Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-09

son.
PROTEST
The following protest was presented and
ordered to be spread upon the journal:
Mr.. Speaker: The undersigned ask leave
to enter their protest against the passage of
House bill No. 14S, TO repeal the statute
which limits the amount of stock that may
be subscribed by Incorporated towns and
counties in aid Of railroads, to one-ffteenth
OF the taxable property of the town or
county, and present herewith their reasons
for voting against the bill. We insist that
as the State debt is one-tfteenth Of the tax
able property Of the State, the creation Of
another debt by a county, and still another
by county town equal TO one-ffteenth Of
the taxable property Of the county and
town is as large a liability as any commu-
nifty ought to assume.
The fact that the constitution requires a
three-fourths majority to impose a tax for
railroad purposes Is no reason why the re-
striction to one-fifteenth should be re-
moved.
The fact that there are persons demand
Ing repeal Of section / ,l42 OF the Code is
sufficient to convince every member Of this
House that some town or county cOntem-
plates the increase of its debt beyond what
is allowed by existing laws.
II debt Of One-ffteenth Of all an indi-
yidual, town or county is worth, is as large
as prudent individual, town or county can
bear, without the necessity of imposing op-
pressive taxation, the fact that three-fourths
or all the qualified voters might impose
greater debt, will not prove that tie debt
would be a wise or prudent one.
a Democracy which insists shat a ma.
JOrity, however large, may do anything, and
that 'cbGtereF il does is right, is agrarian-
ism. 1t Is as much the duty Of Legislators
to protect minorities as TO legislate for ma
jorities.
There may be few communities, which will
oveTburden themselves with debt by
three-fOurths majority, but if there shall be
aRe town or county, which under the oper-
alton of this law shall assume an unWise
debt, the law will be bad one.
The constitution was made for the pro-
lection Of minOrities as well as majOFities.
and not TO legalize and authorize unjust and
unwise action by three foiTths majorities.
The undersigned also protest against the
passage Of so important a measure under
the operation Of the "previOus question"
]. d. TmLMAN,
HIRAM VAUGHN.
Mr.. Tillman offered an amendment which
was adopted, limiting the amount Of stock
to be taken to one-tenth Of the taxable prop
erty.
NEW BILLS.
The following bills were introduced and
passed: By Mr.. Harris: To provide for the
suppression of gambling houses. By Mr..
Cliff: To amend section 106 of the Code.
By Mr.. Trousdale; To extend the jurisdic-
ton of Recorders of Incorporated towns.
NEW RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr.. McGhee: Appointing certain par
ties as trustees of Hamden Sidney Acade-
my, of Knoxville. Laid over.
By Mr.. Frierson: Empowering the Rail-
road Commissioners to fix a reasonable
compensation for the services of attorneys
employed in connection with the sale Of de-
linquent railroads. Laid over.
By Mr.. Dick. Providing for the appoint
ment of an agent to settle all outstanding
claims Of the State against the United
States. Laid over.
By Mr.. Jones: Providing for ad journment
sine die on the 18th inst.
Alter some discussion, in which IL was
stated that the constitutional limit of the
session would not be ended until Tuesday,
the 18th, the resolution was tabled.
HOUSE BILLS iOE SECOND READING.
To change the line between the counties
of Wilson and Rutherford.
Mr.. Speaker Richardson advocated the
bill. Messrs. Sheppard and Martin OppOs-
ing. On taking the vote the bill failed
ayes %, noes %.
SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
To relieve hotel stables from taxation.
Passed.
To repeal the tax on plumbers and gas
filters. Rejected.
RESOLUTIONS TAKEN UP.
Asking railroad companies in the State to
pass free over their roads students of East
Tennesses University. Adopted.
Instructing our Congressional delegation
10 vote for additional legislation for the bet
ter protection of immigrants. Adopted
Providing that members of the General
Assembly shall receive their per diem and
mileage in the old issue notes Of the Bank
Of Tennessee. Tabled.
Directing the Superintendent Of the Capi-
tOl to keep an inventory of the eOnvicts enI-
ployed on the Capitol grounds, etc. Adop-
ted.
Deprecating partisan misapprehensiOn in
regard to the condition Of affairs in Tenne5-
see, and denying the existence of any Ku-
Klux organization in the State, etc.
Mr.. Freeman opposed the resolution,
claiming that there is such an organization
as the Ku-Klux in the State, and detailing
alleged Outrages by members of said Or
ganization. His remarks were interrupted
by a running fire of questions from various
members.
Mr.. Chester advocated the adoption Of
the resolution claiming that there was not
such an organization as the Ku-Klux, and
that the Outrages and offenses committed
were such as are incidental to every com
munity and State. He wanted the aves and
noes on the resolution.
Mr.. Gift hoped the resolution would be
referred to the Judiciary Committee. Such
resolutions he thought, were not calculated
TO do any good, and simply consumed the
valuable time Of the House.
Mr.. Crews endorsed the resolution in the
main and didn't want ID referred. This
thing Of referring would look as Il we were