Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HJR0318 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
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4	4	HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 318
5	5	By Shaw
6	6
7	7
8	8	HJR0318
9	9	004099
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12	12	A RESOLUTION relative to naming the new entrance to the
13	13	Motlow Tunnel at the Tennessee State Capitol.
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15	15	WHEREAS, the cornerstone for the Tennessee State Capitol was laid on July 4, 1845,
16	16	and construction on the building was finished in 1859; and
17	17	WHEREAS, this graceful structure was designed by noted architect William Strickland in
18	18	the Greek-temple style to symbolize strength and wisdom; and
19	19	WHEREAS, the crowning achievement of Mr. Strickland's career, the Tennessee State
20	20	Capitol not only gives an impression of permanence but also reassures us of the State's sound
21	21	governance; and
22	22	WHEREAS, adhering to the strictest economy, the Tennessee Capitol Building
23	23	Commission mandated that the State Capitol be built from solid limestone quarried directly from
24	24	the construction site; and
25	25	WHEREAS, as a cost-saving measure, the General Assembly authorized the use of
26	26	prison labor to quarry the limestone; among these prisoners, as many as ten were classified as
27	27	"good stonecutters" and another twenty "had some experience in the business"; and
28	28	WHEREAS, fifteen enslaved African Americans were rented by the State government to
29	29	quarry limestone at the State Capitol site; twelve names of these fifteen individuals have been
30	30	ascertained through historical record: Lewis, Daniel, Robert, Nelson, John, Parker, Dang, Bill,
31	31	John G., John, Andrew, and Jim; and
32	32	WHEREAS, these enslaved men were also involved in carving out the State Capitol's
33	33	cellar to exact specifications; for their skilled labor, A.G. Payne was paid $18 per month, per
34	34	enslaved person; and
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39	39	WHEREAS, while much of the quarry work could be done by prisoners and other
40	40	unskilled labor, the setting and masonry work required the services of skilled artisans; and
41	41	WHEREAS, a small number of the skilled immigrant stonemasons (twelve Irishmen, five
42	42	Germans, and one Frenchman) who had worked on the North Carolina State House under
43	43	David Paton were hired for the decorative carving work; and
44	44	WHEREAS, a docket dated July 10, 1854, reveals that among the fifty-two stonecutters
45	45	who worked on the State Capitol, five men (Martin Moor, Arch Young, Ivy, Duke, and Spencer)
46	46	were identified as "Negro"; the list also included eight stonecutters who had traditionally Irish
47	47	names (Donahoo, McCartney, O'Bryen (2), Casteel, Mccarns, Kelley, and Doolin), five with
48	48	German or Prussian names (Rupp, Prusfininskey, Burk, Lazenbury, and Raby), and seventeen
49	49	men whose origins were likely in the British Isles (Griffin, Harrison, Cash, Yates, Kind, Goad,
50	50	Grooms, Miller, Howard, Philips, Jones, Mills, Black, Dyer, Mitchel, Avery, and Webb); and
51	51	WHEREAS, the prisoners, enslaved African Americans, artisans, stonemasons,
52	52	stonecutters, and others who helped build the State Capitol made a significant contribution to
53	53	this State that Tennesseans will always value; and
54	54	WHEREAS, for far too long, these individuals have not been given proper recognition for
55	55	their labor, and we now wish to honor these men of different heritages, but one mission, for their
56	56	work in building Tennessee's most treasured landmark; now, therefore,
57	57	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
58	58	FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
59	59	CONCURRING, that we urge the Governor and the State Capitol Commission to designate the
60	60	new entrance to the Motlow Tunnel as the "Heritage Gateway Entrance" in honor of the workers
61	61	who helped build the Tennessee State Capitol.
62	62	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is the sense of this General Assembly that these
63	63	workers should be honored by the placement or erection of a monument or plaque at the new
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68	68	entrance to the Motlow Tunnel and that this monument or plaque should include a list of all the
69	69	known names of these individuals.
70	70	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the Governor to consult with the State
71	71	Capitol Commission to identify funding for such monument or plaque.
72	72	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to
73	73	the Honorable Bill Lee, Governor of Tennessee, and the State Capitol Commission.
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