Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-01
THE CONVENTION
NINETEENTH DAY.

NINETEENTH DAY.
MONDAY, Jan. 81, 1870.-The Conyen
ton met at $50 o'clockA. NJ, President
Brown in the chair.
Prayer by -, after which the jour
nal was read and approved.
ONE SESSION.
Mr.. BrittOn offered a resolution provid
ing for one session of the Convention 6
day, from $3.50 A. NJ. to 4 P. NJ. LalC
over under the rules.
| LIQUOR SELLING.
Mr.. Gaut presented memorial from
citizens of Bradley county, asking that the
| Constitution be so changed as to give cit,
zens of towns, districts and counties
power to regulate liquor selling in theiI
midst by vote of the people.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
Mr.. Gardner, of Weakley, offered the
following, which was referred to the
Committee on Common Schools:
Resolved, That the Committee on Com
mon Schools inquire and report the pro-
| priety of dedicating to educational pur-
| poses such portion of the proceeds of poll
| JdAOo dS SleAll OO III O<AONoo VI bhO
amount received from that source in the
year 1869, such excess to be invested by
the Legislature in such manner as may be
prescribed by law, for the benefit of the
common schools of this State, and the
principal not to be used until the fund
amounts to half a million dollars.
NEW COUNTIES.
Mr.. Fentress presented petitions from
citizens of Hardeman, Fayette and Nc
Marry counties, asking for the formation
of a new county.
BANK OF TENNESSEE.
Mr.. Thompson, of Davidson, offered
the following:
BE it resolved, That in view of the I'M
doubted intention of the State of Ten
nessee, to pay all her just indebtness,
and in view of the embarrassed con-
dition of the State, the Committee ON
Finance be instructed to inquire and re-
port upon the expediency, of recharter-
ing the Bank of Tennessee; and at the
same time to inquire and report upon the
ACCESSIBILITY of memoralizing Congress to
remit in favor of the Bank of Tennessee
the restrictions and penalties imposed on
State Banks by the National Banking
system.
Mr.. Thompson said that such bank,
il it could be obtained, would be able to
pay the interest on its borrowed capital,
and also the current expenses of the State
Government, leaving the entire taxes of
the State to be paid in bonds, coupons
and other evidences of Indebtedness,
which would thus rapidly be retired
RIGHTS OF MARRIED WOMEN.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick introduced the follow
ing:
Resolved, That the Constitution be
amended by incorporating therein the fol-
lowing provision, to-wit:
Section - The property and pccuniary
rights of every married woman at the
time of marriage, or afterward acquired
by right, devise or inherited, shall not be
subject to the debts or contracts of the
husband, and laws shall be passed pro-
viding for the registration of the wifc's
separate property.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
The Chair announced the unfinished
business to be the consider alton of the
report of the Committee on Legislative
Department.
On motion of Mr.. Kennedy, the motion
which he made to reconsider the vote
adopting section % was taken up. Mr..
Kennedy said that as the section now
read, a General Assembly could sit in
definitely by adjOurning a week at a time
after the expiration of the seventy-ive
days. Section %, as reported by the
committee, and adopted on Saturday,
reads as follows:
Sec. %. The sum of four dollars per
day, and four dollars for every twenty
five miles travelling to and from the seat
of Government, shall be allowed to the
members of the General Assembly elected
after the ratification of this Constitution,
as a compensation for their services. But
no member shall be paid for more than
seventy five days of a regular session; or
for more than twenty days of any extra
or called or adjourned session; or for any
day when absent from his seat in the
Legislature unless physically unable to
attend, etc.
Mr.. Kennedy moved 20 strike out the
words adjourned"
Mr.. Jones, of Lincoln, was not in favor
of adjourned sessions.
Mr.. Brown, Of Davidson, occupied the
same ground.
Mr.. Sample said twO-thirds OF the peO-
pie Of the State were in favor of limiting
the Legislature.
Mr.. Baxter thought there should be no
limitation whatever.
Mr.. Baxter moved to strike cut that
portion of the amendment, by the Com
mittee, which limits the Legislature in
point of time Mr.. Bakers amendment
was laid on the table by vote of yeas,
Ga, nays, s.
Mr.. Parker, of Scott, said he repre-
sented two thousand of the qualified
voters of East Tennessee, and he would
here assert upon this floor that nineteen
hundred and ninety -nine of them were in
favor of limiting Legislative sessions.
The word adjourned" was struck out,
after which the section was adopted.
The Convention now proceeded to the
consideration of section 20, which was
read, as follows:
Sec. 20. The General Assembly shall
have power to authorize the several coun-
ties and incorporated towns in the State to
impose taxes for county and corporation
purposes respectively, in such manner as
shall be prescribed by law, and all proper
| ty shall be taxed according to its value,
| upon the principles established in regard
to State taxation.
Bit the credit Of no county, city or torn
| shall be giUeB or loaned TO or in aid Of any
person., company, association or corpora
y, al l., frs.sf L1IyI
| By the qualified C0t6rS Of such county, city
or toaoR, and the assent Of trC6t0urthS Of
| tile gOtes cast at said election. Nor shall
aRy county, city or t0loB 6ec0Re q stock
holder NTH others IN any c0mpaRy, 1850
cidtj0D or corporation, erccpt upon q like
oJectiOB and tie assent Of q like Begjority.
Mr. Jones, of Lincoln, moved to insert
! after the words State taxation, the follow
ing: ''The cOuntyor corporation tax shall
not be greater than the State tax, unless
specially authorized by the General AS
senbly for specific purposes. "
Mr.. Brown, of Davidson, opposed the
amendment because he thought it would
tie down counties and corporations 80 as
to render them pOwerless to meet their en-
gagements.
| MI Jones proposed 10 Changc his
amendment so as to make it read ''The
ordinary county or corporation tax" etc.
Mr.. Kennedy believed this amendment
would prevent large towns from running
their ordinary machinery.
Mr.. Brandon was opposed to the amend
ment.
Mr.. Garner proposed the following
amendment: After the word taxation il
the fourth line add these words, ''ThC