The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-11
rhe stnte eonvention.

The Constitution Of the United States,
and sll proceedings of the general gov
eminent, in accordance thereto, are the
supreme laws Of the land, anything in the
Constitution and laws of any State
10 the contrary Notwithstanding and
hence if the enactments of Congress, and
the proclsmstions Of the president, relating
to slaves, are in accordance with the Con-
stituiion, then al provisions Of the Con
stitution of this State, conflicting with
them, are null and void, whether for
mally expunged or not; but il is much
better that they be stricken out, IS then
al facilities for factious opposition, on
the part Of interruptions men, will be
removed. It is too frequently the case
that the opportunity to do evil, causes
evil to be done that the means Of
arousing factions are che legitimate
parents objections. Nothing can be lost
by removing temptation; much may be
gained.
In order 10 make any formal changes
in the Constitution, State Convention
must necessarily be called and in so
doing, no greater delay should occur
THAI is absolutely necessary to secure .
full and free election, in which all loyal
citizens may participate.
In the deliberations Of this body, two
questions will stand ont with greater
prominence than all others-slavery and
suffrage. The disposal of these will re-
quire = higher degree of craftsmanship
than is usually to be found in mere State
Conventions they will demGnd the most
careful consideration, and action.
How trifing the changes usually made
in State Constitutions, compared with
those demanded in Tennessee, by the pc
culiar circumstances in which the State
lie placed Amendments are usually po-
litical; in this instancp, the whole So
cisl system must be changed; or more
properly speaking change which the
late commissions have occasioned, must be
accepted, and society placed upon ba-
els not inconsistent with il.
The foundations of the social qgyric
have been violently torn up-not by en-
emies, but by friends of the old order of
things-snd tits both necessary and de-
sirable that new ones be substituted,
rather than that an effort be made TO re-
place the old,-an effort which may end |
in another season of disorder; may end |
in q war Of races; may end in the exter-
mination Of the black as the weaker ele-
ment in this State; but can never be
crowned with success.
AS the canvass for delegates to the
Convention will shortly open, il becomes
the duty of public journals, and of all
loyal citizens, to give attention to the
questions which must srise, and which |
must necessarily be disposed Of; if cor
rectly-foreyer; il not, till another sgi-
tation shall carry away false landmarks,
and substitute others. As long as there
arc grave errors in society, there will be
agitation; and the more nearly correct
the basis upon which it is founded, the
more complete the harmony.
Citizsns Of Tennessee, before cast
ing their vOles, should consider three
things:
1.-The character of the man for
whom they vote
2-His views on slavery, and the
best method Of dispOsing of that quss-
ton.
3-His position upon the subject of
suffrage.
Upon these questions, it is our inten-
ton, from time to time, 10 offer such sug-
gesiions as may occur to US; certainly
no other local questions are Of half so
much immediate importance.