Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-30

tage that we have-a competing
line of telegraph, and consequent
low prices. III -uainsqa .rIil
FHR STOKES ORGAN ON THE CON-
baG .vVENTEON QUESTION. JgEJ
The Stokes organ is progressing
wonderfully, Monday it came out
in favor of the Legislature to be
elected in August calling aconven-
ton Immediately upon its assem-
bling in October, to remove the dis
abilities from the disfranchised
white men of the State. The State
Journal has fallen most desperate
ly in love with the "Rebels, and
so anxious has it become to do
them justice, that it is unwilling to
wait now for the assembling of the
Legislature, and it submits ga plan
on the practicability of which
there can be no doubt as a meas
ure sustained by the constitution
and heretofore acted upon by the
Radical party of Tennessee" Here
is its plan: .... 5aaEa a.a.,.,
ARTICLE l section L, of the constitu-
ton Of Tennessee declares that all pow.
er is inherent in the people, and all free
governments are founded on their authcs
rity, and instituted for their peace, safety
and happiness; and for the advancement
of those ends, they have at all times, an
unalienable right to alter, reform, or
| abolish the government in such manner
as they may think proper The 18th
section of article NJ, declares referring
| to this section, that The declaration OF
/ rights hereto prefxed is declared to be a
| part of the constitution Of this State, and
shall never be violated on any pretence
1 whatever And to guard against the trans
erosion of the high powers We have
delegated, we declare that everything in
the Bill of Rights contained is excepted
out of the general powers of govern.
ment, and shall ever remain inviolate.
l Now, we submit to allof our cOtempO-
raries whether this does not dispense
with all action of the Governor or Legis,
lature, and may it not be inaugurated
Immediately Gentleman let us hear
from your .s...... ......
We understand from this that the
Stokes organ here is in favor of tn
people in their sovereign capacit
calling convention and electin
delegates to the same. Now that
the State Journal has committed it.
self to this policy, let us see how
it stands on the question of elect
ing delegates to the convention.
There can be no question as to the
sovereignty of the people in the
matter Of calling a convention, and
electing delegates to that conven-
ton. But does the State Journal
regard the whole community as the
people, or only those who may be
authorized by Radical legislation tc
vote? When we go back to the
source of all power, as ordained il
the first section of the first article
of the constitution, every citizen i:
sovereign and as much entitled t
vote as his neighbor, and in al
election for delegates to a constitu
tional convention every man in th,
State will be entitled to vote. How
says the State Journal? Does l
recognize this attribute Of sover
eighty as lodged in the white citi
zen of this State who have been de
| priyed of their right to vote IL
elections held under the recon
structed State government? Wher
we go back to the people in thei
sovereign capacity, there are no re
strictions upon their rights. W
make this point distinctly, becaus
when the convention becomes
fixed fact, and delegates are to b
elected, there may be an attemI
to restrict the right of citizens t
vote. This was not attempted b
: the convention of January, 1S6;
which resolved itself into consti
tutional convention, and submitte
the amendments it proposed to tn
people for ratification. Every cit
zen in the State was not only invite
> but urged to vote on these amend
E ments. That was sovereignty the
: and it is sovereignty now. Wins