Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-11
ROUSE OF REPRESENFATIVEs

ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
WEDNESDAY, Nov 1O.-The House was
called to order at 9:45 o'clock, Speaker
Perkins in the chair and is members
present.
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
Mr. Steele presented petition from the
Clerk of the Giles County Court praying
Tor q more rigid enforcement of the reve-
nue. laws as regards pedlars' license. Re
farred.
Mr. James, Of Hamilton, presented
memorial from Tennessee 10 Congress,
praying restitution for losses sustained by
railroads during the war on account of the
Government. Referred to the Committee
on Federal Relations.
NEW Bills AND RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr.. Curl--A bill for the benefit Of
the Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap and
Charleston Railroad Passed and referred
to the Committee on Internal Improve
| ments
By Mr.. Owen-A resolution authorizing
| Tax Collectors to pay warrants properly
Endorsed and audited by the Comptroller
| of the State. Laid over
By Mr.. Scotia Joint resolution asking
Congress to compensate surviving soldiers
of the war OF 1912, by giving to each eco
acres of the public lands, or pension as
an equivalent. Laid over
By Mr.. Townsend-A bill to incorporate
the CORTLAND Club Library and Literary
Association of Memphis. Passed.
| = Mr. Nixon, and not Mr. Nicks, intro
| duced the bill mentioned in yesterdays
| proceedings, providing for attaching the
| county of Lawrence to the 10Th Judicial
| district
| THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION BILL.
The Convention bill, being the unfn-
| ished business, was taken up, the motion
| being on the adoption Of the previous
| question to concur with the Senate amend
ment reducing the number Of delegates
| to so.
| Mr.. Enloe withdrew his motion for the
! previous question, in order to allow Mr..
| Sadler to make a few remarks.
Mr. Sadler said a convention composed Of
only so members could not be considered
| n representative body The number was
! altogether too small The plea of economy
was O very fimsy one when a question in
volving consequences OF such great i'm
| portance was at stake. Besides, there
we're too many members Of the House alb
sent at present.
| MI. hHtd was eli IlldtiCdlIy III hNDI VI
| the Senate amendment The condition OF
| the State finances was such that it was no
time to incur unnecessary expense. The
| question of economy was a vital one after
/ all, no matter what may be said to the con-
| traTy. II might be very satisfactory to
some men to find themselves delegates to
such body, but the interest of the whole
people was the first consideration.
| ATr oCf1ni1haa Of tho
sition to reduce to the limit of fifty men,
bers such body as a Constitutional Con-
vention, called together to make new
Constitution. The occasion demanded a
representative body in the fullest sense,
but this amendment was simply an at
tempt at Capitalization, and if carried out
would surely defeat the viii of the people.
| A Convention composed of only fifty mem
bers could not represent the popular wish.
| 1t would be playing into the hands OF the
cities and large towns, while tie outlying
counties would be practically ignored. The
| plea of economy should not be entertained
a moment, consideradng the magnitude Of
the issues to be determined.
Mr.. Roach favored the Senate amend
ment. He considered it q perfect absurdity
to say that there would be county IN the
State not represented, with the number of
delegates down to so. Even if there were
not two dozen of delegates, who supposes
that any county in the State would be ig-
nored III electing the same. Fifty men
would answer as well, even better than a
100, besides saving great deal of money
by the reduction.
Mr. Tucker said he was Just from home,
and he said it was the opinion of every
man he had spoken TO that the Convention
should be composed of 100 members He
thought the best interests of the people at
large demanded that number
Mr.. Spears argued in favor Of the repre-
sentation. In a multitude Of counsel there
was safety He was well satisfied the people
at large demanded hundred members, aud
he was equally satisfied that the great in
terests of the people required at least that
number. The making of a good constitu-
ton was question not to be guaged by
dollars and cents, and the best means TO
secure the proper end, regardless of what
he considered false economy. was to have
full represention.
Mr.. Steele favored a compromise by
placing the number of delegates at -. - -
The question on concurring with the
Senate amendment was then put, and lost
by the following vote