Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-03


States have incorporated similar provisions in the
constitutions, and they presented degree OF pro,
perity that claimed our admiration Wbile all III
States around Us have placed the subject Of crest
Ing debt under the control of the people, Tennes
see stands solitary anG alone in this matter Tn
whole question resolved itself into this: Are tb
representatives of the Ieople Wiiag 10 trust ihei
constituents vita a voice in this matter? For one
ne would vote for the proposition if no other on
did.
In regard to amending the constitution, be ha
voted in the last l. stature against submitting Il
the people the proposition for q call of q conven
hon, and had afterwards voted against calling ih
| convention: DE was opposed to calling eonvea
lon TO amend the constitution, because he did no
know what such body might do. He did not knov
Fhat Wild and visionary spirits might be returne,
TO such convention, in whose ha1da be would be
unwilling to trust the constitution He was in ia
nor Of amending the constitution in the manner b,
proposed, and as mat instrument itself provided
The people knew thea wherein the constitution wa
proposed TO be amended, ond they could determine
for themselves whether such amendment vas desra
Bile
Mr.. PAYNE was as be had remarksd when The
previous proposition TO amend the constitution wal
up, opposed to amending that instrument, and be
was decidedly and mphaiicaly opposed to the pres
| ent amendment aud he wouli submit illustration
to show that 1t would not work well at ALL Suppose
the people of Knoxville wanted hank The pro-
position to charter such bank must be cub nitiei to
| the people Of the whols State, AMI msjolify-of
ali the legal voters must sanction such charter be-
fore the bank could 60 into operation Now the pee
| pie of West Tennessee would know nothing as to
the wants of the people of Knoxville and its vicini-
ty-they you'd perhaps never hear of the PROPOSE
tion until tbe day Of election, aud they would not
care gouber Ehethert the charter vas ever granted,
aud large masses would vote at all upon the pro-
position, And this remark would apply with equal
force 10 other sections Of the State The attempt
might as well be made to build turnpike TO the
moon. TO attempt TO iget full expression Of the
people upon such proposition, He did not believe
q majority Of those voting could be got 10 vote for
proposition to charter o bank in any portion of
the State, much less majority of all the legal
voters in the State. The Sen4tor from Fran xln
(Mr. Newman. had referred TO OHIO as having such
q provision in her constitution, but he could not
consent TO 60 t. Ohio for lessons in political econo-
N.Y. Sach an amendment, if incorporated in the
constitution, would be completely imperative in
its very nature, and he believed would be voted
down by an overwhelming majority,
The Senator from Franklin Mr. NeYman, skid
the object OF the second proposition of his amend
ment was to check extrsVagsnce 10 creating State
debt by the issuance of bonds to railroad companies
He met the Senator upon the broad issue that there
had been no extTavagsnoe id this matter. The debt
which hal been created in aiding our internal i'm
il every dOlsr Of it had be paid out Of the State
treasury. 1t was not extravagance to give to the
people the advantages of intercommunIcation, of
wealth and of social position they now enjoyed.
1t was not extravaganza which had caused the State
te rise like yOuag giant, and to throw off the
shaok.es Ehlch traRGeed the energies Of her peo-
pie The men who inaugurat5d the system Of in=
ternsl improvements for which our present indebt-
ednsss created, were benefactOss and deserve
a monument
The Senator from Franklin (Mr. NeHnan) had
referred to Ksnlacky as having similar provision
in her constitution. This reference would not help
the Senator's amendment, for that State stands pre-
cisely where Tennessee stood twenty five years ago
That provision has been an incubus upon the peo-
pie OF Kentucky, and with the exception of the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad, they have nc
connection with the great arteries Of trade and
travel which traverse the country. There was nc
inducemeDt 10 bring cut the energies of the people
and to develop the great agricultural resources Of
the State
He did not believe there was q man IN the State
who would be willing to wipe out our internal i'm
provemens, if il would cancel the Indebtedness OF
the State incurred 10 their construction. The Sen
ator from Franklin himself Eould not do it. AS !oI
himself, re would rather have been one Of the man
who iIauguTSted this grand system, than to have
received from Roman Senate The crown of CON
queror upon returning from tae sauguinsry field Of
battle.
