Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-29
WORK FOX THE CONVENTION.

To the Editors of the Union and American:
Vastly more important than the sena-
torial succession or the future Of parties,
is the coming sovereign primary conven-
ton. And while some affect to dread
this convention as Revolutionary" fear
more natural is that present surrounding
circumstances may prevent it from feel
ing so free "to alter, reform or ABOLISH
as such apower ought to feel when called
in consultation upon the distempers of
the body petite.
Among the possible improvements in
our organic law, that may be worthy of
consideration before that body, the fol-
lowing is respectfully submitted:
As at present constituted the division
of the Legislature into two bodies, has
little significance in itself and less of in~
fuence upon practical lawsmaking. In
the British Parliament, (from which we
doubtless borrow our double barreled
bluEderbusS,) we recognize the repre-
sentatives of the aristocracy in the ups
per house, and those of the people in
the lower. Our division of the law
making power, embodies no sIch rep
resentation of distinctive classes or in
terests. 1t means simply nothing.
To abolish this absurdity, and at the
same time inaugurate a much needed
reform, it is submitted that the Senate
be made the representative body of the
landholders, while the lower house re-
main the embodiment of population.
Wealth and population are the two ele-
ments of social prosperity. Let them
stand on equal footing. Abolishing all
registering machinery, let his poll-tax
receipt be the certificate Of the popular
voter, and let his land-tax receipt be the
certificate Of the senatorial voter.
Among the advantages that may result
from such system the following may be
mentioned
l. A check would be furnished to the
many evils Of universal suffrage, the
copious illustrations of which evils may
be CLEANED from the history Of any State
in this Union.
2. 1t would serve as a restriction
upon the debt-creatipg power Of the leg
iSlature, i: being necessary that the Sens
ate, which would represent the land tax,
should agree to any financial bill passed.
The Senate might be slow; the House
might be fast: and with the one correct
ing the evils of the other, we might hope
for steady, natural, healthful and substan'
tial progress:
3. The desire to become a senatorial
voter would perhaps lead more speedily
to that general division of the lands of the
State which has been necessary by the
abolition Of slavery, and which will con>
tribute SO much to their fuller improves
ment
Other advantages might be enumer~
| ated, but the space allotted to a CORES
spondent forbids. They will be most
easily seen perhaps by applying the sys>
| TEN on smaller scale. For instance,
consider the advantages that would acS
crue if the Aldermen of Nashville repreN
scented the property only-how much Of
wanton waste, not to say corruption,
would be rendered comparatively impos.
tsible!
Some may think that, as regards the
State, the change would not be worth
the trouble. Such may be the case at
present. But our progress from this
time forth will be a repetition of the
Northern States in the past. Each year
will prove more clearly in Tennessee, as
it has proved in them, that some such con-
sentative element is needed in the organic
constitution Of society. But with these
Northern States such a reform is now
impossible, while with US it is compare
lively easy. fit be good thing, now is
the best and surest, if not the only OPP
portunity, to secure it.
Very respectfully, FREE HOLDER.