Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-15
THE CONSTITUTIONS WILL
LHAnTSON.
To the EditOrs Of the Union and American.

/ 10 the Editors OF the Union and American:
| Franklin, March IL. To-day, as ha
been previously advertised the Hon. Sam
S. House, T. w. Bullock, ESQ, and Col
| w. s. McLemore were to address the citi
zens of Williamson county, and at abou
one O'Clock 2. Nj. the courthouse bell ran,
the alarm, and in a few moments tn
spacious court room was filed to over
flowing, all eager and anxious TO hea
what might be said in behalf of thu
Constitution which the people Of
the State viii be called upon
to ratify or reject on Saturday, the
Goth inst Mr.. House, as a. member OF
the Convention, led off in q telling speech
of about one hour and twenty minutes
duration. In the course of his able and
convincing argument in favor of the rati-
fication of the new Constitution he was
led to speak of the various objections
which have been urged against it, and
principally that it is levelled at the poor
man, and would perpetuatc the odious
"certifcatep system in elections. In
answer to these objections he said, that
there were many features in the amended
Constitution which he had opposed and
made earnest efforts to defeat, but then,
in the spirit of compromise and conces-
sion, he and the other members of the
Z Convention had but followed the example
Of the fathers of the republic in framing
the Federal Constitution.
He insisted that, so far from being in
imical to the interest of the poor classes,
black and white, it, on the contrary, Sc
cured to every poor man $1,000 exempt
from all taxation, and that the one dollar
or fifty cents required to be paid as poll
tax was dedicated and set apart for the
sacred purpose of educating the children
of the rich and poor. He drew a telling
comparison between the spirit manifested
by the trainers of the amendments to the
Constitution of 1866 and that manifested
by the present Convention. In their
malice and i'll feeling toward those
who had differed with them
politically they disfranchised by thousands
those whose only sin was opposition to the
present regime. They had the power at
that time and exercised it to Cypress and
destroy. This Convention aCtuated by
feeling of patriotism and fidelity to the
whole people, cast behind them all ami
mostly and i'll will, and endeavored by
their action to secure to every citizen, black
and white, equality before the law, to-
gether with the blessings of peace, happi
ness and prosperity to all. He fcelingly al
luded to the forgiving and conciliatOry spirit
manifested by the trainers of this Consti-
tuition as opposed to the animosity and
vindictive character of those who framed |
The amendments of 1865.
Next came T. w. Bullock, Esq, whose
most happy and powerful style did credit |
70 the gentleman, and the effects of whose
speech will tell on the day of election.
de was forcible, and evinced thorough |
of the spirit which prompted |
he Convention TO submit amendments to |
he Constitution, which, when properly |
were least Objectionable. He
the past, present and future, and |
showed most clearly that the best thing |
hat could be done was the ratification of
he Constitution, convincing all that,
new, yet its adoption was by far prefer
Ible to the old one, as by it all could
gain enjoy the blessings of a free and
Independent people.
The efforts of these gentlemen on this
occasion were the greatest, grandest and
lappiest ever listened to by the people of
and there is no doubt of the
atification of the new Constitution by a
arge majority in our county.
After Mr.. Bullock mad finished, Col
IcLemore was loudly called for, but
wing to the latencss of the hour, he, in
lis usually happy style, excused himself,
ssuring his fellow-citizens that on some
ther occasion he would take pleasure in
them upon the subject. The
jOlonel is, as every other man should be,
eeply interested upon this subject of
and no doubt will address
he people here next Monday in coDjunc-
ion with the Hon. A. 0. p Nicholson,
vho was not present to-day on account of
he inclemency of the weather, but who
viii be here next Monday, for thepurpose
f giving us his views upon the new
Constitution. As our Circuit Court will
hen begin its March session, we expect q
lrge crowd, and hope all will be benefited
nd ego for" the Constitution.
Williamson is all right. a FRIEND.