Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-25
lruE NOMINATION..


to contract for Advertisements.
- THE CONVENTION.
The members of the present General
Assembly now in session at Nashville are
not disposed to be in hurry to call the
much-talked-of State Convention. Bills
have been introduced to that effect into
both houses Of the Legislature, and will,
ii their order, be considered. But the
people had thought that this matter would
) be the first attended to by the Legisla-
ture. and az it has not been. we are
anxious to know ourselves why it is that
I. the Convention has been so long deferred.
II NAV be probable that the Legislature
don't consider ii a matter OF paramount
fmuortarce to act at once on the bill pro-
vidise for the election of 9 convention.
The matters that will come before that
bodv when Il shall be assembled will, per-
hans. not be Of immediate pressing me-
eessity. The public have been under the
;mpression that it would be necessary to
have convention of the people to DO
avay with the disfranchise laws. Such
Is not the case, for the Legislature
possesses all the power necessary to
relieve the people from their s6sins.
There has been bill already introduced
into The lower house Of our Legislative
Assenbly, repeating all the acts Of for
mer legislative bodies in this State on
the subject Of Acknowledgement This
includes the acts passed from June B..
1861. inclusive of all others up to the
ad;ournpent of the last Radical Legisla-
ture. Now, FIVE will take the trouble to
refer to the schedule of our amended
Constitution ii can be seen that by
section of the amendment adopted that
the qualification of voters and the
limitation of the elective franchise may
be determined by the General Assembly,
which should first assemble under the
amended Constitution. The first Gene,
raj Assembly that met uuuer the ameuu-u
Constitution did pass an act on this sub
ject on the 9th day of June, 1866, as re-
ferred to above. The same General AS
sembly. but 10 subsequent sessions, also
passed az ditional acts modifying and 70
strictiug the privilege Of the elective
franchise. All these legislative acts are
snbjscs to be repealed at any time by
subsequent Legislatures. 10 the event
that our present Legislature should wipe
these obnoxious acts from the statute
book, there is no clause left Ia the law
which prevents every rebel in the land
from walking up to the ballot box and
depositing bis vote for the man or men OF
his choice. But our attention 10 directed
to the oath prescribed IN the schedule.
and which woDld still remain as re-
ouirsmeut to be taken should former en-
actmen,s be repealed by The Legislature.
Still every one may take this oath. at this
time, with immunity: for in its effect It
is retroactive. and applies TO things
that do not exist As, for instance. it re-
quires those who shall vote to swesr .thst
they are "sclive friends Of the United
States and enemies OF the so called Con-
federste States; that they asdently desire
the suppression of the present rebellion
against the Government OF the United
States; that they sincerely rejoice in the
triamph of the armies Of the United
States and 10 the defeat and overthrow
of the armies, navies and all armed com,
binations in the so-csllee Confederate
States" and so on. Il is perfectly
apparent, then, that this oath could not
operate against the Southern people,
because they could not be asked
to desire The suppression Of the present
rebellion" when every armed rebel 10 the
land has lain down bis arms. Everyone
who lives within the United States could
slucertly rtJOicc III tue htonpna VI toc
army and navy Of the United States ct
present. As to the armed combustion
on the Confederate States. there is none 10
existence. The only live portion Of this
oath which eau be abrogated BY a con-
yeniion. (eyenis having rendered nugs-
tory the olhe rpsrts) is that which com
pels Us to swear 10 henceforsh
support the Constitution Of the United
States, and defend it against the assaults
of al it's enemies. We are willing to
take this obligation. 10 order to have the
free privilege Of voting st Ell public cleo
tons; bot there is q matter HAT should
be looked into. sud that is our Superior
Couri Judiciary, soj which can only be
reviewed BY convention Of the people
This present radical Court should 81
speedily "a possible be disposed Of, and
the bench and the adjudication Of the
laws Slaeedin coapeisnt and uncorrup'-
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