Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-29
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY. Oct 2S.-The House was
called to order at 10 4. NJ, Speaker Perkins
in the chair, aud GS members present.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
The Speaker announced the following
special committees:
On the Winchester and Alabama Rail
road - Messrs Thomas. Caldwell and
Knight.
On the Southwestern Railroad-Messrs.
Roach, Wilson and Steele.
On the Baxter Memorial-M essrs Horn
berger, Warren and Harrison.
On East Tennessee University
Caldwell, Rhea and Singletary.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
Nv Mr.. Nixon-Bill for the benefit OF
common schools and to relieve the state
Treasury. providing for the discontnuance
of schools under certain circumstances.
Passed first reading and referred to the
Committee on Education and Common
Schools.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The bill to authorize the people to call a
convention, and for other purposes, which
was made the special order for to-day at
1890 A. NJ, was taken up.
On motion of Mr.. Warren the lioast pro-
ceeded to consider the bill section 10y see
ton.
Mr.. Hunley of Anderson and Campbell,
offered a bill in lieu, providing that amend
ments removing the present franchise re-
strictions be submitted to n vote OF the
people. ,rr
MIR. Barry moved to lay the bill in lieu
unon tbe table Carried by the following
vote:
AYES essrs Baber, Barry, Boyd, Boy
EFT, Bright, Caldwell, Casey, Cheathan,
Clark of jackson, Colville, Cox, Curl, Dill
lin. Dunlap, Fleming, Glenn, Hampton,
HornbergeT. James of Hamilton, James OF
Smith, Jones, Keeney, Kelly, kenney,
King. knight, Lackey. Longacre, McCleary,
McGaughey, Nicks, Nixon, Rhea Roach,
Rosson, Russell of Hickman, Sadler, Saun-
ders. Scott, Sherrod, Slack, Smith, Speerss,
Steele. Stephens, Thomas, Townsend,
Tucker. Walker Warren, West, White,
Wilson, Young and Speaker Perkins-5i.
Noes-Messrs. Agee, Baker, Brown,
Eckel. Hunley, Layman, McBath, McCon-
nell, Morrison, Owen, Singletary, SIlmp,
and Snodderly 10.
Mr.. Walker, of Davidson, offered 10
amend the first section by inserting the
| words, BE it enacted by the General As
semblv of the State of Tennessee, that all
| male citizens of the United States who have
resided in the county where they propose
TO cast their vote six months next preceding
the dav election, are hereby authorized to
assemble" etc, etc.
Mr. Walker maintained that the first sec
| ton of the bill was contradiction OF the
| l., and in violation OF the
| fundamental principle, THAT all power is
inherent in the people, and that all free
| Governments are founded on their authority,
and instituted for their peace, safety and
happiness
notwithstanding the fact that it Is in
sisted that the act of the Legislature shpu-
| lating the qualifications of electors Is to the
contrary, and Notwithstanding it is further
insisted that what is known as the fran
chise law" is a part of the constitution OF
1865. neither is there power in the Legis
| latrlre nor the constitution to prescribe as
TO who shall vote when it is agreed that a
Convention of the people shall be held.
The pfOple are the true source of power,
| and the call for a convention should come
from the people The fact that bill Is
offered by coordinate branch Of the
government, entitled, "A bill to author
ize the people to call conven
ton. and for other purposes, II
no way cOntravenes their inherent and
inalienable s0Ueragntg Even though il
should be provided by the constitution that
in future conventions there should be
restrictions in the exercise Of the elective
franchise, which the people of right use IL
voting for the delegates which should
| tbay,o IN HnnVgntlOn Gnpf
provision would be null and DOid
These inalienable rights underlit
the constitution itself, in all cases
where it is desired that the whole people
shall be represented in convention. Con
situations, Legislatures and the whole ma
chinerv of the government being creatures
created by virtue of these right
exercised by the people. II thu
DISTINGUISHED portion of the citi
zens of Tennessee are not part of tn
people, to what class or community do the.
belong? The first section of the bill i
clearly wrong. and in violation of tn,
rights mentioned The amendment shoul,
therefore prevail
Mr.. Steele, of Marshall, concuued in tn
views expressed by Mr.. Walker. and offeret
and offered an amendment to the following
effect Every man of the age of twenty
one years. being a citizen of the Unite
States and citizen of the county wherein
he NAV offer his vote six months next pre-
ceding the day of election, etc.
Mr.. Spears, of Rhea, etc, offered a
+ amendment in lieu, providing that ever
male citizen y years of age, and who ha
not been convicted of an Infamous crime
shall be permitted to vote for or agains
calling convention.
Mr. Barry, of Sumner, etc, argued il
favor of passing the bill in its presen
shape However proscrptiye, unjust an