Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-04
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 3.-The Senate met at
IL A NJ, Speaker Thomas in the chair and
a quorum present.

| D6IhI6 Dl1lS CO1hCnbAOh WIN NdAO
recommendation that they be rejected;
also, the House bill to call a convention
with the recommendation that it do pass.
Mr. Cooper then read the minority re-
port of the Judiciary Committee in regard
to the calling of convention, signed by
himself and Mr.. Nelson, recommending
bill in lieu.
Mr. Nelson moved to take up the House
| bill No. 165 to call a convention, and In
making the motion, said that every mem
Der had doubtless come here for the purpose
of taking the responsibility of calling a con-
vention to revise the constitution of the
State of Tennessee, and if they proposed to
| call a convention why not do it at once and
not be passing laws that cannot become
/ laws.
Mr.. Hall hoped the Senate would not act
hastily in the matter. This is great ques-
/ ton and affects the vital interests of the
State. 1t is a question that each member
| of this house ought to well mature in his
mind before casting his vote. There were
some provisions in the House bill in which
he did not concur. Certainly no man, I'M
less he has given this measure some
| thought, can be prepared to cast his vote
as intelligibly as he would like to do.
Mr.. Nelson thought there was no time
| more suspicious than the present
After some further discussion,
Mr.. Nelson moved a suspension of the
rules, that the bill could be taken up and
| acted upon.
The Speaker ruled the motion out of
| order.
BY MIR. Hall-A bill to introduce the
| study of the science of medicine and to
protect the people. The bill prevents per-
sons practicing medicine without a diploma,
| from collecting any account. Passed first
reading and was referred to Judiciary Com
| mittee.
By Mr.. Hall-A bill to incorporate the
Tennessee and Kentucky Agricultural, Me
| chanical and Horticultural Society. Passed
first reading and was referred to the Com
mittee on Interpretations.
BY Mr.. Cubbin-A bill providing for the
registration of certificates of redemption.
| Passed first reading and was referred to the
Judiciary Committee.
BY Mr. Cubbin-A bill providing that
when land is sold under decree Of the
| Chancery Court, no notice or process shall
be served on the parties purchasing the
land Passed first reading and was referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
BY Mr. Slaughter-A bill to define the
| qualifications of jurors in certain cases.
The bill provides that any person attend
| ing court as a witness is not incompetent
to serve as a juror except in the case in
which he is a witness. Passed first reading
and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
By Mr. Luttrell-A bill to amend the
charter of Knoxville. Passed first reading
and was referred to the Committee on In
corporations.
| CHANCERY DIVISION
House bill to change the fifth chancery
district of Tennessee was passed on its
third reading.
| CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. =,
| House bill to call a convention of
the people was taken up.
Mr.: Nelson moved that the bill reported
by the minority of the Judiciary Commit
tee be adopted in lien. The following is
the bill:
Whereas, The first article and the first
section of the Declaration of Rights de-
clares That all power is inherent in the
people, and all free governments are
founded on their authority, and instituted
for their peace, safety and happiness; for
the advancement of these ends, they have,
at all times, an unalienable and
indefeasible right to alter, reform
or abolish the government in
such a manner as they may think
proper" and Whereas, no changes can be
made by the people, in the fundamental
laws of the State, by delegates in conven-
ton assembled, or otherwise, without the
consent of the existing State government,
given by the General Assembly of the
State previous to said meeting; and
| LII, 90
stitutional law, that the General Assembly
has the unquestionable right to enforce
conditions, restrictions and limitations,
upon the action of said delegates in con
vention assembled, and that said conven-
ton can have no legal existence without
such consent previously given; and Whereas
the validity of the acts of said delegates IL
convention assembled depends upon the
manner in which they exercise the power
delegated to them, and the subsequent rati
iflcation and approval oftheir acts by thepeO
pie; and Whereas, at least the validity of tht
amendments proposed depends on the ap
proval of the people, and the intervention
of convention of delegates is circuitou'
and expensive; therefore, we, the member
f of the General Assembly of the State o
Tennessee, for and in behalf of the peopl'
| of said State do prefer the following alter
; | ations and amendments to the constitution
which when ratified by the sovereign PEG
pie, shall be, and are constituted part c
the permanent constitution of the State c
Tennessee, and obeyed as such.
: ARTICLE I.
f Section .. That every male person, no
, indicted and rendered infamous for crime
of the age of twenty-one years, being cit
a zen of the United States, and of the count
where he may offer his vote, six month
r next preceding the day of election, shall b
entitled to vote for members of the Gener
, Assembly and other civil officers for tn
q county or district in which he resides
0 ARTICLE II.
Sec. |. The General Assembly of Il
o State of Tennessee shall have power
grant reprieves and pardons in all cases
IS conviction under impeachment, two-thir,
al of both Houses concurring therein.
1t RESOLUTION.
Y Resolved, That the proposed amen
ments to the Constitution be submitted
in the people at the ballot box on the --
rs | day of -- next, at which election tho
in favor of the foregoing amen
ID ments shall deposit a ballot
3, which shall be written or printed 'Rati
re cation and those who are oppOs
D. shall deposit a ballot on which shall
ge written reflection, and at said electiO
every male citizen of the State not co
victed and rendered infamous for crime,
the age of twenty-one years, being CT
y zen of the United States, and Il resident
ry the county where he may offer his vote, S
OF months next preceding the day Of elecho
adj shall be entitled to vote; that said elect
as shall be opened and held by the officers
n the State as now provided by law and
of returns shall be made to the Office Of
To- Secretary of State, and when receiv
N. shall be compared by the Governor, a
IRE the result declared by the proclamation
he the Governor.
tn The bill in lieu was rejected by the (
lowing vote:
Try Ayes-Messrs. Cason, Cooper of b
nat ford. Cooper of Davidson, Eason, Gre,
} Is Iluttrell, Morris, Nelson, Palmer and Pc
er, son-1O.
Ter Noes-Messrs. Cubbin, Clementsc
I'll Etheridge, Faulkner, Hall, Hart, Haw
pie Martin. Millsaps, McFall, Peyton, s.
lxy Slaughter and Speaker Thomas-l4.
en- Mr.. Cooper, of Bedford, then offered
ne following amendment to the House bill
md Reit further enacted, that said delega
les. when assembled in convention, shall o
int amend the constitution of the State, as
, to now exists, in so far as the same has re-
of ence to the qualification of voters, to
fur Judiciary, and to the regulation of taxabl
any and towns and formation of new count
ght and on these and cognate subjects they
SteT clothed with flIl power, but all the OF
articles and provisions of the cOnstitut
S a of the State, as contained in the consti
Its ton of 1884, except so far as they relate
ure tba former condition of slavery, shall
III preserved. and not amended, altered
in changed in any way whatever by said d.
80 gates
OF Mr.. Cooper, of Bedford, said he otfe