Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-17
THn CONVERSION.
Text Of the Hill Passed by the Leg
1slature.

WHEREAS, According to Section l, Al
ticle |, of the D sclaration OF Rights, o.
power is interest 10 the people, and a.
free governments are founded on thei
authority and instituted for their peace
safety and happiness; and !,
Whereas, It is declared thai, Tor 10
advancement of these ends, the peupi
have. at all times, an inalienable right Il
alter. reform or abolish the governmen
in such manner as they may thinl
proper; and
Whereas, In the opinion of this Gene
raj Assembly, the pubic ex'gencies, d
now demand the exercise OF these inhe
rent aud reserved powers on the part o
the people of the State; therefore,
SECTION ]. Be it enacted BY tho Gene
raj Asse mbly of the State OF Tennessee
That every male person not convicted
and rendered infamous for crime, OF thu
age of ,wenty.one years, being either
of the nited States and citizen OF thu
county where be may offer his vote, si1
months next preceding the day OF cleo
lion. ia hereby authorized to assemble or
The third Saturday Of December, 1869, q
the several places of holding elections II
the several. counties, and vote tor Of
against calling q Convention to amend
revise, or form and make new Consti
tution for the State; and no certificate OF
other qualification than the foregoing
shall be required by the Judges holding
said elections.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That IN
admitting the question of convention
to the people, they shall have written OF
printed on their ballots the words "Con,
vepsiop," or mo Copvention;" and II
the number of votes cast for CONVEX
ton be greater than the votes cast against
convention, then there shall be a con-
veniiop.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That an
election for delegates to a convention OF
the people of the State shall be held in
the several counties thereof at the same
time and places, and that said election
shall be held at all the precincts and vo-
ting places established by law, and shall
be managed and conducted by the Com
missioner of Registration and other
proper officers of the counties respect
! iyely. in the same manner and under the
same rules and regulations that members
of the General Assembly are now elected.
as heretofore prescribed by section lst of
this act, and it is hereby declared to be
the duty of the Governor to issue bis
proclamation to the several Commits
siouers Of Registration of the State i'm
mediately after the passage of this act,
recurring them to hold and conduct the
same as herein provided. The said Com
missioners of R ,gistration shall adyer-
tlse the time and places of said election,
as In cases of members of the General
Assembly.
Sec. A. Be it further enacted, That the
whole number Of delegates elected to
said Convention shall be seveniy-6ve.
Sec. s. Be it further enacted, That
each one of the Representative Districts.
as established by the spportionment act
Of 10Th of February, 1852, shall consti-
tute q district. and elect and send to said
Convention exactly the same number of
delegates that they have representatives
in the General Assembly by said act of
superintendent.
Sec. 6. b it further enacted, That
each one of the Flosterial Districts, as
established by said act of spportionment,
shall constitute district, and elect and
send to said Convention each one dele
gate.
Sec 7. Be il further enacted, That the
votes 10 the several Representative aud
Floateral Districts. shall be compared at
the several places where the votes for
members of the General Assembly were
compared in the last August election.
Sec. g. b it further enacted, That no
person shall be eligible to seat in said
Convention who is not twenty one years
of ege, and Who hos pot been citizen of
the State for twelve months, aud of the
county aud district from which he is
elected six months Immediately pre-
ceding the election.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That all
laws requiring test oaths to enable per-
sons to become candidates for Office, or
requiring Judges sui Clerks Of ELECTIONS
to take said eaths, shall not apply 10 the
election to be held under this act.
Sec 10. Be it further enacted, That in
case Of The death, refusal to serve, resig-
nation or removal frem this State Of any
delegate, the vacancy thereby shall be
filed in the same manner prescribed by
Law for the filing of vacancies in the
representation to the General Assembly.
Sec IL. Be it further enacted, That
Il shall be the duty Of the Commissioner
of RegistFs,ioD of each county in the
State, Immediately after ssid election, to
make a complete return to the Secretary
of State of the votes cast =" for Conven-
too" OF mo Convention" and for dele
gates in his eopniy. The certificate of
election Of the rsinsning officer or officers
Of the G>anty or Districts, shall be
prfn0 .facie evidence of the right Of any
delegate to 8 seat IN said Convention,
SUBJECT, il contested, to be decided 10 the
manner the Convention may prescribe.
SEC IL. And be it further enacted,
Z aat Il shall be the duty Of the Governor
aud Secretary of Etste to compare the re-
turns made By the Cen mlssiglsgs Of Re-
gis.rstion, end if the sjority Of those
voting be Ia favor OF q copvention, it
shall be the duty of the Governor imne-
o,,;eiely 10 issue his proclamation an
nounciug the result, and the sid conyen-
ton shall convene in the city of Nash
vile, on the SECOND Monday in January,
1870; and when so assembled, ssd dele
gates shall organize themselves Into
constitutional convention, BY the election
Of a President aud such other ofii ,erB as
they may deem necessary.
SIC. -. Be it further enacted, That
said convention shall adopt such rules
and regulations for its government aud
The transaction OF business as it shall
think proper. aud that the msmbers and
officers Of said convention shall receive
the same compensation as is now allowed
by law TO the members and Ulcers Of the
General Assembly OF the s Tate, and TO be
paid 10 the same manner BY the Treasu-
rer.
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