Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-17
A Preliminary Movement Toward Re
moving Our Disabilities.


Two measures having the same object
in view were introduced in the House
yesterday, which are of sufficient inn
portance to justify their publication in
full. The first, of which Mr.. Lillard, of
Marshall, is the author, provides as fol-
lows:
A Bill to amend the Constitution Of the State
of Tennessee, Section /, Article 4, to read as
follows;
SECTION /. Be it enacted By the Gen.
erdl Assembly of the State of 1ennes-
see, That every freeman of the age of
twenty-on being citizen of the United
States, and citizen of the county
wherein he may offer 10 vote, six months
next preceding the day Of election, shall
be entitled to vote for members of the
General Assembly and other civil Off
GERS of the county and district in which
he resides. e
Sec. 2. That all the male citizens of
this State (lunatics excepted) over the
age of twenty-ene years, and under
forty-eight years, shall be entitled TO pay
poll tax and be subject to military
duty.
Sec. 3. Before any male citizen of this
State shall have the privilege of the cleo
tive franchise, be shall take and sub.
scribe the following oath:
j do solemnly swear that have never
Joined any secret organization or taken
any oath or pledge of secrecy, or aided
or given countenance to any secret
society or Individual or body that had
for his or their object the defiance Of the
Il. L.. oE fbar ant
Of the State of Tennessee or Of the
United States, so help me God.
Sec. 4 That any violation of this oath
shall be perjury, and, on conviction
thereof, the person shall be punished ac-
cordingly. r
The bill passed first reading, and was
referred to the Con mittee or Judiciary.
The following bill was introduced by
Col. Prosser, one of the Representatives
from this county:
An Act proposing amendments to the Constitu-
ton of the State of Tennessee.
WHEREAS, Section Of article ii of
the Constitutions Of the State Of Tennes
see provides that any amendment or
amendments may be proposed in the
Senate or House Of Representatives
therefore, in pursuance of the provisions
of said section, and for the purpose of
amending the Constitution of this State
by the means aud in the manner pre-
scribed:
Be IL enacted BY the General Assem-
bly of the State Of Tennessee, That the
following amendments be and the same
are hereby proposed to the Constitution
of this State:
1. Every male inhabitant of the State,
Of the age Of twenty-one years, being
citizen Of the United States and q citizen
Of the county wherein he may offer to
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 or dis
trict in which be resides; provided, that
this amendment shall not operate TO en-
franchise any person heretofore die
qualified from voting BY the laws Of this
Stnte for crime, of which he may have
been dnly convicted; and, provided
further. that this amendment shall not
disfranchise any person who nov has the
right 70 vnte under the laws Of this State
as they now exist, or who shall possess
that right at the time Of she ratification
Of this ameBdment
2 No laws may be passed excluding
from the right of suffrage or from the
right 70 hold ofice or ut on juries, any
person because Of bis race or cnlcr, O.
prsv.Sss condition, nor shall auy Prop
erty Qualification be established; bui
laws uaL BE- passed extending from the
night Of Mirage o. from holding ones Or