Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-23


tiens OF conseience,I just as the
school fund robbers swooped up
that ''sacred fund.- The public
would IKE to know what the State |
Journal thinks of these premium
Legislators. 4
A CONsEI EUFIONaL C0NyENsION.
A writer in the Memphis Ledger
enters into an argument to show
that the Legislature is estopped
from proposing an amendment to
the constitution until after Feb. %,
ISL, because the Legislature
amended the constitution in regard
to the franchise. If this argument
! would hold good, the Legislature
could not propose an amendment to
the constitution until the session
of 1873, because the present
franchise law was not en-
acted until February rs, 1867.
But we regard this argu-
ment as fallacious. The Legisla-
turo has really proposed no amends
nent to the constitution in the sense
laid down in that instrument. But
the people will insist on a speedier
mode of redressing their grievances
than through proposed amend
ment by the Legislature. They de-
mand that the work of revising and
amending tho constitution be sub
mitted to convention TO be chosen
by the whole people of the State.
The writer in the Ledger recognises
the necessity for a convention TO re-
wise the constitution 10 suit the new
order of things in this State. He
says:
while the people of the State cannot
amend the constitution within six years
from the time the last amendment was
made, they have the inherent and in
alienable right to call convention for the
purpose Of forming a new constitution at
any time. This can be done by the peo-
pie, REGARDLESS Of the Legislature, and at
any time. Or the Governor can call a
convention, and the people respond.
| Now, if Gov. Senter is in earnest,
if he is really DESTROYS to enfraIt
chise all the people Of Tennessee,
let him show his faith by his works
and call a convention, to meet in Nash,
Vile next fall, for the purpose of making
new constitution, ana this will make a
square issue in the present canvass, and
leave no room for political trickery or
lodging. Or il the people, by holding
primary meetings, shall call a convention
for that purpose, will Gov. Senter allow
that convention to be held? or will he do
as Gov. Brownlow no doubt would have
done, dispense them with his militia
There is a fine opportunity for Gov.
Senter to show that he is in earnest when
he makes such lavish promises"
/ The Memphis Appeal takes simi,
lar ground in favor ofcalling a con
vention Immediately to revise, alter
and amend the constitution. In Its
issue of the 21st inst. that paper
says:
"The authority of the people in the
premises is ample, and we suggest, as a
test of his sincerity, that g paper aJ-
dressed to Gov. Senter be put in crcu-
latien at once, in each of the grand
divisions Of the State, requesting him
by public proclamation, TO recommend tC
the people of the State, the election OF
delegates to constitutional convention
at the same time that candidates fol
the Legislature are voted for. IL Mr.
/ Senter is sincere he will at once defer to
the voice Of the people, and afford the
, only thing that, within the past three
years, has prevented such movement
| the sanction of the supreme power Of the
State, Nothing but the fear that an
, archy and confusion would follow,
: through the interpOsitiOn, as BTownlow
{ threatened, of Federal bayonets, has pre-
vented, long since, the assertion Of this
right by the people, under the lead o.
their best and brightest men. Those
who re>organized the State government
+ in January, 1865, avaied themselves
+ | Of the bill OF rights as authority for
all they did, and their work was
sanctioned o, ratified by a majority o.
those who then voted. If so then,
why not now? The whole aim and end
Of the Senter party is said to be the
reimbursement of every disiranchised
man in the State. Such work can only
be accomplished by constitutional cons
ventiOn, and that must be called for by
the people. We submit, then, that as q
test Of Senter's sincerity, and the sins
: cerity of those who act with him, n paper
, be presented, signed by the leading men
of the State, without regard to party, re-
} questiDe him to call a convention to re-
model the constitution. His acquies-
cence would satisfy the most doubling;
and go far to reconcile to his support
every political element in the State IA
, voring enfranchisement." a
We may remark just here that
Gov, Senter is unequivocally com
mittod TO the policy of recommend.
ing the Legislature to call a con-
vcntion or TO recommend the people
J 10 elect delegates and hold a con
vontion to revise the constitution.
: We have implicit faith that he will
| do this in his message to the Legis-
lature which convenes the first
; Monday in October next. But we
} entertain very serious doubts
whether, under the circumstances,
, he would feel it incumbent
on himself to recommend the
people TO elect delegates and
, hold a convention, even were he
urged to do so in the manner sug
gested by the Appeal. 1t is of the
utmost importance that We have 4
convention at an early day, and this
We can have if we geta Legislature
favorable to the measure. Let us
make a sure thing of this by all
4 A. 4 a 4 -,