The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-08-07

|
My high regard for the author of the
inclosed letter and ordinance, Hon. John
NJ. Lea, my confidence in his patriotism |
and integrity, to say nothing of the i'm
portance of the subject discussed, indu-
ces me respectfully to submit those
documents for your calm and deliberate |
consideration J. w. g. BRowNLow.
1--WE are compelled to omit the letter
of Mr.. LEA this week for want of room.
An Ordinance to authorize the appointment of
Delegates to a Convention for the purpose of
| "a amending the Constitution of the State:
WHEREAS, In the opinion of the Gen.
cral Assembly there prevails through |
tain localities, general disposition
amongst the people to acquiesce in the
results which have been brought about
by the late civil war, as is evidenced by
the ntimerously signed petitions which
have been presented; the said petitions
recognizing the validity of the State
Governme 1T, and the legality of all acts
done to reorganize political system
destroyed by war-admitting the abo-
lition of slavery and the cnfranchisc-
| HUH vi tololCV NOlCIS-uShIuS lol ubl-
versal amnesty and en- oblivion of past
wrongs ard grievances, and respectful
ly soliciting in calm and dignified
manner, that they be again invested
with the privileges Of the elective fran
chise. Now the General Assembly, re.
luctant in the first instance to discrimi-
nate in the enjoyment Of rights, and
only impelled to it by Just apprehen-
cinn ot thn ti,,n fhat fhn or of thn
loyal people demanded the protecting
hand of power, disposed, as they have
always been, to render government ac-
ceptable to the people, and glad to meet
! in patriotic spirit all advances made in
the interests of peace, law and order, do
now cheerfully declare that from the
evidences aforesaid no valid reasons ex-
list for further continuance of the Con-
stitutional provision DISTINGUISHING any
portion of our fellow citizens and,
WHEREAS, The franchise law has been
declared by the Supreme Court to be a
part of the constitution of the State,
and can hence only be changed by q
convention, or by the mode pointed out
in the third section of the eleventh ar
ticle Of the Constitution, neither of
which modes, unfortunately, meet the
count of the danger Of public disturb
snce from the excitement of another
election in the midst Of warm Presi-
count of the delay necessary to effect
the desired object; now, with view to
preserve the peace, and also to facilitate,
in legal and constitutional manner,
the speedy repeal of said constitutional
> al II &c hnlioval that h,,
a vote of the people the present Gener-
the powers Of convention necessary
, to carry out and ratify the expression Of
their will; the General Assembly re-
commcnds to the people that the follow
ing amendment to the Constitution be
made.
That every free man, white or colored,
of the age Of twenty-One years, being
citizen Of the United States, and citizen
of the county wherein he may offer his
vote six months next preceding the day
of election, shall be entitled to vote for
members of the General Assembly and
other civil officers for the county and
district in which he may reside: Pro-
cided, that laws may be passed eXclud-
ing from the right of suffrage persons
convicted of infamous crimes.
AT the next election to be held for the
purpose of choosing Electors for Presi-
dent and Vice President, to-wit, on the
- day of -, 1868, those voters ia
voring the passage of said amendment
shall write or print upon their tickets
the word convention" and those dis
approving it shall write OF print "no
convention" The votes marked econ
vention" shall mean and imply that they
: favor the adoption of said amendment
f to the Constitution; and, further, that
. they elect and appoint as delegates to
p. said convention the members of the
present General Assembly. The con-
vention thus elected and organized is to
have full power to adopt said amend
ment to the Constitution. Due returns
Of the votes cast shall be made by the
officers conducting the elections in the
several counties; and. if the votes " for
convention" outnumber those for "no
convention" the Governor shall Issue a
proclamation announcing the fact, and
: convening said convention at the Capt.
toll in Nashville, on the - day of -,
1868. ....t -
. No restrictions can be placed by leg
islative enactment upon the action of a
, convention duly elected and organized,
and to render this proceeding entirely
= legal and constitutional, no attempt is
made to confine or limit the just powers
/ of said convention but it is not to be
presumed that any other matter will be
: touched, or any other business be done
: than the incorporation of the amend
g ment aforesaid into the original law of
the State. Each and every member of the
Legislature pledges himself to the coun-
try that the beginning and end of the
deliberations of said convention shall be
consumated by registration of the will
!. of the people in the adoption of said
amendment
The members of the Legislature have
been selected as the appOintees or dele
gates aforesaid, from the fact that there
/, will about that time be an adjourned SEES