Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-16

urged against the proposed anendnent He came
mere no partisan ana would got act the partisan.
He introduced It Is peace offering. was a ma
jority man, and believed that the laro.ss vo,o 60
poled IN the State would be cast on fhis onesf;nn
because the people should sestle te dif,t;a ~
direct vote and not oy the vote at the last elector
He was not particular as to the time but he vvss %
10 the point proposed and urged it, adontion. -
! Mr.. BRADFOkD was surprised to see members
aiming TO defeat the popular will; could not vote f
the amendment IN view of his constitutional obl,r,
tons, the Constitution lays down the rule on that
| subject While he regretted it, he felt bold 70 as
sert that there scat in the neal . and he want
ed il to leap out He wanted the matter fully siffea
out. Did not want the public sentiment muzzed.
Wanted to give the people time to think and act and
was then willing to 60 with the people as they de
| eide, through blood or veal.
Mr.. LANE. /, too, am for giving the people time
to think and act Was not for IEalzziRg the people
either as to time or Information on the crisis; vet
the Senator without intending believe. clearly in
sinuates, or leaves tie impeesson, that | op-
posed to giving the people time and light upon the
difficulties surrounding US, and also upon what
may be the policy and action of the proposed Con-
/ yention
Mr.. PAYNE wished to answer the Senator from
Jefferson, and was opposed to the bill, but should
vote for the amendments The Senator from Jeer-
son takes the Constitution for his guide, and his
guide is decidedly against him according to the sec
ton referred to and read by him, for that SPEAKS
not of the vote at the Gabe1Naoridl election being
tees, clearly favoring the proposed amendments,
and opposed to the ground taken by the Senator.
Messrs. BRADFORD and STOKES interruptlng,
wished to explain the constitutional eanse favoring
the views expressed by them on the question.
| Mr.. PAYNE-I come back to the Constitution and
show conclusivsy that gentlemen are wrong on that
point-for the bill under consideration and the Con-
stituton confiict so far this matter is concerned
The Convention revising the Constitution Of Ten
nessee submitted their action to the people to be
| decided 4 A IF Vofi fha
] If wrong, he wished to be informed on that sub
Ject as he wished to state facts and let the people
| decide upon facts for themselves. fhe Senator
from wilson tells us of great fuss kicked up at
Huntsville and refers to Virginia action on the sub
| jet Virginia has done no more than we have
passed bill through the House and there i rests
f-the Convention is called by the people of Ten
nessee their delegates will come together clothed
with lull panOply Of power from their constitu-
ents, and they viii scatter all the restrictions this
Legislature may aim throw around them and the
people, like dust before the wind-like stubble be;
fore the fire.
Mr. STOKES illustrated his position by showing
the difficulty of ascertaining what should be taken
the basis of the popular vote aud hoped that
Mr.. Lane would let the bill pass it came from
the House. He thought it would Slit all. ,a.
- .Mr- AcNEHIII.4 Senators talk about naGczinq
the people-and tell them that by throwing these
restrictions upon them. the people ,oH be zzed. for
the people have not yet called Convention, and if
they do am for leaving their Delegates free, ua-
tranlneled and annuzzled. Let the people decide at
the ballotbox, what instructions they will give to
their Delegates, and let them hold the Delegates to
strict account for their stewardship If this Leg
isIature bind the Convention in one particular
they can bindathem in all. Let the question go be
fore the people and let them freemen decide their
destiny in view of all the solemn responsibilities
Mr.. HORN regretted to see his friend in such a
rage. The only question to be decided was as to
whether or not the people should act Why wish
to prevent the people from acting and speaking out
in this the best government in the world! He wan
ted the people 70 come up from the hills and the
hollows, the wales and the ridges. the swamps and
mOuntainS-from the cabins and houses and from
everywhere, and speak out on this subject Why
are they afraid of the people? They know when
the people vote, the whole thing will be dead and
sinking He also hoped the bill would pass inst as
it came from the House.
