The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-08
10 Cure IRREGULARITIES.

y STATE convention, TOO, would sa-
your Of irregularity, il is contended
Perhaps it would Section third, article
eleventh, provides that any amend
meRt or amendments TO this Constitu-
ton may be proposed ia the Senate or
House Of Representative; and, if the
same shall be agreed to by majority
of all the members elected TO each Of
the two Houses, such proposed amend
ment or amendments shall be entered
on their journal, with the yeas and
nays thereon, and referred TO the Gen
eral Assembly then next to be chosen,
and shall be published six months pre-
vious TO the time OF making such choice.
And if in the General Assembly next
chosen as aforesaid. such proposed
amendment or amendments shall be
agreed TO by two-thirds Of all the mem
bers elected to each House, then it shall
be the duty Of the General Assembly
to submit such proposed amendment or
amendments to the people, in such
manner, and at such time as the Gen
eral Assembly shall prescribe And if
the people shall approve and ratify such
amendment or amendments, by ma
jority of all the citizens of the State
voting for Representatives voting in
their favor, such amendment or amend
ments shall become part Of this Con
stitution When any amendment or
amendments 10 the Constitution shall
be proposed in pursuance Of the fore
going provisions, the same shall at each
of the said sessions be read three times
on three several days in each House.
The Legislature shall not propose
amendments to the Constitution oftener
than once in six years
This is the only provision in the Con
stitution relative to a change in the fun
damental law Of the State The legis-
lature is given no power to call a conven-
ti0n to amend it; and in this the Consti-
tuition of this State differs from that of
almost all-perhaps all the others A
convention, then, called by the legisla-
ture would be an irregularity
But the present situation must not be
indefinitely prolonged; we must adapt
ourselves to the changed aspect of af
fairs, in this country, which has resulted
from this uncalled for rebellion; we must
have q civil government we must have
local authorities, a legislature, a Gov
ernor, Secretary of State, Comptroller,
and Attorney General; we must have
Senators and Representative in Con
gress; and these must he chosen, either
directly or indirectly by the people
themselves; no one will be so foolhardy,
so impracticable, as to deny this propo-
sition; and yet these objects cannot be
accomplished, save by process more or
less unknown to the constitution; and
the question now arises, what is the
preferable method to be adopted?
This subject will involve an inquiry
into the original rights and powers of
the people; of the methods by which
an appeal can be had to these inherent
powers; and the advantages resulting
thcrefrom OF course those who dis
trust the people; those who look upon
them as instruments in the hands of
designing demagogues; those who deny
the existence of public intelligence, and
public virtue; will oppose the calling
OF a convention; but on the other hand,
such as are true republicans-we use
the term in no party sense-men who
confide in, and trust the virtue of the
people, are never fearful OF direct
aDDeal TO them