Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-18

met at 9 O'Clock A. NJ, Speaker Bond in the
chair and seventy-One members present.
lHoUsE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
The following were passed:
To amend section 2l0S of the Code so as
to allow ten stands of bees for each family
exempted from execution; to define the
character Of proof required to establish
eyeidence of disturbing public worship; to
repeal the act amending the charters of all
incorporated towns and cities; to regulate
the taking of dispositions; TO amend the
law in regard to the sale of turnpikes.
House bill TO provide for the assessment
Of LANDS along the line between Jefferson
and Hamblen counties was rejected.
THE ASSESSMENT BILL.
The Senate assessment bill, as amended
by the House, passed its third reading and
was ordered TO be transmitted TO the Senate.
JURISDICTION OF JUSTICES OF TIE PEACE,
House bill to give justices of the Peace
exclusive original jurisdiction of all mis-
deineanOrs was taken up on its third read
ing as special order.
While Mr.. Gibson, the author Of the bill,
was speaking in advocacy of his PROPOSE
ton, some mention was made of Senate
bill relating to the same subject having
been recommended for passage by the COM
mittee, which it seems had been mislaid
or taken from the Clerks desk. Mr.. Glib
son charged the Chairman Of the Commit
tee on the Revision of the Criminal Laws
with eulpable negligence in regard to this
bill, aud said that when the committee did
act they reported the Senate bill in lieu Of
the House bill. He had enquired at the
Clerks desk from day to day about this
Senate bill, and the uniform answer was
that there was no such bill in the House.
Mr.. Jamis0n, in reply, read from the
House index book the title of the Senate
bill and the action Of the House in passing
it on its first reading. He said that if
members would pocket bills and then refer
TO them as having been taken away from
the Clerks desk, he, as the chairman Of the
Committee on the Revision of Criminal
Las, could not be held responsible for
them.
MIR. Gibson inquired fthe gentleman in
tended that as a charge against him.
Mr.. JamisOn replied that if it did not
apply 10 him he need not take it.
Mr.. Gibson said that he had frequently
heard Of men sheltering themselves under
that WOrd-sif."
Mr.. JamisOn remarked that he stood re-
sponsible for any words that he uttered
there or elsewhere, and that if the cap fit
the gentleman from Campbell, he could
wear il. As chairman Of the committee,
he felt authorized TO recommend any bill
thsAthe committee might order to be re-
ported; and be did not think this was a
cause for which members should have in
suits Haunted in their faces.
Mr.. Cummins opposed the bill and advo-
Gated one that he proposed in lieu, but
which was ruled out Of order.
Mr.. Bullen objected to the bill mainly
upon the ground that the negro population
would take advantage Of it.
Mr.. Nc illan said: / cannot support
this bill. l am unutterably opposed 10 it.
This Legislature has made many radical
changes IN the law. They have proposed
to make, and will probably succeed in
making, the stealing Of sums less than $50
a misdemeanOr, and now, by this bill, pro-
pose TO give Justices Of the Peace exclusive
jurisdiction OF at misdemeanors. The trial
Of misdemeanOrs by juries is to be abolish
ed; the inquisitOrial power to look after and
ferret out crime is TO be thrown away. No
counsel Is to be provided by the State to
prosecute those who violate her laws.
Every safeguard against crime is to be |
broken down. a premium will be placed |
upon crime. LawieSsneSS viii be the order |
Of the day, for there will be no grand iury
to send for witnesses and institute prose. |
cutiOn.
Nor are these the only evils to flow from
the passage Of this bill. In many parts Of |
the State we have negro magistrates. White |
men will be brought before them and tried |
at the cOiOred forum. And the statutes |
against caime will be powerless while it is
in the power of the negro offender to re-
move his trial to a negro court. Where |
would 60 your larceny cases2 Where your
prosecutions for disturbing public Worship9 |
Where the whole catalogue Of INSIDE |
With no one sworn to pre-
sent and no one with the duty of prose-
cutting resting upon him, things would 90 |
the way of all the earth. appeal to the |
Of this House, in the name of |
peace and prosperity, in the name of the |
outraged laws of Tennessee not to let this
bill pass.
The bill was rejected by a vote of "a to /
80, and a motion was entered TO recon-
slider.
MADISON COUNTY LAW AND COUNTY
COURT.
House bill to create a common law and /
chancery court for Madison county was
-akeD up on Senate amendment, and the
was concurred in.
The House took a recess until 2 O'Clock
P. n.