Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-07
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURES.
i Senate.
FRrDAY, December 6, lS67.-Prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Huntington.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.

FRIDAY, december ., 1901 .-lrdyeE bl
the Rev. Mr.. Huntington.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Elliott: A bill to regulate the fees
between telegraph companies. ,f ~
Mr.. Cate: A bill proposing an amend
ment TO the partnership laws of the State,
in reference 10 limited partnership.
Referred. s-..s ID 49,. .,E s5..i
A bill amending the Code SO as to allow
the State, in cases of misdemeanor. 10 have
only FIVE peremptory challenges. Referred.
A bill was introduced BY Mr.. LYLE, pro-
posing that an election be held throughout
the State on the first Saturday in March,
1868, for delegates to State Convention
to alter or amend the constitution, looking
to change of the franchise laws of the
State, which was referred to the Committee
on the Constitution. While the motion to
refer was under consideration, Mr. Lyle,
afler discussing the causes which led Ten
nessee into rebellion, spoke in substance as
follows; .......-...s.'. ...-r. ND ~.
go back on these dates, Mr.. Speaker,
in order to show at what time the good
aud honest people Of this State got their
consent TO go into this rebellion, If they
ever did, outside of the combined influence
Of the leaders in this rebellion, which /
do not believe they did, but if they did
they done il honestly, and they are honest
to-day, and as I think / have shown a
chain Of loyalty and honesty combined, in,
favor of the $4,000 who were set down as
majority vote against secession on the 9th
day of February, 1861. Therefore, this bill
of mine which offer in good faith and
which am in hopes this house will pass
in good faith, and which I honestly be,
lieye, il passed, will be received by the
whole people of this State in like good
faith, looking, asst does, to the doing away
of all disabilities on account of race, color
or former condition, and equal rights for
all by proposed amendments or alter
atoms to the constitution of the State, ex-
cept those who had taken an oath to sup
port the constitution of the United States
and afterwards went into rebellion and
further, the bill, you must all admit, pros
poses to travel the shortest road that can
be Travelled, looking to peace, happiness
and prosperity for the whole people of the
State of Tennessee. Mr.. Speaker, / 60 in
for burying the act of the Rebels and
slavery in one common grave, there to re-
main for all time TO come undisturbed.
The amendment of Senator Frierson
then came up and was discussed by the
introducer. He thought that the amend.
ment, if adopted, would obyiate the me-
cesslty of coming in conflict with the
decision of the Supreme Court. If We
should repeal the sixteenth section of the
franchise act, it may be so construed that
the whole law was nnllity. The amend,
ment proposed was large and liberal in its
features, and its adoption would engender a
better spirit among our people The Re-
publican party need have no fears, for if
the convention shonld be called, the action
of the convention would have to be re-
ferred to the next Legislature for its adop-
ton. They would then have to refer il
back to the people for adoption, and if the
Legislature should not deem it prudent to
refer it back to the people Immediately,
they might defer it for a considerable time,
and thus make several years elapse before
the amendment would become part of the
constitution. ..-E...
Senator Frierson then Withdrew for the
present his amendment. ~
Senator Mathews offered the bill which
had passed the House, as a bill in lien Of
all other bills ON the subject. 80. "a.
The repeal ofthe sixteenth section of the
franchise act then came up. t.4sI
MIR. Speaker Senter addressed the Sen
ate in opposition to the repeal, rnaiHly on
the ground that whether it is or is not
part of the constitution, it is regarded by
the people as part of that instrument,
and we should be careful not to lay our
selves liable to the charge of tampering
with the constitution. -
Senators Cary and Garner made some
remarks in favor of the repeal.
Senator Eckel moved the postponement
of the whole franchise question to the
18th of January, 1868. Carried by IA to
8, and was referred TO the Committee on
the Constitution. ,..5 E-F
Adjourned TO 10 A. NJ. tomorrow.