Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-18
THE CONVENTION.
SEVENTH DAN.

Mr.. Baxter called the Convention {
order, and stated that the President of th
body having gone home Saturday, an
having not yet returned, l move that tn
Hon. George w. Jones, the delegate iron
the county of Lincoln, occupy the chat
during the absence of the President
The motion was agreed to: and Mr.
Jones of Lincoln advanced to the chair
and said: Gentlemen of the Convention
for the honor you confer upon me il
calling me to preside temporarily over you
deliberations, return my hearty thanks
The Convention will come to order.
There being no clergyman present, the
delegate from Decatur (Mr. Sample) viii
please open the Convention with prayer
Mr.. Sample prayed, standing at the
Presidents table
The President now appearing in the
hall, was called to the chair by the Presi
cent pro tenn.
The President directed the roll call fol
petitions and resolutions.
Mr.. Warner suggested that there should
be first call of the Convention to deter
mine quorum.
And, accordingly, the call was ordered,
and.sixty-three members answered to their
names.
Mr.. Porter, of Henry, stated that, his
colleague (lr. Brown, of Henry being
confined to his room by sickness, he de-
! sired leave of absence.
] The leave was granted accordingly.
] The President then directed the call of
| the roll for the introduction of petitions
I and resolutions.
! NEW COUNTIES.
Mr.. Burket submitted the following,
which was referred to the Committee on
the Judicial Department.
Resolved, That the attention of the
| proper committee be called to the propriety
of presenting such alterations or amend
ments to our present State Constitution as
will provide for the election of only one
Justice of the Peace for each civil dis
trict Of every county in the State, except
in such districts asinclude county seat,
or shall have over a given number of
| qualified votes, and that in such districts,
so excepted, one additional Justice of the
| Peace shall be elected.
2. That the attention of the proper
committee be called to the propriety of
presenting such amendments TO the
Constitution as will provide that County
Courts hold their meetings quarterly, once
aa only inevery three months, looking to le-
gislatiOn that will confer on the chairmen
of the several COuntyCourts, pOwertO grant
letters testamentary or of administration
out of term times upon proper qualitica-
ton of applicant for such letters.
COMBINING CIVIL DISTRICTS.
Mr.. Burket submitted the following:
Resolved, That the attention of the
proper committee be called TO the proprie-
ty of combining two or more civil dis
tricts So that the voting population of such
combined districts shall not exceed some
given number to be presented by such
committee, and that such two or more
combined civil districts shall elect only
one constable, who shall discharge all the
duties now by law incumbent on the con-
stables of the said combined districts and
in addition thereto such cOnstables shall
be required to collect the State and county
revenue due from the citizens of such
combined districts.
IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE FRAZIER.
By Mr.. Baxter:
Whereas, The House of Representa-
tIves of this State, on the - day of
-, 1867, exhibited articles of impeach-
ment against the Hon. Thomas n. Fra
zier, Judge of the Criminal Court of Da-
wilson county, for alleged high crimes
and misdemeanOTs, upon which he was
subsequently arraigned before, and tried
by, the Senate sitting as a High Court of
Impeachment, found guilty, removed from
his office, and disqualified forever there
after from holding any Office in this State;
and
Whereas, In the opinion of this Con-
vention the said Thomas n. Frazier was
an honest, upright, Just and able judge
that his judgment complained of in such
articles of impeachment was not only
dictated by honest crnvictions of duty,
but was Just and correct exposition of
| the law involved in the case; andthat said
impeachment, trial, conviction and judg-
ment originated in corrup. conspiracy,
and was conducted to final conclusion for
the accomplishment of partisan purposes
it is therefore
Resolved, That select committee of five
be appointed to prepare and report to this
Convention an article, to be incorporated
in the Constitution, relieving said Thomas
n. Frazier from the disabilities imposed
upon him by the conviction and judg-
ment aforesaid.
Mr.. Stephens said he could not vote for
a preamble which recited alleged facts of
which he was ignorant.
Mr.. Jones, of Lincoln, was for dividing
the question, and voting first on the resO-
luton and then on the preamble.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick said that while he
should like as well as anybody to see
Judge Frazer set right before the people,
he did not think the Convention could prop
erly take the question into consideration,
and moved, therefore, that it be laid on
| the table. He withdrew the motion, how
ever, at the request of the gentleman from
Knox, who desired to make few remarks.
Mr.. Baxter said that the adoption of
the preamble and resolution would be an
| expression of the conviction of the Con-
vention. They might make division of
| the question and vote upon the resolution
and then upon the preamble. He thought
the Convention was the only power that
could act in the premises. The preamble
i anu IGSDlulLOu NOuldlubu grave
and members should not vote upon them
until they are perfectly satisfied of
the statements contained therein. He
would renew the motion of the gentle
men from Washington that the preamble
and resolution be for the present laid on
the table. He should at another time
bring up the matter, and he then hoped,
by a recital Of the facts to show that
Judge Frazier was not impeached for Civ
ing a wrong decision, but for giving one
correct and right, according to all law :;
that the impeachment was made to intimi-
date the judiciary, and that there was nc
good reason why the disabilities of Judge
Frazier should not be removed.
PROHIBITING PRIVILEGES.
BY Mr. Britton:
| Resolved. That the Committee on the
Legislative Department be requested &c
inquire into and report how far the Con,
stitution should be amended, allowing the
General Assembly to pass laws authOriz
ing the people of any county, district o.
incorporated town, Onc-half or two-third'
of the qualified voters in such county
district or incorporated town voting there
for, to prohibit the exercise of privileges
within their respective limits.
INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM.
By Mr. Brooks:
Resolved, That the President Of thi
, Convention appoint a specific committe,
of seven on retrenchment and reform.
: Resolved, That the Committee on Fran