Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-14

Finance, Ways and Means.
Mr. Cummins offered the following re.
olution:
Whereas, it is alleged, on the floor Of th
House Of Representatives Of this seth Ger
eral Assembly Of the State Of Tennessee,
that grave charges Of bribery and corrup
ton, in the election Of State officers, an
the passage Of certain measures by the 3St
General Assembly Of this State, have Be-
made and vOuched for in sworn statt
ments in the possession Of the House
therefore,
Resolved, that a committee Of sever
consisting Of two on the part Of the Senat
and i've on the part Of the House, be ap
| pointed, whose duty it shall be to invest
| gate said charges and make report thereon
and that said committee shall have pOWe
to send for persons and papers, administe
Oaths, compel the attendance of witnesses
and do and perform all such acts as may b
necessary to discover the truth Of saiC
charges.
Mr.. Cummins moved to suspend the
rules. Carried.
Mr.. Cummins-In moving the adoption
Of this resolution, | beg leave to state fOl
the information Of this House that the
COMMITTEES appointed by the House to in
vestigate certain charges have before them
certain information substkntiating these
charges. They are Of such grave charac-
ter, attacking the honor and integrity OF
certain persons, that they should not be
allowed to pass unnOticed. Suffice it to
say that the House has the word of the
committee that the charges do exist and
can be substantiated. They should be
probed to the bottom and the guilty parties
should be held up to public seorn aud con-
demnation such as they deserve.
Mr.. Head offered the following amend
ment: provided that no member of the
present General Assembly shall be ap-
pointed on said committee who was a
member Of the Thirty-eighth General As
sembly.
MIR. Noblitt-I would prefer that the
amendment should not be received. l
have no doubt that every member Of this
General Assembly that was reelected, is
perfectly willing to have his conduct in
vestigated as far as it is possible to inyes-
tigate. no not think that there is any
necessity for that amendment.
Mr.. GibSon-I hope the gentlemen from
Wilson will withdraw that amendment for
this reason: 1t is pregnant with the in
ference that the returned members desire
to get on the committee. 1 am satisfied
that the sense Of honor and delicacy in the
bosom Of every returned member would
induce him to decline to serve upon the
committee.
Mr.. Head withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. Finlay-I understand from the
mover Of the resolution that il comes to
him in the shape of a deposition before the
Committee of Investigation, and this is
made upon the report of a member Of that
committee before the report and proof come
before this House. do not think that it
is wise to precipitate this question upon
this House. We are acting as a part Of
this Legislature, and think it would be
well to postpone the consideration of this
matter until the report Of that committee
and the deposition itself, which tells the
story, are presented. Are We going 10 in
Yestigate everybody in the last Legislature?
Are we going into this general system Of
investigation Of characters of individuals all
over the State2 l think il contrary to our
duty as members Ct this General Assembly;
but, when the matter comes before this
House upon the report Of the investigating
Committee, then il will be the proper time
for the House to take into consideration the
matter which the gentleman insists is Of
so much Importance. That we may have
more light before US, and that we may not
occupy the time Of the House unnecessari-
ly, move that the consideration Of this
matter be postponed until Monday week.
Mr.. JamisOn moved to amend the resOlu-
ton by inserting after the word measure,
Cor any other question" which was ac-
cepted.
Mr.. Finlay renewed his motion for post
pOnement.
Mr.. Galloway believe it is the unani-
nous sentiment Of my constituency that, if
the slightest hint or suspicion comes before
The House that any Of their servants were
guilty in the remOtest degree Of corruption,
We should Investigate it as soon as we hear
it and expose all the corruption that has
been entered into.
Mr.. GibsOn-I desire to join hands with
he gentleman from Fayette and Shelby
lMr. Galloway in demanding investiga-
ion Of this matter. The honor Of the State
s concerned; her integrity has been as
sailed; and when the honor Of q State is
attacked in this manner il seems to ne that
N honest OutbuTst Of indignation should
nerve her to resent any pOstpOnement,
however slight, of this matter. Postpone
nent is conniTance at the wrong thai has
)een perpetrated. Suppose, Mr.. Speaker,
-Our honor as a man is aSsailed; suppose
he honor of any member Of this House is
Lssailed, and he should say, "Well, 1 be-
ieve 1 viii pus off the investigation Of this
natter until next week" What does such
postponement signify? It is pregnant
With the truth Of the charge. There
hould be no pOstpOnement, and l will say
o the gentleman from Shelby (Mr.
Finlay) who is such a strict con-
tructiOnist, that the committee appointed !
n the House to investigate the COmptrol- |
ership has no jurisdiction to investigate |
his matter. It is something that came /
ut before us accidentally, so to speak, and /
( such sufficient importance, in the unan-
nous judgment of that committee, as to
emand an instantaneous, thorough and /
aarching investigation. They we're
harges made under oath, pointed, specific
nd unmistallable, showing how measures
re too often put through the Legislature
f the State of Tennessee. ] insist that |
be people want this system Of bribery and
eruption forever ended. They want the
ppOrtunity 10 see some man gibbeted to
0 the public scOrn, who has been Sacri-
cling the interests Of the people for the
axe Of his individual benefit, and l do |
Ope that the House will at once promptly
nd unanimously authorize the appoint
nent Of a committee who will |
eaTch, investigate and probe; who will
race and bring up before the House
lembers who are implicated by that
worn testimony, and such other members
8 the proof may show to have sacrificed
bis tax-Oppressed people by heaping bur
ems upon them for their Individual action
nd benefit. It does seem to me that any |
Of action upon our part az
,cts the honor Of this very body. in be-
alf Of my constituency, I protest against
ny delay whatever.
Mr.. Speers-If understand the object of
be resolution before the House, it is 10 in
estigate a charge Of corruption against
lembers Of the last General Assembly. If
understand the argument Of the gentle
ian from Shelby, he wants to postpone the
lyestigatiOn Of that charge until the COM
littee on the Hobbs matter has reported.
ONE members Of that committee were in
be last General Assembly; therefore, l
link that this investigation should not de-
end upon the action Of the committee ap-
ointed 10 investigate the alleged sale of
le COmptrOlleTship, from the fact that a
Ortion Of that committee were members Of
"a last Ennpral Assarnblv