Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-12
THE CONVENTION.
SECOND DAY.

The Convention met at 104 o'clock A. NJ.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr..
Sample.
The journal of yesterday was read by
the Secretary, and it was corrected and
approved by the Convention.
The President, in pursuance of reso-
luton adopted yesterday, announced the
following committees
COMMITTEE on PERMANENT RULES.
Messrs. Campbell, Jones, of Lincoln,
Netherland, Baxter and Porter, of Henry.
COMMITTEE on CREDENTIALS.
Messrs. House, of Williamson, Viii
Hanson, Britton, Coffin, and Porter of
Haywood.
MEMBERS TAKING THEIR SEATS.
On the motion of Mr.. Jones, of Giles,
Messrs. John NJ Taylor, of Henderson,
II. i. Bate, of Upton, Shelby and Fay
etN Joseph H. Blackburn, of DeKalb,
and w. NJ Wright, of Carroll, being
present, came forward, subscribed to
the oath of delegates and t0pk their seats.
sT1DING COMMITTEES OF THE CONVENTION.
On the motion of Mr.. Kennedy, the
resolutions for the appointment of stand
ing committees, submitted yesterday by
Mr.. Nicholson, was taxed up, and Mr.. K.
submitted the following as an amendment
by way of substitute:
l. Resolved, That the Bill or Declara-
ton of Rights be referred TO a committee
to report to this Convention whether, in
their opinion, any, and if any, what
amendments are proper and necessary.
,. Resolved, That the Legislative de-
partment, as established by the present
Constitution, be referred to a committee
to inquire and report whether, in their
opinion, any, and IF any, what amend
mentS are necessary.
3. Resolved, That the executive de-
partment Of government rs established by
the present Constitution, be referred to a
committee to inquire and report whether
any, and if any, what amendments are
necessary.
t. Resolved, The the Judicial Depart
ment fthe Government, as established by
the present Constitution, by referred to
committee 10 inquire and report Thether
any, and if any, what amendments are
necessary 1
5. Resolved, That SO much Of the pre-
sent ConstitHion as relates to elections
and rights of suffrage, be referred to
committee to inquire and report whether
any, and if any, what amendments are
necessary.
6. Resolved, Thai. all such parts of the
Constitution as are not included in and re-
ferred to by the foregoing resolutions, be
referred TO a committee, TO inquire and
report whether any, and if any, what
amendments are necessary therein.
. 7. Resolved, That such committees APP
pointed under the foregoing resolutions
shall consist of eleven members.
s. Resolved That no original Iesolu-
ton offered to the Convention proposing
any amendment to the Constitution or De
claration of Rights be discussed on its
merits till it shall have been referred TO
the appropriate committee.
Mr.. Kennedy-TheSe resolutions, sir,
embrace all parts of the Constitution, the
Declaration of Rights, the Legislative,
Executive and Judicial Departments.
And then the last resolution provides that
propositions offered here, which contem-
plate any change in the existing COnsti
tuition shall be referred without discus
sion. think this is the plan upon which
we can proceed most eXpeditiOusly. 1t is
substantially the plan of work founded
in the experience of the ViRinis COnsti
tutiOnal Convention Of 1929, and in the
Tennessee Convention Of 1884
Mr. NiChOlson-The gentleman from
Montgomery (Mr. Kennedy did me the
kindness to show me his resolutions; and
! ro4iallrv tho
with those adopted in the Virginia Con-
vcntion of 1929, and in the Tennessee
Convention of 1884, as he has stated.
They embrace all the subjects that my
resolution contemplated except twO-the
subject of cnrOllments and the subject OF
revision. But those subjects are not
pressing upon US now, and committees
thereon can be appointed at any other
time. l am perfectly satisfied that the
resolutions of the gentlemen from Mont
gomery, cover all the ground that it Is
needful for us to contemplate now, and |
accept them in lieu of my own. l shall be
perfectly satisfied with their adoption.
Mr. Burton.-It seems that all the bu-
siness of this House is to be suggested
and to come through the standing Commit
tees and not through the Committee of
the Whole / think, sir, that these resO-
lutiOns do not raise so many committees
as we want. ] think that there will be
more business referred TO them than they
can get through with. l have = resolu
ton that wish TO offer as an amend
mcut
It was sent up and read hy the Sccrcta-
| ~, "a follows:
Resolved, That 50 much of the CUnsti-
tuition as relattsto the questions OF finance,
| internal improvements and corporations,
be referred to a committee 10 report
whether any, and if any, what amend
ments are necessary under these heads.
Mr.. NicholsOn-I think that would be
a veTy.appropriatc committee.
Mr.. Kennedy-I suggest that the mum
Der of that committee be eleven.
Mr.. Jones of Lincoln-If the number
is prescribed generally for all the commit
tees by the resolutions of the gentlemen
from Montgomcry-and l believe It IS
that suggestion is unnecessary.
Mr. Heiskell-As prescribing plan or.
mode Of doing business here, these reso-
lutiOns are certainly of q very great i'm
portaRCc The success of one session
depends very much upon the manner in
which we organize our committees at the
outset. / think we ought 10 require
| nothing at the hands of committees but
| reports upon distinct subjects submitted
| by resolutions of the Convention. think
| that every member whO has propositions
TO submit should submit them in distinct
| form. And that he should point out in
| them, and each of them, specific amend
/ ments TO the present Constitution, and let
them be referred to the proper COM
mites. And l think that the
powers of the committees ought TO
be CircumsCribed-eac committee con-
fined to distinct functions. If We will do
| that, think in the course of a few days
we will have blocked out all the work we
will have to 10. But il you permit the
committees TO submit reports and make
| suggestions al iibidJHl, il seems 10 me
that we will get ourselves involved in an
| infinity of business. But, if we take the
other course, in a day or two We VIII
have all our work distinctly before us.
confess that 1 prefer the original PROPOSE
ton submitted by the gentleman from
Maury OR NiCholsOn). 1t seems TO me
that that resolution is less liberal
in its general scope with respect 70 the
1 committees than the resolutions coming
from the other side If we would restrict
these committees, it seems TO me that we
ought to point out TO them understanding
" their specific duties. Very certainly
This subject ought TO he considered in full
] - 41,o ,,ya1gV,4 fir,,1