Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-01
Amendments TO The Constitution.

late nashville ConNentluntugetherw with the SEIZED
ulc and Resolutions accompanying them, Upon
these the loyal voters called to pass sentence on
the 22d of February Those in favor Of the adop-
: ton of the Amendments and Schedule viii vote q
shkct on which shall bo written or printed, RArI-
FIcAuoS, and those opposed will deposit ballot
on which shall be written or printed, "REJEcroE,
We have no doubt but all loyal men will vote Rat
VcaiioH and adopt the amendments by accano-
ton They are Just the thing adopted 10y five hum
drcd and twentyonc delegates, representing all the
counties in the State. more than half Of whom were
Shareholders,
Should the people ratfy these amendments, rs
they ore certain do then, on the 4th Of March, they
elect Governor and Legislature, who shall meet at
the Capitol on the first Monday of April next
Let us all go to work and put these measures
through;
The first Article aud tho first Section Of the Dccara
ton of Right in the Constitution Of the State Of Tonnes
declares, "Ihat all power is inherent in the people,
and all governments founded their authority, aud
instituted for their peace safety and happiness and for
the advancement Of these ends they have nt all times
innlicuablc and mdeieasable right TO alter, reform or
| abolish the government in such manner they may
think proper Therefore the people Of the State OF Ten
nessee citizens of the United States of America in
yenon assembled, do PROFOUND the following alterations
and amendments the Constitution, which, when ratified
by the sovereign loyal people, shall he and constitute
part of the permanent Constitution of the State of Ton
nesseo,
| AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
| ARTICLE l.
Sec, l. That slavery and involuntary ,eryitudo except
as punishm mt for crime, whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted, hereby forever abolished and
| prohibited throughout the State.
Sec, 2 The Legislature shall make law recognizing
the right Of property in man.
| SCHEDULE.
Sec. l. Section 81 of the second article of the Consti-
| tuition, which seas follows: "Tho General Assembly
shnl have power to pass laws for the emancipation Of
slaves without the consent of their owners is
| hereby abr0gutCh
See, ., The Convention, Agreement and Military
League entered into by the Commissioners of the State
! of Tennessee and the Commissioners of the sOcacd
| Confederate States made May Z 1901 and the
day ratified and confirmed by the Legislature, act
of treason and usurpation, unconstitutional, null and
| void.
Sec 3 "The Declaration Of Independence and ordi-
dissoug the Federal relations between the state
of Tennessee and the United States of America passed
and promulgated by the Legislature Of TennesSe the
! 9th day of May 1861, by which the Smc was declared
separated from the Federal Union, and all laws and or
! dnances by which Tennessee became member cf the
United States annulod and abrogacd was in like man
act Of treason, and usurpaon, unconstitutional
| null and void
Sec f. No statute of limitations shall be held to opo
rate from and after the 9th day of May 1861 until such
time hereafter the Legislature may prescribe shall
any writ of error be refused shSte in any
suit decided since the 9th Of May 1861 and prior to this
time by of any lapse of time And in all actions
for tors brought which may hereafter be brought in
the in this State by attachment levied upon the pro
pcrty ot the defendant tho cnnrts shall have {" pro
cced to Judgment and collection of the upon
tracts without personal service of process upon the de
fendont until the Legislature may see fit to change the
! law in such cases.
Sec s. All laws ordinances and resolutions, ds well as
~ tho ltrifr #
the usmpcd State government after the declared indie
pcnence Of the State of Tennessee after the 9th
| day of May, 1851 unconstitutional, null and void
| from The beginning: Prridd That this section shall
not be construed affect any Judicial decisions made
by the State Courts held at times differing from those
provided by law prior to May 9th, 1861; said judicial de-
csons being made pursuant TO the laws of the state of
Tennessee enacted previous to said date and between par
| ties present in Court and litigatng their rights.
Sec, g. All laws, ordinances and resolutions of the
uurpcl State government passed after the 9th day
of May 1861 providing for the issuance of State bonds
also all Of the Bank of Tennessee, any of its
branches issued after the said 9th day of May,
1861, and all debts created contracted in the name of
the State by said authority, unconstitutional null and
void aud Legislature shall hereafter have the power
pass any authorizing the payment of said bonds
debts, or providing for the redemption of said notes
Sec Z. All civil aud military officers which have been
may hereafter be appointed 10y the acting Governor Of
the State hereby affirmed and they shall continue to
hold and exercise the functions of their respective offices
| qualified.
Sec s. That the proposed amendments to the Constitu-
ton, and the schedule thereto be submitted TO the people
the ballot box the 22d day of February next and
that upon the adoption thereof 10y the people, election
be held the ih day of March next for Governor and
members of the Legislature the latter to be voted for by
general ticket upon the basis prescribed IN the act appo
tonng representation in the State passed the 18th day
Of February 1882 to assemble at the Capitol on the first
Monday of April next sad officers to continue in office
until their shall be elected and qualified, under
the regular biennial election of lS67providod the said
apporionmen be modified to give to the counties of
johnson, and Carter and Campbell and Anderson, and
Union, and SEWER and Macon, and Hancock each one
member and to the district composed of the counties of
Fenrcss, Morgan and Scott, one additional member in
the House of Representatives.
Sec Q. The qualification of voters and the Limitation Of
the elective franchise may be determined by the Legisa.
ture which shall first assemble under the amended Cons
| tuition.
The foregoing present all the amendments pro-
posed. They embrace it will be seen, substantially
three propositions towit nbrognting the action Of
the rebel authorities second the extinction of sa-
very; and thirdly, providing for a Governor and
Legislature. The following resolutions indicate how
the elections are to be held
R,sored That at the election in February those in
of the foregoing Amendments and Schedule, shall de-
posic ballot which shall be written Qualification,
and those who opposed shall dcposite ballot on
which shall be written "Rejection"
R,soirod, That the elections in the several counties
shall be held at their county seats other convenient
places in the counties by the following named persons
to wit:
The list will be published hereafter.-EDJ
R,solrcd, That when the above amendments 10 the
Constitution Of the State of Tennessee shall be submitted
TO the people of the State for their ratification rejection
and at the first election held under said Constitution
amended If ratified by the people, person shall he per
mittei to unless be first take the following oath
the polls and the of each voter shall be written
upon the back of his ticket and it shall he the daty Of
judges and clerks of said election to preserve said tickets
and file cmwth the clerks Of the county courts of their
RESPECTIVE counties for future reference Pordcd, how
ever That this oath shall not be required of the citizens
who well known to the judges of the election to have
been unconditional Union men, PrOcdod, also, that
voters otherwise qualified may vote within any comfy Of
the State, and IL in the military service wherever they
may be the day Of election and that the commanding
officer of each regiment battalion. detachment battery
or hospital, is empowered to hold such elections.
81 solemny that | will henccforh support the
Constitution Of the United States, and defend it against