Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-18
BARGAINs. BARGAINs,

for tax too low to meet the necessary pay
ment of the State. He regarded it as no less
disgraceful for State to repudiate her debt
than for an individual to fail to meet his en-
gageInents. His opinion was that to bank
rupt the State was to bankrupt the people,
for they composed the State. Therefore, the
tax TO be assessed should be not only suf-
icient to meet the expenses of government,
but also to redeem the old issue and out
standing warrants and to pay the floating
debt. Any tax which would meet these
payments would receive his support, and he
believed that fifty cents would just do it and
no more.
There was another view to be taken Of
this question. Here were the merchants
from all parts of the country pouring in pc
titions for reduction of taxes, and he be-
lieved they were right in doing so, for he
could not conceive why they should be COM
PEELED to pay an Onerous tax for the privi-
lege of selling. Now, if this privilege tax
should be reduced or removed, there would
be a decrease in the revenue and it could
only be made up by general tax at a sutfi-
ciently high rate. He would therefore sup
port the bill.
Mr.. Trousdale advocated a tax Of forty
cents on the hundred dollars. The people
were anxious to pay their debts, but they
should not be taxed higher than necessary
He referred at some length to the cry of
reputation, and remarked that every mem
Der who had spoken on this subject had
scorned the idea of repudiating the debt of
the State.
Mr.. Scarborough said that, in his opinion,
fifty cents was as low rate as could be
adopted with safety. 1t would be impOssi-
bic to cancel all the Indebtedness of the
State, but care should be taken not to let
fresh Indebtedness accumulate till tie State
would be forced 10 Tepudiate-a consUm-
nation that he knew his constituents ab-
horred.
Mr.. Chambers asked: If with tax of
sixty cents the State could not keep out Of
debt, how much of surplus would thirty
cents give? There could be only one reply
to it; a reduction of thirty cents was practi-
cal alrepudiation. He would yield 20 no man
in defense of the hard working citizens Of
this State, but he would not permit himself
to believe that any of his constituents wished
to repudiate their honest debts. Equal jus
tice to all ''though the heavens fall" should
be the policy of this Legislature. Fifty cents
on the hundred dollars was as low as they
could afford TO 90 for the present.
Mr.. Cliff moved that the debate be post
poned until Tuesday next.
Mr.. RossOn said week had already been
consumed in discussing the first section of
this bill, and if adjourned until next week iJ
might take another week to pass it.
Nj. Harris opposed the motion, and said
it was the duty of every man who desired
TO protect the interests of the people to stay
and fight the high tax men till they defeated
them.
The House rose for recess at 1915 P. NJ.
Afternoon Session
After some discussion on the motion of
Mr.. Gift to postpone the debate till Tues
day at 10 O'Clock, Mr.. Hinckle moved the
previous question. Lost.
After further discussion, the vote on post
ponement was taken up and lOst-ayes y,
noes Al.
Mr. Mccall moved to strike out "ffty"
and insert ''thirty."
Mr.. Enloe called for a division of the
question.
Mr.. Waters spoke in opposition to a rate
of fifty cents on the hundred dollars. He
approved of forty, but rather than vote for
an oppressive tax Of fifty cents, he would
give his support to the amendment.
Mr.. Crews insisted on a division Of the
question.
The chair decided that the vote should lie
taken on the amendment to insert ''thirty.".
The amendment To insert "thirty" was
finally Withdrawn.
On motion, the previous question was
! called fol.
Avote was taken on the motion to strike
out '.fifty." Carried by the following votes
Ayes-Messrs. Allen of Cooke, Allison of
Smith, Anderson, Bean, Carr, Cheatham,
Gift, Colquett, Cottrell, Crews, Doss, Eckel,
Ellis, Enloe, Farmer, Freeman, Gore, Guild,
Harris, Hinkle, Houston, Jones, Lumpkin,
Leach, Lynn of Dyer and Lauderdale, Linn
of Fayette, Magil, Martin, Mccall, Nc
Campbell, McCollum, McGaughey, McGill,
McGlothlin, McNew, Nowlin, Padgett,
Paine, Parker, Pearson, Pryor, Rosson,
Samsell, Snipes, Tolley, Trousdale, Walters
and Wester-4S.
Noes-Messrs. Allen of Meigs, Polk and
McAIinn, Blevins, Buford, Chambers, Cross,
Dick, FurgusOn, Fields, FriersOn, Gordon,
Lewis, Moore, McGhee, Scarborough, ,She)-
herd, Spears, Tillman, Thomas, Vaughn,
| Wilson, and Mr.. Speaker RicardsOn-2l.
Mr. Shepherd moved to insert ''forty
| FIVE"
Mr.. Enloe moved to lay the amendment
on the table. Carried-ayes, 45; noes, %.
Mr.. Snipes moved to insert 'forty.n
| Mr.. Mccall moved to lay the amendment
on the table. Lost-ayes, q; noes, as.
The motion was then carried by the fol-
| lowing vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Allen, of Polk, Meigs and
McAlinn, Bean, Buford, Chambers, Cheat
ham, Cliff, Colquett, Cottrell, Cross, Dick,
Doss, Eckel, EnlOe, Farmer, Furguson,
Fields, Frierson, Gore, Guild, Hinke, Hous-
ton, Jones, Leach, Linn of Fayette, Magill,
| Martin, Moore, Mccall McCollum, Nc
| Glughey McSill, McGlOthlin, NOwlin, Paine,
Pearson, RossOn, Samsell, Scarborough,
Shepard, Snipes, Talley, Tillman, Thomas,
Trousdale, Vaughn, Walters, Wester, VIII
son, and Mr.. Speaker Richardson-49.
! Noes-Messrs. Allen Of Cooke, Ander-
son, Bleyins, Carr, Ellis, Crews, Freeman,
Gordon, Harris, Lumpkin, Lewis, Lynn OF
Dyer and Lauderdale, McCampbell, Nc
Ghee, McNew, Padgett, Parker, Pryor and
! Spears 10.