Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-28

IHE ABPOhIAONMEN1 BILL
House bin to apportion the Congressional
districts of the State, was taken up on third
reading.
Mr.. Windle offered an amendment to
transfer Sevier county from the second to
the third 4 Roane from the third to the
second { dct. Rejected.
Mr.. Brandon moved to amend by trans
ferring Hardin county from the seventh to
the sixth, and Dickson from the sixth to
seventh district. He explained that the
proposed change was merely to suit the
wishes of the people residing in the coUn-
ties referred TO. It would make no peliti-
cal change, and would merely tend to equal
lie the population of the sixth and seventh
districts.
Mr.. Warren said be had a letter on his
desk which informed him that there were
not dozen men in Hardin county who de-
sired to be detached from the seventh dis
trict. --..r ..-.a.-.r.
Mr.. Tharpe askedthe Senator from Stew
art (Mr. Brandon) why he did not propose
to transfer Perry instead Of Hardin from
the sixth to the seventh district if his object
was to equalize the population of the two
districts.
Mr.. Brandon said he desired compact
ness of form as well as equality in popula-
ton in the districts, and the former could
not be obtained by the change suggested.
Mr.. Merritt said it was evident that a
majority Of the Senate had determined on
driving this bill through without amend
ment. He did not believe the districts had
been laid out as fairly as they could have
been and he would feel obliged TO vote
against the measure.
Mr.. Earnest said it would be utterly i'm
possible to satisfy every one, no matter how
the State might be redistriCted. He was
opposed 10 amendments because he knew
If one change were made in the bill fifty
Others would be proposed and the measure
would be torn to pieces. 1t would simply
result in defeating the principal object for
which the Assembly had been convened
the redistricting of the State. These were
bis reasons for opposing any amendment
that might be offered. He believed it i'm
possible to make a change for the better in
the bill.
The amendment was rejected-ayes g,
noes Is.
Mr.. Mcconnell opposed the bill on the
ground that it was unjust and framed to
promote the interests of the dominant party
ofthe State.
At IL O'Clock the Senate adjourned tothe
Hall of the House of Representatives to
elect Registers Of the Land Offices, and on
returning to the Senate Chamber took q re-
cess.
The Senate reassembled at 2 O'Clock.
HOUSE BILLS ON FIRST READING.
To provide for the current expenses Of
the General Assembly. Passed.
To provide for the editing and publish
ing the reports of the Supreme Court of
Tennessee and to amend the act on that
subject. Passed.
To amend the charters of incorporated
towns of the State. Passed.
To enable the Railroad Commissioners
to adjust and settle the Indebtedness Of the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company
TO the State, on account Of the purchase of
the Memphis, GAINESVILLE and Louisville
Railroad. Passed.
To authorize the Governor TO appoint
agents for the settlement Of claims between
the State and the United States Govern
ment. Passed.
To enable the Railroad Commissioner to
perfect the title Of the MCMinnville and
Manchester Railroad Company on its pur-
chase from the State. Passed.
To afford relief to litigants. Passed.
To legalize the acts of the Governor in
buS pIOlCCblbu dllu CdlC VI tic dlG4lNCS VI
the State, etc. Passed.
EX-GOV. TROUsDALE.
House joint resolution to appoint joint
committee to attend the funeral of Ex-Gov.
Trousdale at Gallatin tomorrow was con-
CURED N. Messrs. Ridley, Brandon and
Patterson were appointed to the committee.
HOUSE BILLS ON SECOND READING.
To amend the act to revise the rules Of
Chancery practice. Passed,
70 repeal rule of the act to revise the
rules Of Chancery practice. Rejected.
To amend the act to reOTganize and Tegu-
late CO amOn schools. Rejected.
To provide for settlement of the States
debt against the Tennessee and Pacific Rail
road. Passed.
By Mr.. Coulter: To define the qualifca-
ton of jurors.
TIE REDIsTRICTING BILL.
The debate on the redistricting bill was
resumed by Mr.. Mcconnell. He said he
desired 10 raise this question above mere
party politics. He cOntended that the bill
had been framed with the object Of depriv-
ing the minority in the State of any repre-
sentative in Congress.
Mr.. FOLEY deuied that the object of the
bill was to crush the Radical party. 1t had
never been the policy of the Democratic
party 10 crush its opponents by prescription
or by any other means than the ballot.
The object of the bill was to secure a cor
rect representation for Tennessee, as a
STATE, in Congress. He believed that to be
an object founded in right and Justice.
Each representative in Congress was the
representative of State, and not Of a mere
Congressional district.
He referred to the fact that the whole
trouble with this bill lay between Middle
and West Tennessee, and was not ques-
ton of party. He claimed that the act Of
Congress under which the appOTtionment
was made had been complied with as nearly
as possible. He had no fear that the Radi-
cal majority in Congress would attempt TO
annul this act. They were already too
deeply STEPPED in crime TO dare to abridge
further the liberties of the people. He
quoted from Daniel Webster's works to
show that the Legislature OF Tennessee,
alone, had jurisdiction in apportiOning the
Congressional districts in this State.
Mr.. Tharpe suggested that as there was
some doubt rs 10 tie cOnsltutonaIty Of
adopting a House bill in lieu Of Senate
bill it might be well to pass the
measure on first reading to-day, second
tomorrow, and third on Friday next, so
as to place its validity beyond question.
Mr.. DuBOse cOncurred i n the suggestion.
After some further discussion,
Mr.. Coulter exhibited a map Of the ap
portionment proposed by the Radical rep
resentatives 10 the other House, which, he
said, out Heroded Herod. The Democratic
party had been arraigned in the Senate on
a charge of gerrymandering the State, but
no plan had been presented by the
minority, in lieu Of the bill of the
committee except the one introduced by
the Radicals in the other House, and
vot d for by them unanimously. 1t
wa very easy to find fault, but he
al vet to see a better one offered in lieu