Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-25
ARADICAL ORGAN ON THE CON-
STITUTHON.

The Chicago EUening Journal "a
truly loyar' organ, discourses of the pro-
posed changes in the Constitution as
follows:
The Tennessee Constitutional COnven-
ton is making thorough work Of remOd-
cling the organic law of the State. It's
session has already extended one month.
Eight amendments have been agreed up
on thus far, viz:
l. Making universal the franchise with
poll tax qualification. 2. Giving the
Governor a limited veto, to be overcome
by two-thirds vote Of all themembers to
each House. 8. Restricting the Legisla-
ture to seventy-fiYe days for regular,
and twenty days for a called session. 4.
Requiring three-fourths' majority of the
qualified voters of q town, city, or county
to loan the public credit. .. Prohibiting
the State from becoming a stakeholder
with others, or issuing bonds in aid of
any enterprise 6. Raising the number
of Supreme Court Judges from three to
five, and making their term of Office eight
years, and throwing out the present
Judges with the ratification of the new
Constitution. Z. Requiring Clerks and
Master in Chancery to be elected by the
people, instead of appointed as hereto
fore. s. Taking from the Legislature
the power to pass special acts of incOr-
poration.
These provisions are in the main equi-
table. The State has been so deeply in
vOlved in debt that the fifth propositions
in that case good policy. The blow at
special legislation will correct a grievous
evil. The Ousting of the State Judges is
political measure, and is only what any
party would do in a State where party
lines are so sharply drawn. The tax
qualification is an indirect but unmistak
able stab at negro suffrage. 4 Nashville
correspondent, writing about this prOpo-
sitiOn, says:
Everybody who has kept at all posted
IN regard to Tennessee affairs knows what
q fuss the Conservatives have made about
certificates of registration, but now, when
they have come to act for themselves and
remodel the organic law, they have sub
stituted the worst of all certificates
tax receipt.
''The Franchise amendment which was
adopted by the Convention last week,
provides that before a man shall be
allowed to vote he must furnish to the
Judges of the Election satisfactory evil
dence that he has paid the pOll-taxes due
from him up to some specified time.
This provision has been cunningly devised
by the enemies of negro suffrage for the
purpose of gaining control of negro
votes. There are about 10000 colored
voters in the State, and many of these
will be effectually DISTINGUISHED by re-
quiring payment of 80 or 81 pOll-taX.
This provision will prove odiOus and OBJ
noxious in mere than one particular 1t
will give the wealthy candidate for Office
a great advantage over the poor man.
The former can secure votes by paying
the poll-taxes, and thus beat the most
worthy man. In heated contest, for
instance, a tax collector, who is Repub
lican, may refuse to give receipt to a
Democrat, or Uice UerSd, or he may alb
sent himself from home and refuse to
issue receipts at all. Thus it is easy to
see that by this provision the door will be
opened to an almost endless amount Of
corruption"
This is an exaggcration. Every man
should pay poll tax. \ great many
evade it, thus defrauding the State in
which they live, and to which they are in
debted for protection of life and property.
The poorest laborer is in duty bound to
contribute something to the State eX-
chcquer The proposed amendment will
make it for the interest of every man to
do his duty. In a few instances it might
be the instrument of corruption, but if the
proper official to receive the tax and re-
ceipt therefor should refuse to do his
duty, by any device, he would be guilty
of malfeasance in office, and liable to
punishment.