Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-16
Afternoon Session.

Afternoon Session.
Convention called to order at 3:45.
SHALL CONVICTED LAWBREARERs WORK
FOR TIE STATE.
Judge HickersOn offered the following:
Resolved, That this committee recon-
mend to the people Of the State the impor-
tance Of amending the criminal laws of
this State, SO as that petit larceny shall
consist in the felORiOus taking and carry
ing away the personal property of another
OF value over $40 and under S25, and grand
larceny shall consist in the felOniOuS taking
away the personal property of another OF
81 and upwards; that the larceny of per-
s0u2l property Of the value Of $40 and un-
der shall be declared high misdemean0r
and shall be punished by fine of not less
than $50 nor more than $3.50, at the disere-
tan OF the jury trying the same and by inn
prisOnnen, in tue county jail where con-
victed, not less than one nor more than
i've years at the discretion Ofthe jury trying
the same, and that any person 50 convicted
sssll be compelled to
WORK on THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS
in the country where convicted, during the
whole period for which he was sentenced,
exceps when physically unable from sick
ness, and until he Pay all the cost which
accrued in the prosecution of the cause. and
also the me adiUdsed against him, and thai
lie De allowed 20 cents for each day he NAV
labor upon such highways. And when any
person has been convicted Of anv Offense
and las been fined and sentenced TO con-
iinement in jail for any period Of time. he
shall be compelled to work upon the public
highways Of said county during the period
works out the fine and cost adjudged
against him, at - cents per day,and to this
end
Resolved. That this convention recon-
mend that law be passed creating the Of
fee of
sUPEMNTENDENT OF PUBLIC ROADS
in each county, 70 be filed by appointment
of the several County Courts, and that per-
sons semitic the county Jail as a punish
meIt, Or for failure TO secure the fine and
cost adjudged against him, be placed under
the control Of such Superintendent, under
such restrictions as may be directed by law,
and that such persons be compelled to labor
upon such highways, under the direction
and control ofthe Superintendent, until he
is discharged according to law. And when
any one county may feel unable to paw a
salary sufficient to support Superinten-
dent for taking charge of such prisoners
and working them upon the highways, that
two or more counties may join in employ
ing Superintendent, and may place the
prisoners of tl.eir several counties under
his direction and control on such terms as
they may agree upon.
The resolution was not adopted.
SALARY FOR ATTORNEYS GENERAL.
Attorney General Mcknight offered the
following:
Resolved, that the Attorneys General OF
the different judicial circuits for the prose-
cutiOn Of all felOnies be allowed a stated
salary Of 1880 per annum, to be paid
quarterly out of the State Treasury, upon
the warTan. of the Comptroller.
That for the prosecution of misdemean-
OrS, he be allowed the same fee as the law
now provides in cases of conviction, and
that in no case of aequittal of misdemean-
or. in which the county has the cost 10 pay,
shall he be entitled to any fee, and that all
laws in conflict with this resolution be re-
pealed.
The resolution was not adopted.
.CoNTINUANCES.
Attorney General Morgan offered the fol-
lowing, which was adopted:
Resolved, That we respectfully recon-
mend the repeal Of section 520S of the Code
which gives defendants @One continuance
upon affidavit that there is too great an ex-
10 his prejudice 10 come to trial
at the first term at which the case was
triable,' and that hiscause Of continuance,
like all Others, should be left to the sound
discretion Of the court.
SEVERANCTS
Judge Flippen offered the following:
Resolved, That the act of the last Legis-
lature granting severances TO defendants on
their simple application, be repealed, as the
statute greatly increases the costs 10 the
State and county, and is never necessary to
an innocent person.
Adopted.
The following named were appointed a
committee on address, in Pursuance with
the resolution to that effect adopted on
Wednesday: judges Rice, Fite and Hick-
eTsOn:
EiEMOR1ALIZING OUR LAW MAKERS.
On motion of Attorney General Morgan
a committee consisting of Judges McIe-
more, Flippen and H0gle, was appointed
for the purpose Of laying before the next
legis, Azure the result of the labOrs Of the
THANKS.
On motion Of Attorney General Morgan
a vote of thanks was returned Judge Guild,
Chairman Of the Convention, and Attorney
General Hacker, Secretary, for the efficient
manner in which those gentlemen had dis
charged their duties. and also to the report
ers Of the city press for the manner in
which the proceedings Of the convention
have been reported.
ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE
The business before the convention hay
ing been disposed of and a motion having
been made 70 adjourn SiRe de, Judge Guild
arose and after thanking the convention for
the honor conferred upon him in calling
him to the chair and in the complimentary
resolution just adopted, said he was salts
fled that the convention had not adopted q
single prODOsiliOn which was not Of a most