Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-10
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
NASHVILLE, Jan. 9.-The House was
called to order by Mr. Speaker Richards.
at l0A.M. Fifty-seven members an,
swered to their names,
NEW BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr.. Agee-A resolution providing
for the adjournment of the Legislature on
the 25th instant Laid over.
Mr.. Mckinley offered the following
resolution, which was laid over under
the rule:
Resolved, That our Senators in Cons
gress are hereby instructed, and our
Representatives requested, to support
and vote for such measures as will at
once accord by the Government Of the
United States the rights Of belligerents
to the people Of Cuba in their efforts to
establish for themselves a government
modelled after our own free republic,
and based upon human liberty and hu-
man rights.
A resolution by Mr. Mckinley, proyida
ing for the appointment ola joint COM
mittee Of three on the part of the House,
and On the part of the Senate to ex-
anime into certain outrages perpetrated
in Sumner county, last October. Laid
over.
BY Mr., Ryder-Bill to remove disa-
bilities of cOlored people formerly slaves,
so that they may inherit the property OF
their relatives escheated to the State
THE FRANCHISE.
Mr.. Richards offered the following bill
-, 81 szA-oIraoI Nv NJ Ru-
der, on Thursday:
bill to be entitled. An act to provide for the
calling Of a convention for the purpose Of 50
amending the Constitution as to establish
universal sui rage, and the absolute and per-
manent equality before the law of all races.
WHEREAS, The existing franchise reg
ulations of this State were adopted at a
period of great turmoil and excitement,
and were, in their inception, intended
only to serve as a temporary expedient;
and
WHEREAS, The necessity for such regA
ulations has now evidently ceased to ex-
list; and
WHEREAS, 1t is the evident wish of
large number Of the citizens of Tennes-
see that civil disabilities arising under
the said franchise regulations should be
now removed therefore
BE it enacted by the General Assembly
Of the State Of Tennessee, That it shall
be the duty of the Governor Of this State,
Immediately upon the passage of this act
to make known the same to the quallfrd
voters (of the State by special prOclamaD
ton, and to summon said qualifi ed yoters)
to attend at the usual places of holding
elections in the various counties for the
purpose of deciding by vote whether or
not it is the wish of said voters, or of
majority thereof, that the members of the
Senate and House of Representatives of
the Legislature, constituting the General
Assembly of the State of Tennessee,
should come together as a joint conven>
ton on the 22d day of February, 1869, at
the capitol, in the city of Nashville, and
have power when they met in conven~
ton, by the authority of the sovereign
people of Tennessee, to adopt formal
ordinance relieving all the citizens of the
State now suffering under disabilities i'm
posed by the existing franchise enact
ments altogether from the same, and Sc
curing at the same time, by the terms of
| the said ordinance to all classes OF the
people of Tennessee, without regard to
race, complexion orlineage, absolute and
permanent equality before the law; and
the qualified voters of the State, when in
attendance at the places Of election as
herein mentioned shall be required to
inscribe upon the ballots deposited by
them either the word convention" or the
words mo convention, in token oil their
ratification or rejection of the proposition
for Kidding O convention thus submitted
to them and majority of the votes cast
in said election shall be decisive of the
result.
Be it further enacted, That this act
take effect from and after its passage.
Mr.. Richards spoke CHS remarks al 9
reported elsewhere) in support OF the
measure.
lie was followed by Mr.. Bosom, who,
in view of the importance Of the BILL
was OF the opinion that it ought to be
submitted to q committee before the
House took any action omit.
Mr.. Roach favored the bill.
Mr.. Mynatt INDUCED in lengthy decla-
nation against the measure, and against
Rebels generally. lie thought the bill
introduced by Mr.. Ryder was more thar
the House could swallow, but the still
more outrageous measure of injustice
brought in today by Mr.. Richards, was
he thought, too much for the most Vora
cious craw in the House. He thought
thew were ahead Of the times. lie con
sidered the bill revolutionary in its ten
; | dency.
Mr.. Ryder made short speech in de
tense of his motives and those of his col
league from Shelby, in introducing TIT
= bIll under discussion, and dwelt at SOM
r length and force on the communication
which the Governor sent to the member
e Of the extra session, accompanying th
n memorial of John NJ Lea, recommending
g TO the serious consideration of the HOus
; the proposition TO extend the franchise
:. Just five years ago convention of dele
: gates, numbering five hundred, met II
Is the city hall to make preliminary ar
rangements for organizing a State Gov
: eminent, and that convention neve
dreamed Of doing anything else than cal
=, upon all the citizens within her border
E to take part in recognizing the govern
E ment of this State Great liberality wa
shown at that time in order to encourag