Mr.. TRIMBLE wished to vote ntelligently on this
subject and argued in favor of referring the bill
the Judiciary Committee to report back at an early
day IN order to decide what we shall do, as the peo-
pie want 70 know the result He also appealed to
Mr.. LANE to withdraw his amendments invoking
Senators to lay aside party and vote as citizens of
this great country. We ought to be a united people
on all these important topics. He denounced Cotton
as being King, asking if Grass and Corn were not
Kings also: Did not regard anyImaterial interest
as king, demanding to know if man was
only made to eat grass and and wear shirts
made of cotton? A freeman with a Free full heart
and active brain, is king, and the only king we
cotton-headed king, sh Ill rule over u.s. He did not
regard messages or State papers, nova days as at
all comparable to one he had called for-the Fare
well Address Of the Father of his Country. TWAS
in his estimation, above all compare He eulogized |
Washington as not only the Trainer but the regua-
tor of our government, who before retiring to pri
vate life, sent amessage, the best of ALL and above
all
Mr.. MINIS had not intended to discuss this ques |
ton, but felt now called on to speak out as he was
las IF heir
af the Senate, and he opposed to muzzling the
people, but was for leaving them free to act for |
themselves, through their delegates, selected by |
themselves to represent the people directy-drecty
from the people, and of the people. At the time the
action of the Convention is submitted, many of the
people may be so engaged that they cannot be here
to vote, and their votes should not be lost. Others
may be sick or absent, and still their votes would |
be counted against what if voting, they would APP
prove.
Mr.. HORN begged to inquire what district the
Senator represented, and where he now resided?
Mr.. MINIS replied l represent the Chattanooga |
district and live now at Memphis and have not
would call in question the fact of any Senator on this
floor misrepresentng the voice of his constituents
and expect have late expressions of the voice
of my constituency as the Senator from Stewart
has from his. Twas selected BY the people, and /,
too. love the dear people. saw almost every man
in my district during the canvass, and knew then,
and think know nOU, the sentiment of my people.
have letters from many of them, and have seen
many of them lately, and many of them the past pO-
litical friends of the Senator from Stewart and |
tell him and the Senate that they tell me they are
ahead of me in favor of their rights and their
maintenance. | know the people | represent, and
| know they will do right. For forty years
we have heard the cry that it the polti-
clans in the North whom we had to fear, but the
people are there now ripe for wrong upon US. 1t
is the Northern sentiment both among people and
politicians against which have to hattie and our
people feel this and will act promptly and decidedly
in view of it. We want our rights-nnthing more
nothing less. would remind the Senator from
Wilson that we do not expect perfect unanImity ia
now, any more than fOrefathers had
perfect harmony in the Revolution against England.
While some are for standing waiting will break
put, the very result we all dread. | tell the Senator
that some OF our men in high places have misled
he General Government into an error to the po-
'ition, Of Tennessee. She will dc right and if war
forces her she will link her fortunes and fate with
her sister Southern States their interests and honor
being the same, and meet the storm, come from
what quarter il may l am in favor of the amend
neat, and hope it will pass as it would reflect the
will of the people
Mr.. STANTON moved to adjourn to 10 A NJ TO-
morrow, which was lost, ayes 8, noes Is, thus
AVeS-MessFs. Allen Boyd Bradford, Bumpass
Horn, Nash, Richardson. Stanton, and Trimble-9,
NOes-Messrs. Hildreth, Hunter. Johnson Lane.
Mickey MINIS, Mcclellan, McNeilly Payne, Peters
5tokely, Stovall, Thompson Wood and Speaker
A vote was then had upon the amendment. result. !
ng ayes l3 noes II, thus:
AyeS-Messrs. Hunter, Johnson, Lane, Mickey
dnnis Mcclellan, MONeiy, Payne, Peters, Stovall,
Thompson, Wood, and Speaker Newman-I3.
Noes-Messrs. Allen, Boyd. Bradford, Bumpass,
1dreth, Horn, Nash, Richardson Stanton, Stokes
'tokely, and Trimble--l2. J
Mr.. RICHARDSON moved to amend the 9Th sec
ion, striking out the words no" aud not" so as
o make it read afirmatively, which failed by ayes
i, noes II, thus;
AYEs-Messrs. Allen, Boyd Bradford. Bumpass
Torn. Nash. Richardson Stanton, Stokes, StokeIy
nd Trimble-lI.
NoEs-Messrs. Hildreth, Hunter Johnson. Lane, !
iickley, MINIS, Mcclellan, McNeily, Payne, Peters
tovall Thompson, Wood, and Speaker Newman-14. ?
The bill then as amended passed its second read
lg with but one dissenting voice.
STATE DEFENSE.
Mr.. PETERS introduced bill No. 9, to maintain the
efense of the State. Read and referred to commit
&c on Military Affairs.
Mr.. PAYNE moved to make the Convention Bill I
ne special order for tomorrow at 81 A. NJ, which
Tas adopted.
On motion, the Senate adjourned to Q A NJ. to-
borrow.
CORREcTIoE i vote upon adoption OF the bill 10 L.
IN WarnA1 49,.