts
are various, and evidence the desperate
character of the ventureupon which they are