Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-04
THE CONVENTION BILE IN THE


Having spoken of the action of the
House on the Convention Bill we now come
to treat of the same subject in the Senate.
The House bill was passed on the first
reading in the Senate and referred to the
Judiciary Committee. The majority of
that committee yesterday reported in favor
of the passage of the House bill. The
minority, consisting of Senators Cooper of
Bedford, and Nelson, reported bill in
lieu, which was rejected by vote of
ii against to 10 in favor of the bill in
lieu. The bill of the minority being
defeated, Senator Cooper of Bedford then
proposed an amendment to the House Bill,
which was carried by vote of Is to II.
We are assured, however, that the bill
was thus amended and passed on its sec
ond reading by a Misrepresentation upon
the part of some of those who voted
against the provisions of the House Bill,
and in favor of the amendment of Senator
Cooper. We therefore have no doubt as
to the final action of the Senate. The
further consideration of the question is
postponed until next Monday. We are
satisfied that the House Bill as it stands
will be passed without material change.
Senator Cooper of Bedford accom-
panied the bill of the minority with a
lengthy report, which we shall endeavor
to publish tomorrow. We shall also en-
deavor to show that that report is not
founded on authority, justice or prece-
dent
1t will be seen by reference to the bill
in lieu of Senator Cooper's, in our legis-
lative proceedings, that the preamble sets
forth the inherent power of the people,
their inalienable and indefeasible right,
for their peace, safety and happiness, to
alter, reform or abolish the government
iJ1 such manner as they may think
proper. Having stated thus fully the in
herent power of the people, the preamble
then proceeds in the next breath to declare
that no changes can be made 6y the
people in the fundamental law of
the State by delegates en- Convention
assembled or otherwise without the
consent to the existing State government
given by the General Assembly previous
to said meeting; and further the preamble
declares that it is a well settled principle
of constitutional law that the General
Assembly has the questionable right to
impose conditions, restrictions and limita-
tions upon the action of delegates in
Convention, and that no Convention can
have legal existence without such con-
sent previously given. After another
whereas or two the bill in lieu proposes
to do without a Convention entirely, and
leave the whole matter to the ratification
or rejection by the people of such amend
ments as the Legislature may propose.
We have called this bill in lieu because
IL StCLllS ~ udNC DCSu dClSu upon Us
such by the Senate. 1t is a PROPOSE
ton in lieu, but in strict parlia
mentary language could not perhaps,
have been entertained as a bill in lieu, or
otherwise than as an independent PROPOSE
ton. The first article of this proposed
amendment extends the right of suffrage
to every citizen twenty-one years of age,
and six months next preceding the day of
election a resident of the county where be
proposes to vote. Article , of the pro-
posed amendment gives to the General
Assembly power to grant reprieves and
| pardons in all cases of conviction under
| impeachment, twO-thirds of both Houses
concurring. This proposition being re-
| jcCted, Senator Cooper of Bedford Offered
an amendment to the House bill restricting
the power of the Convention to such
amendments as refer to the qualification of
voters, to the Judiciary, the regulation of
taxes, towns, formation of new counties,
and cOgnate subjects, which was adopted
by the Senate.
We have not time nor space to pursue
this subject further this morning. But
the time elapsing before the Bill comes up
on its third reading will allow us oppor-
tunity TO again call the attention of our
readers to this most important subject