Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-05
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
Senate.

SSuhit.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 1S64-Prayer by
Rev. Mr.. Huntington.
The bill requiring an investigation of
the conduct of J. 3. Hull, late Warden Of
the Penitentiary, was recommiited 10 the
Committee On the Penitentiary.
The House bill incorporating the New
Orleans and Ohio Air Line Railroad was
adopted in lien of the Senate bill, and
passed the third reading.
The question of confirmation of f. M.
Sparkling as Police Commissioner, being
the special order of the day,
Mr. Garner said he was opposed to the
whole principle of appointing officers TO
preside over people without their consent.
The Office should be elective, and the peo-
pie should have the right to choose their
rulers. This question is not merely local
one, but strikes at the very foundation OF
representative government, and he should
not vote for the confirmation.
MIR. Cary said, to make the office elective
would be TO defeat the whole MetropolitaIt
Police syslems The object is to raise the
police above local and political Influences.
With the power and influence II the sixty
members Of the police, L.e believed he
could by adroit an@agement, perpetuate
himself forever in .rfice.
Mr.. Cate sdid that he had been met in
the SenatG Chamber, on the streets and in
his private room, with complaints that the
expenses of the present police system would
drive us into hopeless bankruptcy and in
definite taxation. Three Commissioners
are not necossary-one man can do all that
is necessary, and more than one will be
entailing useless burden on the people.
The vote was then taken, and 7. W.
Sparkling was confirmed by vote of II
to 10.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
The following bill was introduced by
Senator Frierson:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of the State of Tennessee, That the follow
ing propositions as amendments to the con-
stitution of this State, be submitted to the
qualified voters of the State, according to
the constitution, for their ratification or
rejection and if ratified by them in a
constitutional manner, shall become part
of the constitution.
Section l. No man shall be disqualified
for holding Office, or sitting on juries, or
exempted from military duty, or from pay
ing poll tax, in this State, on account OF
race or color.
Sec. 2. Every man of the age of twenty.
one years, being a citizen of the United
States, and citizen of the county wherin
he may cast his vote six months next pre-
ceding the day of election, shall be en-
titled TO vote for members of the General
Assembly and other civil officers of the
State, county and distric. in which he re-
sides.
Provided, no person who, having taken
an oath as a member of Congress, or as an
officer of the United~States, or as member
of any State Legislature, or as an execu
tive or judicial officer of this or any Other
State, to support the constitution of tbs
United States, and shall have thereafter
| engaged in instruction or rebellion against
the same, or given aid and comfort to th'
| enemies thereof, shall have the right t
vote for members of the General Assem-
| bly,, or other civil officers for the county Oh
| district in which he resides.
| And provided further, that the disabili
ties imposed by this section may be re
moved by the General Assembly, by join
resolution, upon the recommendation O
the Governor.
| Adjourned till 9 A. NJ. tomorrow.