Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-13

large. He moved to postpone the con-
sideration Of the bill to the frst Monday in
February.
Mr.. Speaker Perkins said, in view Of the
vast liabilities of the State, Of the large in
terest to be paid, it was simple folly to talk
OF thirty cents on the hundred dollars for
taxes 1t simply amounted to an indirect,
although not an intentional, attempt at re-
, quotation Anything less than sixty cents
on the hundred dollars would come short
of the mark.
Mr.. Hornberger thought the State was
bankrupt, and he did not see how it could
pay its debts. He was utterly opposed to
having Tennessee Bank notes taken at mar
because such a thing was calculated 20
seriously injure the people of the State.
He favored ths bill before the House.
thought it constitutional, and hoped Il
would pass. Referring to the anfi-rep1dia-
ton meeting held at ClarksvilIe, he secuted
the idea that it represented the people of
his county. He could learn of only three
men being at said meeting-Colonel Bailey
and two others-and they are, as he was
informed, specializing in bonds. They
could afford to speak against reputation
Mr.. Hornberger spoke at considerable
length.
AIR. Rosson favored the immediate pas
sage of the bill, and hoped the House would
not postpone action.
MIR. Singletary moved to lay on the table
the motion to postpone Carried
The question then required, on Mr..
Rhea's amendment, making taxation thirty
cents on the hundred dollars. Tennessee
Bank notes to be taken on par with ma
tional currency
Mr.. Agee moved to lay the amendments
on the table. Carried-syes, 80; noes,
L.
Mr.. Neil spoke against that section of
the bill regulating the value of Tennessee
Bank notes in the payment Of taxes. He
considered it nothing less than a species Of
reputation which should meet with the
sternest reprobstion.
Speaker Perkins reiterated the assertion
that his bill did not contemplate anything
savoring of Reputation. The section in
reference to Tennessee Bank notes, he con
sidered fair and equitable one. Holders
of Bank of Tennessee notes, if they did not
wish to offer them for taxes, could, accord
ing to the provisions Of the bill, fund said
notes, and receive bonds bearing SIX per
cent interest.
Mr.. Cheatham still insisted that every
attempt to place Tennessee Bank notes be-
low par was lodging the Supreme Court
decision, and could not be considered In
any other light than as reputation.
The previous question was called and
sustained on the amendment to substitute
sixty for eighty cents. The question was
put, and the amendment was adopted
ayes, so, noes, II.
Mr.. James, of Hamilton, spoke at some
length against the bill in toto He favored
a much lower rate of taxation than it con-
tsmplated.
Mr.. Townsend moved to strike out that
portion CT the bill which provides for fund
ing the State Indebtedness, except Bank
of Tennessee notes.
Mr.. Rosson hoped the amendment would
not carry.
Before any further action was had, the
House adjourned until % o'clock to-nor-
row morning.
EXPLANATION.
We have received the following note
from Representative Rosson, of Hardeman,
which fully explains itself:
To the Editors of the Union aud hnerican:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NASHVILLE,
Jan. 10, 1870.-In your Legislative report
of Saturday You report me as favOring in
discussion the resolution to appoint COM
mittee to investigate as to what conviets in
the Penitentiary should be pardOnod.
This is reversing my position on that
question. l was the first member on the
floor to oppose the resolution, contending
that it was an unauthorized interference on
the part of the Legislature with both the
Judicial and Executive Departments of the
State government
The courts had given these men fair
and impartial trial before a Jury, with all
the facts before them; and the Governor
had the pardoning power, but the Legisla-
ture had not; and that | regarded Governor
Senter as a humane man, fully competent
to attend to his own business without any
unauthorized interference on the part Of
the Legislature.
In this may be wrong, but if l am,
please publish this card and keep me so, as
| have no desire to deceive anybody on
any position I take. Respectfully yours,
Jos. L. RossoN-