Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-05

LAS uciQ SCA6rdl 6c4atOtlS, anu gwen tAnC cuH-
/ jet thorough and serious consideration.
We suggest to the Court that this subject
demands their earnest attention and lmnle- /
date consideration. The Importance Of
present action is not exaggerated, and an
unwise postponement win not extenuate
the evils Of The present, nor lessen those of
the future. The time has nearly expired |
when we are to take charge Of all our indi-
4 gent insane patients who are in excess OF |
our legal quota at the Tennessee Asylum. |
To return them there, does not comport |
with sound financial policy, and would be |
condemned by almost the entire tax-paying |
community. 1t becomes the court to de- |
wise some plan In accordance with its abfi- /
/ ity, and according 10 the dictates Of gener- |
Gus philanthropy, that will dOjustice to our |
selves and show generosity TO that unfortu- |
i nate class of our fellow beings-to do work |
that will reward the merits Of christian |
charity, and perpetuate the virtues of an In |
telligent and virtuous community, 10 lay the |
foundations of a charitable enterprise that |
viii grow in our growth and strengthen |
with our strength. This is no longer a |
question Of choice, but approximates nearly |
toward matter of dire and imperative ne
cessity. Our increased population has !
brought its attencent evils, and in |
! creased all such classes of persons
as usually tax the treasury Of the county.
1t presents US with more paupers; more
| aged and infirm; more lame and blind; and
also an increase in the numbers of our I'M
| fortunate insane. We suggest to the Court |
that these accept the grave issues presented
! for their consideration, and of necessity
make distinguished virtue. Not that Yir-
/ tue which says to the pauper, 9Fbe yeclothed
and filed" and looks without sympathy
and with disdain upon the wrecked intel
ligence Of the raying maniac," and the
'moping melancholy of a mind diseased"
but that virtue which is the greatest of all-
charity. The future invites us to progress
| sive action. An intelligent humanity de-
mands it, and the noblest philanthropy en-
courages it. - oas isa
Your committee are of the opinion, aud
so suggest, that it would be inexpedient to
| appropriate any more money towards the
improvement of the County Asylum, O the
construction of more buildings on saiGi farm
for the reception Ofindigent insane p2.tients.
| The timber on that farm is nearly GXhaust-
ed, leaving TO the county the alter native of
buying wood for fuel or hauling coal there
at an enormous expense. Your committee
| think that the charitable institutions of this
county should be located on s ONE railroad
leading into Nashville. .OrT reasons for
this are entitled to some Consideration. In
| the first place, the most heavily timbered
land would soon be exhausted and our de-
pendence for the future is in supplies of
coal, which could be delivered at the very
door of the institution, if located on the rail-
road. Another argument is the fact that
the transportation of applicants for adj
| mission would cost but one-tenth the ex-
I No nv Ho nrTfu in, fIa
transportation of paupers to the County
Asylum, and would make provisions pur-
chased cheaper.
At such locality our charitable institu-
tons could operate to greater advantage,
and dispense their charities under more pro-
pitious Circumstances. In view of a happy
exit from our unpleasant situation and from
the embarrassment which wise forethought
world have perhaps relieved US, your COM
mlttee would suggest to the court the pro-
priety of appropriating the bonds received
from the sale of the county's interest in the
Northwestern Railroad towards the pur-
/ chase of a homestead sufficiently large to
embrace all our charitable necessities, and
combining all the advantages enumerated
above, both in locality and fertility of soil.
If not all the bonds of the Northwestern
Railroad, at least a sufficient number 10
meet the necessities of the occasion, and
that the committee be directed and instruc-
ted to make suitable locality to carry out
the suggestions of this report.
THos. T. SMILEY, Chairman,
THos. G. HARDY,
WIN. B. EWING,
?. w. MAxEY,
j. w. BIGLEY, Committee.
Squire Paul moved that in order to make
the commi tees report more specific that
the report be amended so as to insert "that
the sum of $4,000 of State bonds derived
by the county from the sale of its stock in
the Nashville and Northwestern railroad to
the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad be
appropriated.' After a few explanatory re-
marks the amendment was accepted. Then
ensued lively discussion inaugurated by
Justice Meacham, who severely reviewed
the action of the committee, and stating
that he was unwilling to accept the report
until the committee furnished the court
with such information as would enable the
court to determine the locality Of the asy-
Ium. He was unwilling to place $4,000
bonds in the hands of the committee before
the site was determined upon. The dis
cussion was engaged in by several other
magistrates, and there was a little tongue
whacking, besides rebuke to one of the
members from the court.
The vote was now taken but one of the
magistrates, who asked to be excused from
casting his vote, because he was absent
when the report was read, caused little
| interruption of the roll call; after being in
formed of the purport of the report he cast
his vote and the roll proceeded. Upon
counting the vote it was found that the re-
port failed for want of a constitutional vote,
the number required being thirty-fve, while
the number cast was twenty-five for and
nine against the acceptance of the report.
motion was made to reconsider. .
A motion was made to adjourn.
Justice Paul moved that the report be re-
referred to the committee.
One gentleman called for question OF
order.
Justice Ewing moved to adjourn, stating
j that he was unwilling to remain on COM
D mittee after it had endeavored to discharge
Q its duty for the good Of the county. He
d wanted his name stricken from the commit
a tee, if the efforts of the committee were to
s be ignored by the members of the court.
Justice Ewing was asked not TO insist on
e his name being stricken from the COM
Z mittee.
. Justice Bush, by request withdrew hi:
o The motion to reconsider being put, was
u carried.
Justice Paul renewed bis motion to have
the report referred back to the committee
making it more specific by giving the time
as the first Monday in July in which to re
port.
Justice Maxey then made some remarks
stating that it was inexpedient to have the
=, committee to receive bids, and see different
u persons concerning the locality of the As
, Iyum; 1t would increase the price to be paid
: so per cent. He had known the dog to be
in the msnger many day, and never allow.
ed the OK to eat the hay.
y Justice Saunders stated he would be IN
y willing to serve on the committee.
70 Justice Maxey proceeded to make othel
remarks, saying he was unwilling TO serve
% on the committee; he would not serve OF
u the committee under such circumstances
u he would not act unless he could be giveI
credit for honesty, etc.
The Court rulad him out of order,