The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-17

II it shall be decided that the oath pre-
scTibed by the Proclamation Of the 9th
OF December be necessary to qualify for
participation in this election, it will not
De that those who have previously regis
tered viii be called upon to make Sec
Ond register, the oath being sufficient fer
that purpose The general qualification
Of voters, therefore, will stand a. fol-
l'Ws: They must be citizens of the
{ Omitted States snd OF Louisiana, TWEEN
/ ty-one years Of sge, residents one year
within the State, six months in the
Parish in which they vote, and have
qualified By taking the prescribed oath
Of allegiance.
Orders have been Issued for the regis
trstion Of all those soldiers Of the army
Of the United States who are citizens Of
Louisiana and who are qualified to vote
according to the condition herein ex-
pressed, and Commissioners, fairly repre-
sentiDg the different parties interested in
the election, will be appointed TO receive
and make returns of the votes given BY
such citizens in the arRy, where il is
impFacticsble for them TO vote in the
parishes to which they belong. Itisun-
derstood that = soldier who has been in
the State one year, and who is otherwise
qualified, will not have the right to vote
unless be is q citizen of this State. Co.
pies of this register will be open to pub
lie inspection as soon as il is received at
these headquarters, and all orders having
reference to the registration or suffrage
of soldiers will be published for the in
formation of all concerned. These sug-
gestiOns, believe, answer all the inqui-
ries made in your letter.
Any ether suggestions that you may
be pleased to present upon these and 9th
err topics, viii be gladly received and at.
tentivelY considered.
had the honor to receive from a dele
CATION of the committee you represent, a
request that the election for delegates 70
the Constitutional Convention, ordered
for the first Monday in April, might be
held on the Odd Of February, fixed for
the election of State officers. informed
the committee that the time of the cleo
tion of delegates was 20 me q matter of
indifference : that I had no objection TO
the time suggested by them. Ny only
desire was that the public interest
should be consulted in any arrangement
which should be made in reference to
this important election. This 1 repeat
TO you. But q more careful consider
alton Of the subject satisfied me that
there was not time to make the proper
arrangements for tho election of dele
gates between the day Of my interview
with the committee and the election of
State officers. There are several import
ant questions requiring mature consid-
GRAFTON, which must bs settled before
Writs of election can be ordered for the
choice of delegates TO a Constitutional
Convention. Among them are the basis
Of representation (; the election Of dele
gates by districts, or By general ticket
the census upon which the election Of
delegates is to be appOrtioned to the diff
fereDt parisher Of the State and the
question Of residence-thst is, resident
Of the district for which be is chosen
important matters of consideration, and
must be determined before sn election
of delegates can be ordered. is posi-
bic that the representative districts; the
census of 1850; the rule CT residence
applied to the election OF representatives,
to the Legislature, and the base OF rep
reseutstiOn provided by the constitution
Of 1852, might be found applicable to
this election. But I hesitate to ADOPT
any provisions eff existing laws, without
opportunity for full consideration and
free consultation with citizens who are
interested therein. [ an certain that !
the basis of representation should be |
changed, and do not intend to order any |
election which shall not provide for such |
change.
IF It shall be found that the census Of !
1860 fairly represents the population Of |
the present time, aud that former repre- |
sentative districts may safely be taken |
as q basis for the election of delegates, |
I shall be very glad TO accept them; but /
l desire that all these questions may be |
nationally considered and fairly deter
mined.
This could not be done if the election |
had been ordered for the 22d Of Februa- |
II, and have, therefore, hesitaled to |
make the change requested. With . view |
10 obtain information upon this subject, !
have nominated committee for the con-
sideration Of these and other questions |
connected with the election Of delegates |
to the convention, consisting Of Judge |
Rufus X. Howell, Alfred Shaw, Esq and |
DR.. james R-sdy. desire that ali per-
sons interested in these topics may pre-
SAINT their views to these gentlemen.
The organization Of q Constitution for |
this State is a work Of the highest im /
portance. Time should be given for The
selection Of delegates Of the highest cha
racter and capacity. The Constitution
presented TO the country should serve a.
: model for az States which have been i
placed in hostility to the authority Of I
the General Government. The conven
ton must necessarily consider ell ques-
lions and principles spPertaining 70 bu-
man government Those who suppose /
its deliberations may be limited 10 = few
DAYS. underestimate the dignity Of its /
mission. It should infuse new blood
and cloihs in new vestments The C)nsti-
tuition it presents to the country.
A precipitate election, however much
IL nav crafty the personal wishes Of
private parties, viii peril the great OBJ
ieets in view, which are IS important 70
The Union as 70 the State Of Louisiana
lam confident that when you reflect
upon the magnitude Of propositions con
neoted with the selection Of delegates
you will a rec that the day suggested By
your committee did not offer sufficient
time for their fall and mature consider
alton
/ adhere, therefore, to the day named
for the election-ihs frat Monday in
April
An election Of members Of Congress
viii be ordered for The same day.
There will be no inconvenience arising
from tho designation Of separate days
for these important elections. The Sc
lection Of State ofieers-sH affair Of some
delicacy as well IS importance - may
we'll occupy tho exclusive attention Of
TIE people until the 22d Of February.
To add to this Important duty, the
choice Of delegates 70 the Constitutional
Convention and She election Of membsrs
Of Congress, is unduiy % precipiiats the l
decision Of subjects Of the highest mag /
nitude aud importance.
Accept ny ASSURANCES Of an earnest /
desire 20 cooperate with the citizens Of /
this State in ell measures necessary for
the just determination q the great in