Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-10
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
sennfe.

MONDAY, July 9.-The Senate met at II H. H.
/ Speaker FRIERSON in the Chair.
/ A Message was received from the Govern OF
nominating Messrs. HENRY STONE, and T. "
SPARLTNG, as Police Commissioners.
I As the functions Of the persons Nominated were
not specifically named, Mr. SMITH moved 20
refer the matter 10 a Special Committee Of Three
for the purpose Of ascertainlng which Of the two
Was intended as experimenting Commissioner
/ aud which as Clerical Commissioner.
The motion was carried. and Mcssrs. SMITH
/ SPENCE, and SENIER, were appointed the
The resolution offered by Mr.. TRTATBTF ON
Friday, adopting the New Constitutional Amend
mcnt was reported on favOrably from the Judi
ciary Committee, aud came up for consideration
Mr.. THOMPSON offered the following as sub
stitute
Resoiged Jp The Senate al The Sat Of Tennessee.
The House c0HcHrTiHg, That the proposed amend
ment Of the Constitution of the United States
submitted By the Governor 10 the Legislature be
submitted 70 the legally qualified voters of the
state, upon the FIRST tuesday IN Oatober next for
their ratification, and that the sherifs Of the sew
eTal counties IN the State be authorized and re-
CURED to advertise. open and hold election in
the several civil districts in each county upon the
day aforesaid; and that eacii voter who shall be
in favor Of the ratification Of the proposed
amendment shall have written upon bis ticket
ratification and those opposed to the said
amendment shall have written upon their tickets
the word RejeetiOn;" and that the said several
shenits shall make due and separate returns of
the results of said election by the eighth day of
November next to the respective Speakers of
both Houses Of the General Assembly.
Mr. POW ELL moved 70 lay the substitute
the table, but subsequently withdrew the motion.
Mr.. THOMPSON addressed the Senate in favor
Of his substitute. BE reviewed IN detail the vari
Gus features OF the new constitutional amend
ment. and warned the Senate against sanctioning
measure making such vital changes in our en-
tire political system. liz questioned the right Of
the Senate to act on the amendment at ALL the
members not having been elected by the people
under the idea that such a subversiOn Of our Con-
stltutiOn was in prospect.
Mr. TRIMBLE characterized the proposition
10 submit the amendment to the vote of the peO-
pie as penny resolution" and as " ridiculous.
Mr. THOMPSON IN reply, protested against
ratitying this amendment, simply because it was
passed by the dominant party IL Congress, and
against submissiyely asserting to the edict of
faction which did not represent the views Of the
Mr.. TRIMBLE said it was eminently disres-
pectfuly 20 the present Congress, which the
greatest and most illustriOus body Of men since
ll0 20 submit 10 the people the question OF ratl-
Tying or rejecting measures, which Congress had
provided should be decided by the various Leg
Mr.. TRIMBLE insisted on his motion to lay
Mr.. THONPsON's resolution on the table, and the
motion was agreed TO, yeas 10, noes g.
Mr.. JOHNSON requested 70 be excused from
voting, on the ground that he did not believe that
the Legislature yet organized and had no
right to proceed to the transactiou of business
Mr.. MCFARLAND moved TO adjourn until to-
morrow at 10 o'clock A. n. Lost ayes7 noes 3
Mr.. SMITH, expressed grave doubt as to
whether the Senate could properly take action on
together, until both branches we're properly or
gained. lie had conscientious scruples against
proceeding further, until those doubts we-1 re-
moved. There were also several other Senators
who were earnestly DESTROYS of the ratification OF
the amendment, bus who also have these scruplrE.
II . believed that when the an ldment did con- Z
up properly in the Senate IL would pass by a vote
of three to one. but until the Legislature was
really organized, he did not think that ans action
should be taken though be was in favor of every
feature Of the amendment. He had another doubt
which was that this Legislature could take no
constitutional or binding action on such measures
until the State was recognized n State by Ton
gross.
Mr.. CARDIGAN said that he WAS coI,cicntiuus-
N opposed TO the hasty action now being taken
by the Scaate on a matter with which that body
had no right to proceed until complete OrganI-
Zati0n of the General Assembly effected. He
perceived that most Of those Senators who were 50
extremely anxious to hasten action on the
amendment were those who were afraid to consult
the views Of their constituents the matter
They were afraid TO have the amendment sub
mtted TO the people, because they know that it |
would certainly be rejected. And, further, those
who thus wantOnly disregard the wishes of their |
constituents, were disleyal and traitors to their
country.
Mr.. FRAZIER, Of Knox, was about TO offer an |
amendment TO Mr.. TRINBLE's resolution, when he /
was interrupted by
Mr.. FRAZIER Of Wilson, who moved t. adj |
journ until 10 O'Clock tomorrow, which was |
agreed TO.