New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-24
The Tennessee State Convention.
Special Corresp oHdenee Of The N. Y. Tribune.

The Tennessee State Convention.
Special Corte,p oHdenee OF The N Y. Tribune.
NASHVILLE, Jan. l6. lsC5
| Tennessee has been the theater of most extra
ordinary operations and transformations civil aud NIL
itary during the last few weeks. A little over month
ago Hoods invading. Wanting army settled down be-
foro Nashville quietly bent on taking the city and I'm
melistely acrward OF bringing the State fully under
Rebel control. To-day armed Rebellion Is completely
expelled from Tennessee. while Slavery. the primary
cause u the Rebellion and tho hitherto bAne and curse
Of the State is practically. abolished forever TIL, Is
glory enough for one month and is surely the hsrbnger
Of an era OF prosperity and progressive Development for
this aud future generations.
Slavery has still nominal existence until the 22d OF
February next but tho Convention just closed was 20
sure Of having killed tho sccued thing that IL read the
funeral services Of tie Institution amidst the clipping
Of hands ard the widest stations OF enthusiasm
East Tennessee synonymous with the nos'
unfinohing lo,aty-wcnt ipio rap,urcs over the aus
peious event, and ercitoiy went about tho hail. greeting
each other and acting something after tho fashion OF
Methodist camp meeting when tho excitement and en-
,huslasm would be at the highost. II was no wonder
gArery the bone 81 contention wherever u has raised
s accused head especially so In Tennessee. where
from this cause alone efforts have frequently been made
looking 10 legislative enactment for separating East
from Middle and West Tennessee. and forming INTO
separate State Now that tho curse 10 removed sure
basis IL established for future harmony and cooperation
throu ghout the length and breadth Of the State
The Convention met q primary. advisory body. TO
tab inclpent preliminary 10 aformaly called
Con ronilon which would meet with special reference
TO amending the Constitution Of the State and forever
abolshing Slavery. This was the general understand
ing know, when tho Convention met Afterward.
when tic hall became filled with delegates from all
parts OF tho State tho question wns grayely asked and
discussed; Why mol save time and expense by doing
the work now ard aorv ard referring II 10 tho people
Tor popular ratification and not defcr the matter to an
other Convention Before these views elected,
va. under the impression that Paron Brownlow and
Horace Maynard were in favor calling Constitutional
Convention but soon apparent thoy wero for i'm
mediate action To DO submitted to tho people for their
approval or rejection. Gov. johnson. also Who ad.
dressed tho Convention gave tho strength Of his infu
ence on the samo aide, and urged prompt measures
toward putting tho State FREQ and loyal basis.
Members were wheeling into line. for and against
in the meantime angry and heated discussions on this
and other questions wero warmly Kept up. IL must be
borne In mind forever that uey In the Convention
abolshng Slavery but thero were honest differences
OF opinion tho mode OF accomplishing those ends
On the fnh day, tho Business Committee submitted
their report, which took strong ground for present
action, and offering amendments, section by section to
the Constitution, TO DO Immediately acted upon. A
minority report was also submitted avoring Conyen
ton to meet at early day. ard deforrng constitutional
ame ndmcnts until then On direct test vote 1t was
4 t.x..- ~ t,tt ho
bracsd 10 tho majority report should bo acted upon
,ziaIin Tho opposition when II was Mt last decided
that present action was to DO the order Of the day.
gracefully ceased any further remembrance and voted
with hearty good will.
Tho first and second sections OF the proposed amend
ments follows and passed without single dis
senting voice:
SIC. !. That Slavery aud involuntary servitude er.
cspt M punishment for crime whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted. hereby forever abolished
and prohibited throughout. the State.
Sic. g. The Legislature Ishal make no law reoogniz-
ing the right OF property in mnn.
Thus Tennessee takes her place among tho ssterhood
Of Free States forever free from the foul blot OF human
Slavery.
Tho other sections were Of q secondary nature and
woro passed.
|
Elementary amendment. offered by n member from Mid
dlo Tennessee to the effect that persons OF Indian and
African descent to tho third generation. be prevented
from exercising any Of tho rights Of citizenship Mr.
Maynard who, by the way, Of the solid men Of
the Convention opposed it, and urged that it should DO
left discretionary with the coming Legislature to regu
late tho right Of suffrage lie said that perhaps no
not exactly the hight man TO speak upon that subject
for bo voted against the aIming Of negroes but when
ho went out In tho suburbs snort mo since aud
them lying side by side with Rebels. dead wounded
shot In tho hcld--ior him hc could not SEQ much
difference in color. Mr. james Il. Hood. Of
Chattanooga, who has done. perhaps as much as any
man In Tennessee-Brownlow exceptet--,o foster and
encourage loyalty ~ the old Government. took tho
most advanced ground of any man in the Convention.
aud out squarciy for negro suffrage. lie spoke
feengly the subject having been through the whole
Of the present campaign, and witnessing daily tho glo-
reus achievements Of the coorod soldiers under Seed
man. There was tlmult OF Excitement and Opposi
ton lie essayed TO advocate his views but silence
having been restored, he allowed 20 proceed His
remarks smack strangely Of progress and reform COM