Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-17
THE CONVENTION QUESTION.
It's Propriety and Necessiiy-voiee OF
| the Tennessee Press.

=
the tennessee Press.
From the Jackson Wing. Aug. IA.
Now that Conservatism has triumphed
so gloriously in Tennessee, the friends o
peace, prosperity and good feeling are
beginning to speak out very plainly upon
the subject of the convention which will
be called to assemble pretty soon after
the legislature meets. The legislature
will. beyond ali doubt, provide for
the assemblsge of sovereign conyen-
ton, at an early day. 1t will be the dus
ty of the people to select their best men
for delegates to that convention. In this
connection we may mention that we
learn Hon. Milton Brown has declared
his purpose to be candidate for dele
gate from Madison county.
From the Clarksville Chronicle. Au!.H.
The Patriot says "that there are four
several WAYS in which the constitution
must be amended:
| 81. By revolution.
"2. Practically by tacit consent on
all hands to disregard the law.
"3. By convention consisting Of the
froth. scum and refuse of a seething mob
throwing upon the surface all the putrid
matter Of the commonwealth.
81. As the constitution provides"
We are opposed to any revolution other
than that of the ballot-box.
The second method indicated is an abb
surdity. The rights and liberties of men
must be clearly and legally defined. We
have lived four long years already under
State government that disregard. ID the
law" and to-day the State is bankrupt
and the school fund nearly all gone, and
there is SO little Of the "public plumber"
left, that its cohesive power is exhausted
to hold the blood suckers together.
God forbid that we should have q
convention consisting of the ''froth, scum
and refuse" They have had their day
for four years! but at last the people
have thrown the "putrid natter from
the surface of the commonwealth. And
now the people demand convention
composed of the wisest and best men in
the State-a convention composed Of men
who will not hesitate to sweep from
the statute books all laws inimical and
hostile to the peace and prosperity Of the
State. The people demand convens
ton that will define clearly, legally and
constitutionally the rights of all classes
of our people.
From the Paris Intelligencer.
The voice which the people has uttered
gives forth no uncertain sound. 1t de-
mands the early assemblage of cons
vention of delegates for The purpose of
amending the organic law, or indeed, if
deemed advisable, to make new consti-
tuition out and out. That, however, is
for the convention to decide after it as
sembles. Besides the great question of
suffrage with which it will have to deal,
there are other and vitality important sub
iects which must demand immediate
action. The Augean stables
must be cleansed-the executive, legisla-
tive and judicial-and we will still add
another, favoritism Of all kinds must
be abandoned. Why should offices
be created simply to give a partisan
favorite place with a fat salary? VI
what need is there of one~half or more of
the various Judicial officers of the State?
Invest the judicial Office with good and
sufficient salaries, so that the best talent
can afford to be employed as judges, and
give them sufficient territory and labor
to merit the salary. Do away with the
Office of county superintendent of the
school fund. Abolish, in word, every
| unnecessary office, and consolidate where
public necessity and justice suggest a
manifest propriety. Endow no more
railroads with the loan Of the bonds Of
the State, and sell every railroad in the
State that fails to pay its interest to the
public treasury, as the law directs.
From the Memphis Appeal, Aug. Is.
We have hitherto given an expression
| Of our voice in favor Of q convention. 10
that opinion we adhere at present, and
with the lights before u.s." There are
many material matters to be repealed
and corrected besides the franchise law.
That undoubtedly may be altered
amended or changed in its provisions
for, as if there might be question OF the
future competency OF the legislature, the
act itself contains a proviso reserVlne
such power. The inability of the legis'
lature wholly to repeal, however, seems
to be conceded, on the ground that the &C
was passed in pursuance of authority o
the State Convention, and exhausted
such power Of the Legislative
body as was not reserved. Alb
surd or not, such a point has beer
raised. The ninth section Of the "alt era
tions and amendments" to the constitu
ton declares that 'the qualification o
| voters and the limitation of the elective
I franchise may be determined by tn
General Assembly which shall first as
semble under the amended constitution,
and by which the present franchise &C
was passed. If the legislative power
exhausted, peoples convention Is lndls
, pensible. If the needed reforms ar
made through the Legislature by way Q
a amendments to the constitution, 1t WI
, require q considerable time, and that tn
4 State should continue to groan under
multitude Of evils which require an earl
remedy. We might expect not incor
siderable effort to be made against cor
vention by the present Office holders an
:. their friends. 10 hold on to their otilc'
:, for months or years through the slo
process Of reformation would be col
L Venient and tempting. But we think u
= cheapest and best way for the State Will |
to rub out and begin anew" Let II
4 present Legislature be declared IN oi1c
: and empowered to make temporary q
pointments of officers until they can b
r conveniently elected, and all unnecessar
< offices abolished. There is no doubt th'
- some of the present offices are useles
= nor more that better set OF officers ca
be had by new election. Our presel
l. system Of administration IS unnecess
lie rily expensive, and the credit Of the Sta
r low. Too much delay in the work
reformation will be anything but co
. seryative or sensible. We do not belle
ie there is any more reason to fear any b'
effect, either at home or abroad, from
% convention than there is to fear from d
Of LAYING it. On the contrary, we belle
e, that the hold;re ofapeacetul, statesma
ed like convention Of our intelligent me
ed will give new yigor to the State, and th
it it will spring :, prosperity with boun
D. We are willing, nevertheless, to ma
De haste slowly"
st From the Memphis Ledger, Aug. II.
The universal suffrage sheet publish
~ ut Nashville is out in leading editor
a, as opposing the State convention to remOc
,ot our constitution. The editor quotes
Ii. length the opinion of certain wise men
re. his section. stating it to be unnecessa
ne for the convention, and that the legs
sy ture has the power of repeating all
n obnoxious laws in our State. We kno
he and so do the people in this State, WI
nd powers can be exercised by the legis
or ture, and know full well that the amer
rr.nts clo;mad nc n mart of our consult