He could not afford to tie up the hands of the peo
plo in after years, when he knew nothing to Eha
their wants might require He was willing to trus
the matter to them as our fathers had trusted US.
RECESS.
At half past one O'Clock,
On motion of Mr.. LANE, the Senate tOOk q re
GEES until three o'clock.
AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
At three o'clock the Senate was called to order.
Mr.. NEWMAN (Mr. RICHARDSON in the chair
offered the following amendment to the frst portion
of his proposition;
"And the law shall provide the manner Of
voting"
The amendment was adopted.
The question was further discussed by Messrs
NEWMAN and PAYNE, when
Mr.. NEWMAN moved 10 strike out the words II
the first proposition, ''s majority of Che legal vo
ters of the State," and insert majority Of thu
votes cast in the election"
The motion was agreed to.
The question recurring upon the adoption Of th'
proposition as amended,
Mr. NEWMAN demanded a division of the ques
! tion, which was ordered.
The question was then taken upon the first prop
osition and the ayes and being taken resulted
ayes 8, noes 13, as follows:
| ayes Messrs, Hildreth, Mickey, Peters, Stoke
| ly, stOvall, Thompson, Wood aRd Speaker New
| mans.
! Noes-Messrs. Allen, Boyd, Bradford, Horn, Hun
ter, johnson, Lane, Minnis, Mcclellan, Nash
! Payne, Richardson and StsntOn-lS.
So the proposition failed.
The question then recurred upon the second prop
osilion, AID the ayes and being taken, reselte
ayes 8, noes IL, as follows:
| Ayes-Messrs. Hildreth, Mickey, Mcclellan, Pc
ters, Stokely, StoVsll Wood and Speaker New
! mans.
NOes-Messrs. Allen, Boyd, Bradford, Horn, Hun
ter, johnson, Lane, MINIS, Nash, Payne, Richard
son, Stanton and ThompsOn--l3.
So the proposition failed.
Mr.. Nashs resolution was then taken up and rea
ss follows;
ResoEvsd 5y the General Assembly Of tie STATE
Tennessee That article 4, section !, of the consttu
tion of the State of Tennessee be so amended lha
the word "couuty" first occurring shall be change
TO the word "State," and after the word "election
first occurring in the section aforesaid there sha
be inserted the words and three months in tn
county next preceding the day Of election, shall
entitled to vote" &c
Mr.. NASH said he had introduced this propos
tion TO change the constitution at the request of
large number of his constituents. Under the SCI
tiCn he proposed to amend, any citizen Of the Stat
changing his residence from one county to anothe
hes t. reside in the latter long as if he had r
moved from another ate, before he is entitled
vote This was regarded as acting oppressiye
|
The question occurring upon the adoption of Il
proposition, the ayes and noes were taken, and /
suited ayes 6, noes IA, as follows:
F-yes-Messrs. Horn, Lane, Mcclellan, Mas
Stsnton and Stokely-6.
Nays-Messrs. Allen, Boyd, Bradford, Hildret
Hunter, johnson, MinDis, Payne, Peters, kichar
SOD, Stovall, Thompson, Wood and Speaker Me-
man--l4
So the proposition failed.
Mr.. Stokeiy's resolution was then taken up Al
read, as follows:
Resolved, That section % Of article Of the Co
stitution be so amended that Instead of reaiiI
t'slsves between the ages of twelve and fifty years
the said section shall read all slaves" and I
other parts of the said section shall remain as tn
now are,
Mr. ST0KELY said thst young negroes We
very valuable property. He knew Of men who
vest ed their mOuey in young negroes and he thOug
they should be taxed the same as uneultivat
lard is.
The question recurring upon the adoption of t
proposition, the ayes and noes we're taken, and
4 suited ayes s, noes 49, as follows
Ayss-Mcssrs. HilIreth, Horn, Lane, Nash. I
t ters, Stanton, Stokey and Speaker Newman
Noes--Messrs. Alec, Boyd, Bradford, Hunt
johnson Mickey, Minnis, Mcclellan, Payne, RlC
9 ardson, Stovall Thompson and Wood--l3.
e So the proposition failed
SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
: = No. I22-To incorporate St. Msry's COllel
= Passed, ayes 20, noes 0.
- ba IF If The Rank of Mas