Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-01-15
NASHVILLE
Proceedings Of the Houss aad Senate
Yesterday,


NASHVILLE, January l3.-In the
Senate a petition from sundry citi-
zens Of jefferson county was pre-
sented, praying for the removal of
James 81. Randolph, Judge Of Second
Circuit. and II. c. Smith, Chancellor.
Mr.. Slaughter offered the following:
WHEREAS, 1T appears that upon
the organization Of this legislature
there was adopted resolution
which provides that whilst we
then admitted that there might
have been some Of the State bonds is
sued within the last i0ur years inn
properly used or injudiciously appro-
priated, still we then looked upon the
State officials who issued said bonds
as the legally constituted authorities
and do so now, and that we then
recognized the same obligations to
pay what is called the new bonds that
we did the old, and that we then be-
heved with the rapidly increasing
productions Of the fertile soil of our
State, and the rapidly increasing man
ufacturing and mercantile industry of
the country, and the consequent in
crease of business Of our railroads, the
State liabilities could be met at an
early day, aud that we then thought
it was not desirable to increase the in
debtedness of our State, and that we
did then most solemnly oppose the
doctrine Of population; and where
as, il further appears that this
Legislature and the taxpayers of
the State at that time were
not in the possession of the real facts
as to the cause and the manner in
which the liabilities Of the State had
become so enormous; and whereas, it
further appears that during the pro-
ceedings Of the Legislature it became
necessary to appoint q special Joint
committee to investigate the cause
and character Of the indebtedness of
the State, and the condition Of our
railroads and the bonds issued for
their support, aud to report TO the
Legislature the result OF their labOrs; ;
and whereas, it further appears from
the various reports of said committee
that the astounding fact has been de-
velOped that the State of Tennessee
has been involved in a debt Of untold
millions of dollars, through the
fraud of different parties and COM
panies, which fact was not known
at the time Of the adoption of
said resolution; and whereas, it is
further apparent to the minds of the
members of this body that it is i'm
possible 10 meet the pressing demands
against the State of millions of dollars,
and the 8ccruing interest thereon at
our present rate Of taxation, or at
what it is now proposed to be fixed
by this body; therefore be it
BesOlU6d By the General Assembly OF
the State Of Tennessee, That the Comp
trOller Of the Treasury and the Treas
urer of the State of Tennessee be and
are hereby prohibited from receiving
from any railroad company or any
other company, corporation or in
dividual in payment of any debt due
the State the bonds issued since the first
day Of October, 1860, or the coupons
clipped therefrOm, and that all
of said bonds issued since said lst day
of October, 1865, are hereby repudi-
ated and deeiar6d null and v9id. Lies
over under the rule.
House bill for the benefit Of persons
who have lost their grant or deeds Of
conveyance to their lands in the
Ocoee district, was passed on third
reading.
House bill TO protect life and pre-
serve property on railroads. was re.
jected.
Senate bill to release to the Ten
nassee Agricultural and Mechanical
Association the claim Of the State
against the United States for dam
ages TO the old Fair Grounds, passed
third reading.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Alexander Ragan, member
from Cooke county, appeared and took
the oath.
Mr.. Jones presented a petition from
the citizens Of Memphis asking the
repeal Of section 9 Of an act passed
March ,, 1870, amending the charter
Of Memphis relative to the meat mar
ket.
The following bills were introduced
By Mr.. Rhea: To compensate GER
tain attorneys.
By Mr.. Jones: To repeal section
OF an act passed March ,, 1870, in re-
lation to the meat market Of Mem,
phis.
BY Mr.. Cheatham: To incorporate
the Tennessee Insurance Company.
BY Mr.. McBath: To amend the
criminal laws relative to misdemeau
ors.
By lIr. Everett: For the benefit G
teachers of public schools:
F By Mr.. Steele: To amend the laws
relative to peddlers.
BY Mr.. James Hamilton: TOrePeaI
an act to increase the pay Of County
Registers.
TheSenate resolution requesting the
Governor 20 employ counsel to defend
certain parties, who have been indict
ed under the Fourteenth Amendment
70 the Constitution Of the UniteC
States, was rejected.
The Senate bill to change the tim,
Of holding the Circuit Courts in the
Twelfth and Thirteenth Circuits, and
the Chancery Court Of the Third Di
vision, was passed on the third read
ing.
A WRANGLE OVER OUR INDEBTED
MSS.
Associated Press Dispatch
NASHVILLE, January 1.-The Leg
islature will probably do nOthing
more 10 render the financial cOndi
tiOn Of the State better than to in
crease the taxation ten per cent. Tht
Senate proposes to double the present
tax, but the House will not agree to &
higher tax than fifty cents on the hun
dred dollars. A proposition was made
in the Senate to-day, declaring all the
State bonds issued since the lst Of Oc
tober, 1865, null and void, and in
structing the State financial officer