Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-05

eoInties and, if the votes For Convention"
out-number those for No Convention, the
inp said COW entiOn at the Capitol in Nashville,
on the day of -. 1865.
Ne restrictions can be placed by legislative
enactment upon the action OF a convention
dulv elected and organized, and to render this
proceeding entirely legal and constitutional,
no attempt is made to eOnfne or limit the just
powers of said convention; but It IS not to.6e
presumed that any other matter will be touched,
or any other business done than the incOrpOra-
ton of the amendment aforesaid into the or
ranic law Of the state. Each and every mem
Der of the Legislature pledges himself 20 the
country that the beginning and end of their de-
alterations of said convention shall be cORsum-
mated by registration of the will of the peO-
pie in the adSptiOn of said amendment
The members of the Legislature have been
selected as the appOintees or delegates aforesaid
from the fact that there will about that time be
an adjourned session of the General Assembly.
The amendment, II approved by the qualified
voters will not cost the labor Of a day, and they
desire no compensation for their services as
delegates. and gladly avail themselves of an OPP
pOrtunity, now that the olive branch has been
presented by the great body of those lately hos
tile to the government, TO give every assurance
of disposition on their part hereafter to live
in peace and amty. as citizens OF great, free
and just Commonwealth.
This plan of remedying the evil is speedy and
inexpensive, and though unusual in its form,
does not encroach upon any provision Of law or
Constitution therefore be IL
Resolved by the General Assembly of the
State of Tennessee, That the preceding ordi-
nance be adopted; and that the Governor be
requested to issue proclamation requiring the
officers holding said elections In the several
counties to receive votes for or against the con-
ventiOn, and due return thereof make to the
executive office.
Mr.. Elliott presented resolution to refer the
message TO aselect committee of five on the part
of the Senate, and - on the part Of the House
Adopted
The message and resolution were ordered to
10 tronsnnsf4aN 70 ho
By Mr.. Elliott: A bill TO be entitled an act
for the government and management and leasing
of the p gntentiary.
Mr. smith raised question whether this bill
could be presented at this session. as it had
passed three readings in the House at the former
session. and was then referred to the Judiciary
Committee, who presented bill in lieu. This,
he held, killed the bill.
Tho Speaker, however. decided that this ses-
sion was in no way connected with the former
session.
message, wherein no protested against the cree
| ton of any new buildings at that place, which
the bill provides for. and his motion the bill
was laid upon the table
Adjourned until P. N. tomorrow.
House Of Representatives.
The House met at two P. NJ, Speaker Rich
| ards in the Chair and sixty members present.
MEMORIAL FROM THE CONFEDERATE GENERALS.
| Mr.. PrOsser presented the memorial recently
| adopted at the conference Of Confederate Cen
erals. He remarked that the memorial de-
served the best consideration that could be
| given by the House. 1t came from men who,
when the war of giants was going on between
| the North and South, were no pigmies. The
| Military Committee felt however, that they
had a duty TO perform, and that the Govern or
| should be clothed with full authority and fur
| nished with all the means necessary to put a
stop to the Outrages now being daily committed.
| He moved that the memorial be referred to the
| Committee on Military Affairs. Carried
Mr.. Kercheval stated that delegation.
| headed by Judge Shackelford. Gov FoOte, and
| other distinguished citizens. were without the
| hall, and moved that they be invited within the
| bar.
Mr.. Woodcoek inquired as to the object of
their coming. and whether the House could
| while in session have any conference with those
| not properly commissioned as officers of the
| State government. 90 -
The Speaker said that the matter rested with
| the House, whether to receive the delegation or
Mr.. Kercheval intimated that the object Of
| the visit was TO present memorial with re-
| gard to extending the franchise.
Mr.. Shepherd entered his solemn protest
AGAINST the whole proceeding, which reminded
| him of 1861. when outside pressure in favor Of
| the rebellion was used. Let the memorial be
presented by some member Of the House. A re-
cess could then be had. when he was ready to
hear what was TO be said.
Mr.. WOOdcOck suggested that the memorial
| be first presented by some member, and that the
| House then resolve itself, into n Committee of
the Whole for the purpose of hearing Judge
Schaekleford and the other memOralists.
Considerable discussion ensued, in which
Messrs. WOodcock, Hamilton and Williams
participated. relative to the proper form Of pro-
ceeding. 1t was finally agreed by the House to
take recess of fifteen minutes after the read
| ing of the memorial.
Mr.. Kercheval then presented the memorial,
which was read 1t is the same that has for
| several days been circulated in the city, and
| bears the names of nearly four thOuSOnd citi-
zens. ..# t
On motion Of Mr.. Williams, the Speaker was
| selected to preside during the recess.
Judge SchacklefOrd then advanced to the
Speakers desk and spoke as follows:
Mr.. Speaker and the Members of the House
Of ReprsSentatiueS--O behalf of my fellow
| citizens, near four thousand in number,
whose names are signed to this memorial,
l present it through you to the Governor
! of the State, asking that steps may be taken
TO restore to the elective franchise those of
| our fellow-cilizens that are now excluded
from that privilege by existing laws.
The time, l feel, has come when all citi-
zens of Tennessee should be restored to
those rights and privileges they inherited
from their fathers, and which your prede-
cessor5, under the powers delegated to them
from considerations of public policy,
thought it expedient, for time, to deprive
them.
This memorial is signed by many Of the
| best men of your State-men who we're
true in their devotion to the flag Of the
nation in the dark days of the revolution.
| The supremacy of the State government is
now too we'll established to be shaken
| the ship of State has been brought
back to her ancient moorings. Then
let us restore to all equal rights aud privi-
leges. This will bring peace blessed peace
to our divided population. Men will feel
| they are free, and have a right to particle
| pate in the government, aud the acknOwl-
edged maxim of all Republican govern
ments-laxation with representation will
| be carriad into effect when this is done
we may well say we are Republicans. Re
| store the elective franchise, and then we
| will meet in debate those who differ from
usin principles and the people will Judge be-
tween us the right, and if the Democratic
| party should triumph for time it will be,
as in the early days of the republic, only
| temporarily. / fear not the ultimate success
| of the Republican principles-the march
| of human progress is onward. You might
| as well attempt to stop the mighty current
| Of the Mississippi as to stay it.
feel, gentlemen, have the right to adj
L dress you HI Utudli Ol INT IRREGULARITIES huQ
| citizens Of the State, on this subject. |
have cO-operated with you since the crgani-
cation Of the State under the amended Con-
| stiiution. l was in at the inception Of the
| organization. have labored amid all the
| strife growing out of ihe revolution in q
coordinate branch of the government, TO
sustain the integrity of the laws Of the
State, and to throw their protecting inau-
enee around every citizen. How l have
| discharged the trust coniided, | leave you
TO Judge. But the time is come when
something must be done to restore the dis
francbsed citizens To equal rights and
privileges The peace aud quiet Of the
| State require this. 1t can only be accom-
plished through the honorable body Of
which your House il an integral part.
No State in this Union has such
fertility of soil. Her mountains and
hills are rich in minerals No couE-
try on earth has more salubrious
climate. We have all the elements within
our borders TO make us a great and pros
porous people. Allthat is required todeveIop
the resources Of the State is, equal rights
to all. Give this, and emigration will flow
into every quarter Of the State capital will
geek an Investment within our borders the
FORCES and furnaces that are now standing
idle will with almost magical effect