Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1841-12-31
TENNESSEE.


the Legislature ofHhe State offences
see, 10 preventing the election of two
Senators Of the United States from that
State, by defeating the decision on the
part Of both Houses 10 do the thing
which they did not do. This proceed
ing is, as far as we know, without ex-
ample. Legislative bodies, in States
have. before now, refused to agree to
60 into joint meeting for the purpose Of
electing Senators; but never before, we
believe, have they defeated by violence
what has been already deliberately de-
termined, The precedent would be a
most dangerous one, lift were proba-
bic thing that the proceeding should ever
be remembered iD any State but to be
abhorred and Stunned.
On the 7th instant, after being in ses.
sion for FIVE days, spent in vain efforts
to carry into effect the joint resolution
Of the two Houses for eectng Senators;
the Convention adjourned sine die.
Upon the motion being made to dis
solve the Convention, the following
proceedings took place, which are wor.
thy Of being copied at large: Nat. IAt.
Mr.. Reneau, on leave, addressed the
Convention. lie remarked briefly upon
the connexion between the State and
General Governments, to preserve
which in all its departments the Con.
sltuion Of Tennessee has provided that
the Legislature shall conform 10 the re-
quirements of the Constitution of the
United States Ono Of the Injunctons
of this bond Of union is, that the Legis.
alure shall spporton the Representa-
tive districts for the House Of Represen-
tatives Of the United States, and elect
two Senators 10 represent the State in
the Senate This duty neglected, or any
part of il, the Union to that extent was
at an end. Such is now the condition
Of the Stale in respect TO United States
Senators. Congress is in session; two
Senatorial seats are vacant; we are here
to gill these vacancies; the People knew
they would or had occurred when the
Legislature was elected they expected
us 10 ill them; and he, Mr. r would
appeal to all parties to say whether the
Whig members of both Houses had not
performed their duty in the premises.
At an early day it was discovered that
a portion of the Senate were disposed to
postpone this duty. The Wings of that
body had pressed and entreatei its con
sideratIon. On the first of December
resolutions were introduced by one of
their opponents, passed and concurred
in by The House, to go into the elections.
When the day arrived every Wing was
in his place; but was the election con-
summated, the duty performed according
to resolution, according to an oath to
the Constitution? Ii was not. And
whose fauIt-who deserted and left the
Convention without a quorum2 The
People, with all the facts before them.
could and would determine,
The Convention had adjourned from
day to day, awaiting the attendance Of a
quorum until we had reached the fifth
day. 1t was evident that every thing
had been done which CouId be done by
the members of the Convention who had
been regular in thoir attendance, to
bring about the elections for which they
were convened by resolution. We eau.
not elect Senators ourselves, in the alb
sence Of a quorum. And whatever evil
shall grow out of the failure, it would
not rest at our door. There is a griev
Gus fault somewhere, and the People of
Tennessee, | presume, will be able to
fix the responsibility where it Of right
belongs Believing that every thing
had been done to accomplish the end
of this Convention, he Mr.. b, would
move an adjournment sine die.
The question was then taken by ayes
and noes, and the Convention adjourned
rphhom day. Ayes 4S, noes 3, VIZ.
Messrs Brooks, Powell, and Ross.
when MIR. Brooks was called to
vote, he rose ard remarked that he con
sidered tho election of Senators a para
mount duty, under tho Constitution; and
with due regard TO the interest and vir-
tual instructions Of his constituents, the
people of Jackson county, he could not
lorego that duty by voting to dissolve
the Convention. For one, he was will
ling TO remain in Convention from day
to day may, from year to year-rather
than yield to faction aud disorganlza-
iion
9Oc-