Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-28

The special order in the House for to-
day at 100 A. NJ, is "THE CONVENTION y
Bill on its third reading, reported by the
Judiciary Committee Ii affords US great
pleasure to chronicle the promptitude with
which the House has taken up this subject.
The eaIncstnesS with which they seem TO
press it to a conclusion, receives general
approval. That is what the people want.
They wish the Convention with the least
possible delay. 1t evident that the Judi
ciary Committee actedupont hisimpression,
doubtless intending to perfect the present
bin on its passage through the House. We
are sure that neither the Judiciary Com
mittec, north House viii take offense at the
suggestions which we hayeto make on this
subject. They have already, doubtless,
occurred to those members who have had
the matter in charge. The bill reported
submits the question of Convention or
'No Convention" TO the people again
We take it, with all due Difference, that if
there was any one thing settled by the last
election, il was that we were to have a
convention at the earliest practicable mo-
ment after the meeting of the General
Assembly. That, the Governor admits,
and all parties acquiesce. About that
there is not the shadow of doubt. Then
why refer it again 70 the people? We are
sure that the Legislature, the people and
the Judiciary Committee are all satisfied
that there is but one opinion upon that
subject. Even the Radicals do not make
any point there
Hence we suggest that this provision of
the bill, though comparatively mimport-
ant, be omitted If, however, there be
any member of the Legislature, who does
not feel that his constituents have already
expressed themselves upon this point, he
ought 10 vote to retain that provision in
the bill.
But that is not the feature of the bill
which we regard as especially objectiona-
bic The bill now on its passage restricts
the franchise for delegates to the convCn-
ton to those who are at present qualified
voters for members of the General Assem-
bly,. We are confident that this restriction
viii not be retained in the bill It il
against the wishes of the people; it il
against the wishes of the Legislature, anC
against the wishes of the Judiciary Com
mittee, and is accounted for only by tn,
anxiety Of the Committee 10 present the
bill in any, even a crude shape, so as e
hasten final action.
The preamble Of the bill starts out witt
The enunciation of that fundamental truth
taken from the Declaration of Rights, tina
''all power is inherent in the people an,
all free governments are founded on hei
authority and instituted for their peace
safety and happiness, and that ''for tn
advancement Of these ends, the peOpt
have at all times an inalienable and indie
feasible right to alter, reform or abolis
the government in such manner as the.
may think proper. Who are the people
No man in this Legislature viii pretend t
say that the last election did not decid
that (eyen in the opinion of the enfran
chised) those who were disfranchised b
the war. were a substantive, impOrtaI
part of the'people. Radicalism now cor
fesses this. We believe there is no Orga
or member Of any party that dare now
say that the disfranchised element in Ter
nessce is not n part and parcel Of tn
people as referred to and described in TIA
preamble to the bill of which we al
speaking.
Il cannot De said by any one, certainl
not by any one who has passed throug
the elementary course of reading prescribe
for law student, that the State constitU
lion Of 1865 restricts the franchise on TIL
subject of a convention to those who al
now voters for members of the Gener'
| Assembly. The constitution Of the Stat
may prescribe, who shall be the qualifie
voters in State elections properly speaking
But when that constitution is to he +,
modelled, changed, altered or reformed,
again comes back to the people.
is for them again 10 say whit
pant of this power they will retain, {
what part they will yield. To determir
that the disfranchised shall not vote in III
selection of delegates is 10 decide that the
arc not part of the people. The who
people DISTINGUISHED, and all, might met
in convention and determine upon the
future constitution, without consultatio
with the Legislature But this is an o.
gained government, and these are pee
pie of order as well as law. While
would have been entirely lawful for thel
to have met in convention in the aggrC
gate, vet it was deemed best, for the SAX
of order, that the Legislature, not by vi
tue of any interest," power or constitl
tional privilege, should prescribe the tim
ami place Of holding the Convention, an
the time and place for holding the electio
of delegates 10 the Convention. We prC
sumo il was never supposed or intende
that the Legislature should go further
prescribing the qualification Of voters tina
to say that they should be of the people
that is 2l years of age, citizens Of tn
United States and residents of the Stat
of Tennessee. To 90 further would be t
spit in the face of the Declaration @
Rights. which is the preamble Of this bill
The Commissioners to examine the Pa
cifc Railroad are preparing their report
They will recommend that the compan
be compelled to spend more money an
labor in putting the road in tirst-clasS con
dition.