Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-16
following

l
ing the Constitution. There will be no crop
ing in the dark-the people will understand
what is to be done-the delay and delibera
ton and discussion that will ensue, will be q
sufficient security that no dangerous principle
can be engrafted upon the Constitution. Any
excited state of the public mind from party
feeling or any other cause, will have had time
to subside-and at the same time the ariH Of III,
majority will prevail, which is a vital principle
of the Government.
f.He would mention another advantage
that would result from this plan of specific
ameqdments: Any amendment that will then
be proposed will stand upon its own merits
1t will be presented singly for the considera-
ton of the people, and will receive their de
liberate action upon it, That is not the case
under our present system. 1t might SO hap
pen Che did not speak of the present Conven-
ton, but CT the probable operation of the
system.) that one individual might be dissat-
isfied with one part of the Constitution, and
another with another part of it, mere rest
less spirit Of change might operate upon a
third and {. Convention be called, although a
majority of the people were not in favor OF
any one particular amendment. Local ques-
tions of absorbing interest might be present
ed, to which great principles would be made
to yield. What would be the result of the
Convention under such circumstances human
wisdom could not fOresee-nOr what would
be its effects upon the future happiness and
prosperity of the country-tOr it would be
optional with the Convention whether or not
the Constitution should be submitted to the
people" This is sufficient to show the view
of the mover.
Mr.. Garter objected to the proposition upon
the ground 'that it made amendments too
easy. He was opposed to the bare majority
of a Legislature having the power even to
propose the amendment Of a thing so sacred
as a State Constitution, he therefore preferred
his own amendment"
Mr.. Burton said he was DESTROYS to see a
| provision engrafted in the amended constitu-
ton. by means of which any Objectionable
| feature might in a future time he amended in
| conformity with the wishes of the people,
without endaug ring the whole instrument.
! cially necessary, as We were engaged in the
work of remodcling our form of government,
the good or evil of which change could not
with certaiuty be known until tested by eX
pcrcnce. If such provision had been en-
bodied in the existing constitution, the good
people of this State would have been saved
from much pain and anxiety that may have
been produced by the deliberations of the As
semby. He argued in favor of Mr.. Whites
proposition, and said by that provision a
majority of the Legislature had to concur be-
fore the people, through their representatives,
could be heard on the subject, and two
thirds of the Legislature that came directly
from the people (whO had had the pro-
posed amendments under consideration had
to concur before the amendments could be
submitted to the people for their final action.
In this way the constitution will be
defended from too frequent inrOads while a
sufficient opportunity is afforded to the people
to remedy any. particular cOnstit utional griev-
ance."
Other amendments were offered by different
gentlemen, but all showing the favor with
which the plan for specific amendments was
regarded. and which would render a future
convention unnecessary in all time to come
Upon one of them Mr. Huntsman said, if the
people did not like the whole Of the new con-
stituton, they could see way opened in
which these repugnant parts may be cleared
off in future time"
Mr. Cahal said if the new constitution
''wcre rejected without any provision to
amend the old, the people of Tennessee will
probably be under the necessity of living I'M
der the old for half century to come, before
they would consent to throw away 30 or 40
900 dollars again, with perhaps no better re-
suit"
Mr. Carter again said, sit was well known
that the people had long been complaining of
certain parts Of the old constitution, and at
length became willing at a great expense to
call convention to amend or expunge those
Objectionable features. The people had long
refused to suffer "a convention. and run the
risk of leaving the parts of the constitution
that needed no amendment to the scrutiny OF
a convention. VIII not an amendment, that
will save the people $4,000, make our Lew
constitution, or the old one better? He con-
sidered this the most important proposition
tor the people that had been made since the
sitting OF this body
Mr.. J. a. Mckinney spoke at length in favor
Of the principle of specific amendments, and
said, THAT his constituents at public meet
h,J ,nII IN ba fhair
which were to strike out of the old constitu-
ton the Land Tax, which taxes land equally,
and then adopt such resolution that now
before the committee, which together might
be presented with the new constitution, which
conceded with his own views"
Messrs. Webster, Allen, and others, supported
the principle, but some of them upon different
propositions.
The proposition was carried by a large ma
jority. This was in committee of the whole
House.
This section of the constitution was after
wards concurred in, in convention, by ma
jority of &c TO Q. See journal, p. PSI.
The reason then is obvious why no provis-
ion was made in the constitution for future
conventional was dispensed with by the
plan for specific northumberland it may
safely be affirmed that no member of the con
venton ever dreamed of any other mods in
future of amending the constitution. And
such has been, il is believed, the deliberate
conviction Of the people from the adoption Of
the amended constitution to the present mo-
ment
This then is question beyond party, and
has no reference To party. Since the adop-
ton Of the amended constitution, in 1884,
some important changes have been made In
the instrument and in the way pointed cal