Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-02
THE CONVENTION N
TWENTIETH DAY.

TWENTIETH BAY.
TUESDAY, Feb, /, 1S70.-The ConYen
ton met at 10 O'Clock A. NJ, Presiden
Brown in the chair. Prayer by Rev. DIR
Young, pastor of McKendree, Church, af
ter which the journal was read and ap
proved.
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS. -
Mr.. Doherty presented q petition from
the citizens of MorTistown, asking thai
the Constitution provide that the sale OF
Intoxicating liquors in any town or coun,
ty may be prohibited by vote of the PEG,
pie.
| Mr.. Gibbs presented q petition asking
for the formation of new county out OF
| portions of the counties of Dyer, Obion
and Gibson. e.-- .7fla.rtf Ell Az,
VOTING FOR THE CONSTITUTION. =
Mr. Turner offered an ordinance pro-
viding the way in which the people shall
vote upon the amended Constitution, and
fixing the day of election ON the first Sat
urday in March.
Mr.. Heiskell offered the following:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
Convention that the Constitution be sub
mitted to the people at the March cleo
ton.
Mr.. Heisken thought it important that
the people should understand that it was
the design of the Convention to finish up
business at an early day.
Mr.. Jones, of Lincoln, thought this ac-
ton premature. They had better wait till
the Constitution had been prepared, and
then they might intimate to the people
when it would be submitted to them.
Mr.. Sample thought this was too hasty.
He wanted the people to have ample time
to consider the new Constitution in all
its bearings, and to vote upon it intelli-
gently.
Mr.. Bate said if the people had year
to consider of the new Constitution they
would be no better prepared to act upon
it then than they would in thirty days
after they had finished the work here. If
he could have his way he would not sub
NIT it at all, but make the action of the
Convention final. The Convention was
the people in the true sense.
Mr.. Jones, of Giles, was not in favor
of undue haste. He thought the people
should have all necessary time to .ex-
anime and decide upon the amendments
made.
Mr.. Brown, of Davidson, was unable to
see how the Convention could get through
its work in time to submit tito the people,
so that they could fully consider of it in
time to vote Understandings on the fifth |
of March.
Mr. Davenport offered the following
in lieu of Mr.. Heiskell's resolution: |
Resolved, That an election should be |
held throughout the State on the first Sat |
urday in April, 1870, to elect Circuit and |
County Court Clerks and Justices of the |
Peace, and at the same time an election |
shall be held for the ratification or rejec- l
ton of this Constitution.
Mr.. Baxter thought it would be time |
enough to talk about submitting the Con-
stitution after they had finished it, and |
moved to lay the resolution on the table.
Mr.. Davenport withdrew his resolu-
ton, when the vote was taken upon the
of Mr.. Uciskell, resulting as |
follows: To lay on the table, 81 against
SO. |
Mr.. Cypert moved reconsideration of
The vote, which was carried by ayes, 80;
noes, So.
Mr.. Heiskell's resolution being thus
brought before the Convention again, was
further discussed. |
Mr.. Gibson said he could never vote to
send the Constitution before the people so
hastily. Why need they force the amend
VI Constitution down the threats of the
people, as this Convention was forced If
hey did not give ample time for the peo-
pie to consider this Constitution, it would
20 forth to the world that this Convention
was afraid of the people Of the State. He
felt satisfied that the gentlemen from
Upton (Mr. Bate represented the senti-
ment of a great majority of the delegates
who had not the nerve to speak it out.
Mr.. Gibson was called to order by Mr..
Garner, who raised the point that the
gentleman was speaking disrespcctfully of
delegates. The chair ruled that the gen
.leman was not strictly out of order, but
could proceed.
Mr.. Bate said he knew the gentleman
and bis constituents were in the minority, |
and it was his object at all times to pro-
teCt them. He hoped that the gentleman |
would be allowed to proceed.
Mr.. Gibson continued that this scheme |
of hurrying the new Constitution TO the |
people without giving them time TO duly |
consider it, and see what rights it de-
prived them of, was part of the revOlu-
tionary scheme which had been conceived |
at the Capitol. rrr
Mr.. Baxter asked if the gentleman con-
sidered this revolutionary body.
Mr.. Bate hope the gentleman WILDE !
allowed to proceed.
Mr.. GibsOn-I do not ask the courtesy |
of the Convention; l stand on my right.
The President said he ruled that the |
gentleman was not out of order and could |
proceed.
Mr.. Gibson said he hoped that no at
tempt would be made to deprive him of |
the right to discuss this question.
The PRESIDENT decide that remark |
out of order, but the gentleman can pro
coed with his argument.
Mr.. Gibson went on to reiterate what |
he had previously said inregard to hasten
ing the amended Constitution before the |
people, and protested against preventing
full and fair discussion. -
Mr.. House, of Montgomery, said he |
was glad that the Convention had re-
fused to allow the gentleman from Camp |
bell (Mr. Gibson) to wear the martyrs |
crown. He was astonished to hear him,
of all others, talk about examining any
thing down the peoples throat Those
who had been tied hand and foot, their |
noses held and compelled TO submit to
have the grosscst wrongs crammcd down |
their Threats were the. first TO come up |
and proclaim universal suffrage. |
Mr.. Gardner, of Weakley, offered the
following in lieu of Mr.. Heiskel's resolu-
ton:
Resolved, That the Legislature now in
session is hereby requested, with as little |
delay as possible, to pass law changing |
the time of holding the election for coun-.